The Christie Case

[Honest John]

Hopefully the book answers some questions and sheds light in areas of the lives and deaths of the protagoniosts, but as I state, there's some things we'll never know as all involved are long dead - and, even when alive, were not particularly truthful. As to question 2, I'm not sure that the shop Beryl was fired from in 1949 was the same as the place she was employed in in 1947. It is regrettable that the files did not delve much into Beryl's background - unlike those in some murder cases. Presumably Basil Thorley coudl tell more, if he's still alive. Kenendy states that Ethel is the enigma but I would state that its Beryl who is more so, though partly this is because her life was so short and so there wasn't much time for her to do much in it, except the disastrous step taken in 1947.

[EddieX]

4) If Timothy Evans was indeed guilty of the murders of Beryl and Geraldine, what exactly did Christie know about them?

I would say for certain that Evans murdered neither Beryl nor Geraldine, and Christie knew everything about their murders.

[Sherlock]

Despite the thorough research which Honest John has undertaken for his book, there are still certain questions arising from the Christie case to which we will probably never know the answers. Here are a few that spring to mind:-

1) Why exactly did Christie murder Ruth Fuerst in 1943, which as far as is known was his first murder? As Honest John suggests, this seems to have occurred on the spur of the moment and was not necessarily planned in advance. What then drove her to kill her? Did she taunt him in some way or was it necessary to dispose of her before his wife arrived home? Could she possibly have threatened to blackmail him in some way? Before this it seems that he only committed relatively minor crimes involving theft, apart from his one conviction for the assault of Mrs Cole in 1929.

2) What exactly attracted Beryl Susanna Thorley to Timothy Evans? Honest John records that she was employed as a relief telephonist by Thomas Wallis and Company of Oxford Street, which I understand was a department store. I presume that this was the shop from which she was dismissed after her husband made a scene there due to her flirtation with another male employee.

However, most books on the case state that before her marriage she was employed as a telephonist in the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane; Honest John does not mention this. F. Tennyson Jesse made the point that as Beryl worked in a plush hotel she must have been a fairly well-dressed and respectable person herself. What, then, attracted her to a coarse and semi-literate person like Evans? Ludovic Kennedy stated in Ten Rillington Placethat she had met him on a blind date with a friend of hers named Connie. As Honest John suggests, was she lonely after the break-up of her family after her mother's death?

It would appear that not a great deal has ever been discovered about Beryl as a person, although it would seem that she may have had an argumentative nature. One wonders what her own family made of Evans when she became engaged to him.

3) Why did Christie leave 10 Rillington Place after sub-letting it to Mr and Mrs Reilly? He must surely have known that it would only be a matter of time before the bodies were discovered, possibly even by them. Also, it does not seem to have been determined exactly where he went between his departure from the Rowton House and his arrest near Putney Bridge, although sightings of him were reported in various locations and it seems that he spoke to a Margaret Wilson in a cafe in the Pentonville Road, that he pawned his watch in Battersea, and that he tried to scrounge money for a cup of tea in Putney. The claim by journalist Norman Rae that he arranged to meet him near Wood Green Town Hall may or may not have been true, as no evidence exists to corroborate this and Christie himself seems never to have mentioned it.

4) If Timothy Evans was indeed guilty of the murders of Beryl and Geraldine, what exactly did Christie know about them?

5) What exactly was the extent of his indecent photographic activities, which apparently included a session at which his victim Kathleen Maloney was present. Who did he hire the photographic studio from? Could he possibly have been involved in the distribution of pornography? How many other women did he photograph, if any?

6) Did he commit any other murders? It has been suggested that he may haver murdered Dora Lloyd in 1932, although Honest John considers this unlikely.

[EddieX]

Hello Honest John,

My computer has been giving me problems for several months. Anyway,
belatedly good luck with the book.

Jeff

Yes, good luck too from me, on the strength of positive reviews I've ordered a copy.

[Mayerling]

18 October is the big day, as it were. Authors tend to look forward top books being published with a mixture of joy and concern, especially with anything controversial and I suppose I am no exception. One could always do better.

No news on a tv slot, regrettably.

Hello Honest John,

My computer has been giving me problems for several months. Anyway,
belatedly good luck with the book.

Jeff

[Sherlock]

It is also interesting that Ethel had a physical relationship with another man before she was reconciled with Christie and moved to London with him. It also seems that she was fairly attractive as a young woman, unlike the later photographs of her in middle age in which she seems rather plain and stout.

As Christie was cited as co-respondent in the divorce case after his affair with the wife of the RAF man which continued until after the war, and actually created a scene in court, it seems highly unlikely that Ethel knew nothing of this relationship. In spite of this, she apparently decided to remain with her husband.
No doubt we will never know why she did not choose to leave him at this time.

[Honest John]

The other point is that it was in a registry office and was not recorded in the local press. All his other siblings who wed in Halifax were married in church and had their weddings mentioned in the newspaper. We'll never know the whole story, of course, but a family rift seems likely, but why? No criminal offences as yet, of course.

[Sherlock]

I also learned from Honest John's book that Christie's brother Percy was alive until 1970 and that one of his sisters died around 1973, if I remember correctly. It seems that Christie may not have met his brother again after he left Yorkshire for London, although he sent his mother a picture of himself in police uniform during the Second World War; she died in Stockport in 1944, probably not having seen her youngest son in person for many years.

Interestingly, none of Christie's family seem to have attended his wedding to Ethel in Halifax Registry Office, which suggests that they may have disapproved of the marriage.

[Sherlock]

There are photos of Christie's mother by herself and with his brother Percy and his wife. There is also a document with a picture of Christie as he was back in the early 1920s. At that time the balding dome-shaped head is still unmistakeable, although he did not then wear glasses.

[contrafib]

Any photos we haven't seen in other books??

[Sherlock]

Just received my copy of Honest John's book this morning, and it is absolutely fascinating!!!!!!

[contrafib]

So, the day has arrived. As i live in Italy and have a very busy 2 months ahead of me, i am going to get some kind relative in England to buy it for me as a Xmas present and i will read it then along with the i'm sure numerous comments on this forum.
Honest John, i hope you get good sales and if you're lucky, you might be accused of being a 'Christie supporter', as i was on this forum last year, for daring to suggest that our Tim wasn't whiter than white.
See you all soon

[Sherlock]

I understand that my copy of Honest John's book has just been dispatched by Amazon. I can hardly wait!!

[Honest John]

Sorry for the delay in replying. I am told that it is still on the cards but may take palce at the Tabernacle on Powis Square, but no date known at present.

[contrafib]

I too would love to see a new documentary but can't imagine they'd do it because the standard version is now the one the establishment are happy with! Dineage prog. now on youtube- not v impressive at all, inaccuracies, no hint of any ambiguities in the case, an air of 'don't worry, Christie's dead, sleep tight!'

I look forward to the book of course but having read alarming stats about the forced closure of bookstores due to online selling, could i humbly suggest buying from a real shop, prefereably a small one without an online outlet. The price will be the same, i imagine. I use Amazon, Play etc...but mainly when i can't find the item for a comparable price in a shop.