The Real Mary Kelly

[Robert]

I'm just wondering whether Edward Warren, as a council rates collector, would have been able to give Craig the names of the owners of the various properties, either in Warren's own area or elsewhere. I'm not sure whether the landlords would have paid the rates, or whether the occupants would. I'm also not sure if Warren was actually doing this job in the mid-1880s. He certainly was in 1891, but in 1881 he seems to have been some kind of secretary.

[Robert]

I'm not sure where she pops up from.

In 1891, the place seems quiet again. There's a painter living there.

[Sally]

A Charlotte Warren is listed on the electoral rolls for 53 Tonbridge Street in 1889; in the same year that Hennessey got into trouble for keeping the 'disorderly house' at that address.

[Robert]

Sally I think in the Hennessey clipping, which I think you found, Hennessey says that his landlord lives at Watford - which rules out the London family. In fact as far as I can see there were hardly any Mac/McLeods there at all.

I don't know if it's possible to find the house owner. Didn't Fiona Rule do this for Dorset St?

[Sally]

Yes, either man is possible, I think.

The book states that Ellen McLeod owned 53 Tonbridge Street, cited in the divorce papers; and which does appear to have been a brothel at the time - and possibly for some time beforehand. No evidence for her ownership is provided in the book - obviously if it could be demonstrated that she did own the property it would be an important piece of evidence. Perhaps more will be revealed in the forthcoming podcast [living in hope...]

[Robert]

Sally, yes, the question of where their money came from - and where it went, since not many of them left much - is a puzzle.

I think as far as Craig is concerned we have to at least allow for a Mrs McLeod alternative, since he did have that uncertainty over McBlain/McBain. And it may not even have been McBlain, but a badly-written Hohbein, the baker discovered by Debs.

[Sally]

I think so, Robert.

I've been thinking about this whilst reading the book. I haven't seen any evidence yet that Ellen McLeod and sister were involved in prostitution. They did live amongst the very wealthy at Collingham Place; and I'm not certain of where their money came from? They must have been able to command a considerable income. I have seen it suggested that the sisters had a property empire, but again, haven't seen the evidence for it.

With regard to Craig's reference to a Mrs McLeod; that suggests to me either that she was sufficiently elite that it would have been truly inappropriate to cite her Christian name; or alternatively, that he didn't know who she actually was, only her name.

[Robert]

Thanks Sally. I haven't read the book yet but WWD's identification of Mrs MacLeod is looking rather shaky.

[Sally]

Miss Eveline Frankland 1872 - 1915

Listed on the 1891 census return for the Maundrell/Gilder/McLeod residence at Collingham Place is an Evelyn R Frankland, aged 18 years, who is described as a pupil. The fact that she appears to be the only pupil at the house at the time may have been taken in the book 'The Real Mary Kelly' to indicate that Ellen McLeod and her sister Frederica Maundrell were operating a high class brothel at Collingham Place; the reasoning being that the 'school' at which Evelyn Frankland was apparently the only pupil was a cover for another kind of enterprise altogether.

Eveline Frankland was born on 27th September 1872 in Dover, Kent. She was the daughter of Major William Adolphus Frankland and his wife Lucy [nee Adams]. William Frankland was the son of Frederick Frankland, baronet; and Lucy Adams the daughter of Francis Adams, a Gloucestershire gentleman.
In 1881, the family was living at 51 Upper Brook Street, Westminster, in a house that could easily rival those at Collingham Place for grandeur.

Eveline was a young lady of the very best breeding. Her father William Frankland was by 1891 dead, but her mother Lucy was still living, by then occupying a house at no. 8 Bagshot Road, Sunninghill in Berkshire with her daughter Frances, cousin, nephew and four servants. If Eveline had resorted to prostitution, the reason is not immediately obvious. By 1901, Eveline had relocated to Newton in Makerfield, Lancashire and was living with widow Sarah Kitchen and her children.

At some point in the next 10 years, Eveline was admitted to Haydock Lodge, a private insane asylum in Newton-le-Willows, where she remained until her death on 6th April 1915. Her profession is recorded on the 1911 census for the asylum as ‘Governess’

It is in the role of governess that some of what we know about Eveline begins to makes more sense. It seems at least possible that she was living with Sarah Kitchen, a widow of independent means, in order to tutor her children; and with the Maundrells to further her education, presumably in French; knowledge of which was an essential requirement for a successful governess at the time.

At the least, there is an alternative explanation to prostitution for the presence of Eveline Frankland at the home of Ellen McLeod in 1891

[jmenges]

Today is the day for the contest question to be revealed. So check your emails and try to win a free copy, courtesy of Ripperologist Magazine and the Rippercast podcast.

JM

If you are a subscriber to Ripperologist magazine, you should be getting an email about a contest to win a free copy of 'The Real Mary Kelly'. This contest is international and we (Ripperologist and Rippercast) are held back only by the UK release date. I have a few copies here in the US and I'm ready to send them out this month to contest winners in the States.

Subscribe to Rip- it's FREE- by emailing your desire to subscribe to:

contact@ripperologist.biz

JM

[GUT]

Try here
http://www.amazon.com.au/

But the Real Mary Kelly's not available there, in fact just about everything there is kindle.

[belinda]

Try being in Aus.

Either Kindle not available (and as I hate reading off Kindle that's not a biggie) or postage so high it is more than the book itself.

Try here

http://www.amazon.com.au/

[Silverpaw]

I've received my copy. I'm not happy about that cover - the make-up, the blood, the implication that it IS Kelly/EWD

[Dane_F]

If you are a subscriber to Ripperologist magazine, you should be getting an email about a contest to win a free copy of 'The Real Mary Kelly'. This contest is international and we (Ripperologist and Rippercast) are held back only by the UK release date. I have a few copies here in the US and I'm ready to send them out this month to contest winners in the States.

Subscribe to Rip- it's FREE- by emailing your desire to subscribe to:

contact@ripperologist.biz

JM

That's certainly awesome news! Yes, I already am a subscriber. I eagerly await the email coming out. Thanks.

[jmenges]

It really is disappointing that the U.S. Release is so far behind the UK. We are talking about 8/9 months later for a same language book. Even if there is some insane legal issue for the copies of the actual book. . .a kindle edition is just data, having access to that copy would be awesome.

If you are a subscriber to Ripperologist magazine, you should be getting an email about a contest to win a free copy of 'The Real Mary Kelly'. This contest is international and we (Ripperologist and Rippercast) are held back only by the UK release date. I have a few copies here in the US and I'm ready to send them out this month to contest winners in the States.

Subscribe to Rip- it's FREE- by emailing your desire to subscribe to:

contact@ripperologist.biz

JM