George Henry Matthews 1894

[Debra A]

Reynold’s Newspaper’s report on the case from the 2nd of December, 1894 reports on the evidence of a Miss Lizzie Grieg, who is not mentioned in many of the other reports. Her evidence was that she was occupying a room at the premises with a man named Sullivan. She had been shown to the room by Mr Matthews, the accused, at about twenty past 12. Shortly after she had heard a row upstairs and was called down by a shout from Mrs Matthews asking ‘Is anybody upstairs?’. She saw the body at the foot of the stairs.

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Yes, this is also included in one of the clips that Rob posted at the beginning of the thread (#9) from The Illustrated Police News, Saturday 8 December 1894

[seanr]

Reynold’s Newspaper’s report on the case from the 2nd of December, 1894 reports on the evidence of a Miss Lizzie Grieg, who is not mentioned in many of the other reports. Her evidence was that she was occupying a room at the premises with a man named Sullivan. She had been shown to the room by Mr Matthews, the accused, at about twenty past 12. Shortly after she had heard a row upstairs and was called down by a shout from Mrs Matthews asking ‘Is anybody upstairs?’. She saw the body at the foot of the stairs.

This gives some insight perhaps into how the 'coffee shop as brothel' system may have worked with the 24 hour coffee shop providing a front for couples to visit respectably and private rooms available for hire. There’s no suggestion Miss Greig and the Matthews worked together in an organised way and perhaps the room was hired out when wanted with few questions asked of the couples using them.

Inspector John Pryke of J Division stated the house was known as a ‘disorderly house’.

The Weekly Despatch article from the 25th of November mentions the evidence of the victim’s son, William Barker who mentions that 5 and 7 Thomas Street were adjoining premises which communicated laterally, with a coffee shop on the ground floor of one and a wardrobe shop on the other. The rooms of the upper floors were used in Barker’s words as ‘a convenience’.

The coroner Wynne Baxter asked probing questions around the meaning of ‘a convenience’. Witness answered that by this he meant ‘living there’ and denied ever knowing of lodgers or any other men and women using those rooms. The coroner remarked that more would be said about the character of that house later. Presumably this refers to the inquiry which later led to Mrs Matthews prosecution for brothel keeping.

[Observer]

In 1907 the then leaders of what would become the Bolshevik movement Lenin, Trotsky, Zinoviev, Kamenev and Litvinov, also the prominent Russian writer Maxim Gorky took part in a congress at the Brotherhood Church in Hackney. They had to register, if they wanted to take part, at a building in the East End, namely what is now number 4 Fulbourne street, at the time a Jewish Socialist club. That little door, which welcomed those very large figures in history still stands. If you go to page 2 of this thread, third picture down, supplied by Rob Clack, you will see the door just peeping out above the white van.

[Debra A]

Hi Debs, Robert

An interest bit of information is that in the 1882 directory at number 5 Thomas Street is a Charles Reeve, Wardrobe Dealer. He is listed in the 1881 Census at the same address as 'Comedian, Actor'. This is the same person who later joined the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee and who's daughter Ada Reeve wrote in her memoirs 'Take it for a Fact' that her father was a member of the Vigilance committee. She was 7 in 1881 and listed as Adelaide. In 1891 they and the rest of the family are living at 209 Jubilee Street where she is listed as Ada Reeve, Burlesque actress.

Rob

'Little Ada Reeve' was advertising from the same address in 1883.
Obviously she'd hit the big time, having appeared at the Theatre Royal, Huddersfield!

The Era - Saturday 28 July 1883
LITTLE ADA REEVE, the most talented Child Actress on the Stage, Eight Years of age, in conjunction with Mr Charles Reeve appeared BRITANNIA (Great) THEATRE HOXTON, in an Original Sketch, great success. Specially Engaged by Messrs Hamilton and Overend Theatre Royal, Huddersfield, for Bank Holiday, Singing. Acting. Dancing. English. and American Solo Drum. Offers Invited for Christmas
Permanent address, 5 Thomas-street, Whitechapel.

[Debra A]

I'd forgotten about this 13 year old thread I started.


What struck me at the time was the location of the 'brothel' so close to Buck's Row and the fact that Matthews was able to wander through the streets of Whitechapel covered in blood after the crime, without being stopped.

George H Matthews died in Broadmoor 10 September 1896 btw.

[seanr]

I stumbled on this same case again. I haven't found much discussion about it apart from this thread. There's a somewhat detailed account on this 'Whitechapel Murder' in the Weekly Despatch (London) from Sunday 25 November 1894. I'm struck by the claim from the accussed sister that he'd said he had 'ripped up Marie and Sarah'.

[Rob Clack]

Hi Robert,

I think they are sturdy enough. Just need a bit of TLC like all of us.

Rob

[Robert]

Thanks Rob. Blimey, these buildings aren't works of art but they're pretty well preserved, considering.

[Rob Clack]

Hi Debs,

It was within spiting distance.

I took this from the side of the club:


And this is from the corner with Durward Street.


Rob

[Debra A]

Thanks again Rob!
How far approx. would this part of Thomas Street have been from Buck's Row?
I was skmming through some newspaper accounts of Polly Nichols murder the other day and one of the witnesses was asked by police if she knew of a disorderly house in the area.

Thanks Robert and Miss marple for the stuff on Ada Reeve.

[Rob Clack]

Here's some photos of Thomas (now Fulbourne) Street.

East side Nos. 5 and 7 are the nearest building.


Here's a close up. The middle entrance is number 5


This is the east side, the nearest building is No. 4 where the club was.


Rob

[Robert]

Thanks Rob. That would explain it.

[Rob Clack]

Hi Debs,

I've ordered a copy of Ada Reeve's book and will report on anything of interest. Hopefully quite a bit.

Hi Robert,

I just checked my 1890 Goad Map and there isn't a 14. I think the problem was that after the Whitechapel Station was built they didn't bother renumbering the the street so there was a jump from 4 to 16 on the eastern side.

Rob

[Robert]

Thank you Miss Marple, and here she is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC2vZ9_GAeY

[miss marple]

Ada Reeve

Ada Reeve was a very famous music hall and pantomine star. Who made films in later life.Her father Charles Reeves real name was Samual Issacs.
Miss Maple