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These are the four witnesses to Kelly's evening and night before she was killed. I thought it might be an idea to look at their testimony together to see what corroborates and what contradicts. Courtesy of Chris Scott, we have inquest transcript, and maybe Stewart can give us the actual witness statements...
Cox:
I live at the last house at the top of the court - Miller's Court. I am a widow and get a living on the streets. I've been unfortunate. On Thursday night, at 11.45, I last saw the deceased. She was very intoxicated. There was short, stout man, shabbily dressed, with her, who had a pot of ale in his hand. He had a round, black billycock hat and a full carrotty moustache. The chin was bare. I followed them up the court, and said, "Good night, Mary." She never turned round, and he banged the door. He had nothing but a quart can of beer in his hand. She said, "Good night. I'm going to have a song." Then the door was shut, and she sang "The violet I plucked from my mother's grave when a boy." I remained a quarter of an hour in my room. She was singing all the time. I went out, returned about one o'clock, and she was singing then. I went into my room to warm my hands a bit. It was raining hard then. I went out again, and returned at 3.10 a.m. Then the light was out, and there was no noise. I went in, but could not sleep and did not go to bed. I can't sleep when I owe anything. When the murder was discovered I had not had a wink of sleep. I had no sleep at all that day. There are men who go to work in Spitalfields Market, and who leave early. Once such man lives in the court now. I heard a man go out at 6.15. He might have gone out and come back again, for all I know. It might have been a policeman. The man who was with Kelly when I saw them was short and stout. All his clothes were dark. He appeared to be between 35 and 26. I did not notice the colour of his trousers. All his clothes were dark. The man looked very shabby; but his boots made no noise whatever in going into the court. The deceased had no hat on. I did not notice that the deceased was the worse drink until I said "Good night" to her. She scarcely had time to say "Good night," as the man shut the door.
By a juror - There was a light in the room, but I could not see anything, as the blind was down.
The Foreman - Should you know the man again if you saw him?
Witness - Oh, yes, I should.
By the Coroner - I feel certain that of there had been a cry of "Murder" in the deceased's room after three o'clock in the morning, I should have heard it. There was not the least sign of any noise whatever. I have often seen the deceased the worse for drink.
Prater:
I was deserted by my husband five years ago. I live at No. 20 in Miller's Court. On Thursday I went out of the court about five, and I returned close upon one on Friday morning. I stood at the corner of the court waiting for a young man. I never saw my young man. I went into my room and lay down. I went into M'Carthy's shop.
The Coroner - Was it open at 1 a.m.?
Witness - Yes, sir, and sometimes later. I told him to say to my young man that I had gone to my room. From where I was I could see if a light was in the room of the deceased. I have only spoken to her once or twice. I lay down on the bed at 1.30 in my clothes. I fell asleep directly, because I had been having something to drink, and slept soundly. I had a little black kitten which used to come on to my neck. It woke me up from 3.30 to 4 by coming on to my face, and I gave it a blow and knocked it off. The lights were out in the lodging house. The cat went on to the floor, and that moment I heard, "Oh! Murder!" I was then turning round on my bed. The voice was a faintish one, as though some one had woke up with a nightmare. Such a cry is not unusual, and I did not take any particular notice. I did not hear the cry a second time. I did not hear any bed or table being pulled about. I went to sleep and was awakened about five o'clock. I woke myself. I was not awakened by any noise. I went downstairs and saw some men harnessing their horses. I walked out, and went into the Ten Bells public house, where I had some rum. The last witness (Mary Ann Cox) could have come down the court and gone out, but I did not see her. I saw no one particular at the Ten Bells. I was there at a quarter to six, and shortly afterwards I returned home again, and went to bed and slept till eleven o'clock on Friday morning. When I went home first at half past one, there was no singing going on in the deceased's room. If there had been, I should have heard it.
Lews:
I know Mrs. Keyler, in Miller's Court, and saw her on Friday morning about 2.30 a.m. This I noticed by Spitalfields Church clock. In Dorset Street I saw a man with a wideawake on, stopping on the opposite side of the pavement. The man was alone, and was not talking to anybody. He was not tall, and a "stout" looking man. He had dark clothes on. A young man went along with a young woman, who was drunk. The man I noticed was looking up the court, as though he was waiting for some one. I stopped at Keyler's that night. I had had a few words at home. The court was quiet. I sat in a chair, and fell asleep. I woke up at 3.30 as the clock "went." I sat awake until nearly five. A little before four I heard a female shouting "Murder" once. It was loud, and there was only one shout. The cry was from where the shop is. There was no repetition. It was a young woman's voice. I took no notice. I was not alarmed. I left the house at half past five in the afternoon. I could not get out sooner, because the police would not let us leave. On Wednesday night I was going with a friend along the Bethnal Green Road at eight o'clock in the evening, when a gentleman passed us, and he followed us back again. He wanted us to follow him. He said he didn't mind which of us. He went away, and came back to us, and said if we went along a certain entry he would treat us. He put down his bag - his black, shiny bag - and said to my friend, "Are you frightened? I've got something in my bag." Then he began feeling about his clothes, and we ran away. He was a short, palefaced man, with a black moustache. The man appeared to be about forty. His bag was not very large - about six to nine inches long. The hat he wore was a round one, rather high - a stiff felt hat. He had a long overcoat on, and a short black one underneath. His trousers were dark. On the night of the murder, I saw him again in Commercial Street. I cannot tell you where he went when we left him. We did not look behind us. On Friday morning, about half past two, on my way to Miller's Court, I met the same man, who was accompanied by a female. They were in Commercial Street, near the Britannia public house. He was wearing the same clothes, with the exception of the overcoat. He had the black bag with him. They were standing talking together. I passed on, but looked back at him. I went on my way. I did not tell a policeman, as I did not pass one on my way. I saw the man talking to the woman at the corner of Dorset Street, and left them there.
The Coroner - Should you know the man if you saw him again?
Witness - I should.
Hutchinson is on the pdf file in the witnesses section. I don't think I can reproduce that here. In brief he says he saw Kelly at roughly 2.00 am in the vicinity of Commercial Road and Dorset St. She approached him and asked for money. when he rebuffed her she moved away and encountered another man. She took this man back to her room in Millers Court. Hutchinson claims to have followed them, taken a long look at the man in question and stood outside Millers Court for around 3/4 of an hour during which no one came out. He then left.
If Kelly was singing at 1.00 am, she had shut up by 1.30 when Prater turns in. However Prater says she went into see McCarthy before she went to bed. She testifies that she arrived back to Millers Court at around 1.00 am and stands outside for a while. I'm assuming she's out there for 20 minutes and then goes to McCarthy's shop. Which is very close to Kelly's room. I doubt the soundproofing was wonderful in that area so if Kelly was still singing at 1.20 or so, Prater and McCarthy would have heard it. No one sees Kelly at this time. If Kelly had left her room between 1.05 or so, when Cox hears her singing, and 1.20 or so, when Prater goes into McCarthy's store, Prater would have seen her come out. She's standing right at the entrance to the court. Kelly is not heard from again. So either Kelly goes out after Prater visits McCarthy and then goes to bed, or Kelly is already dead.
Hutchinson sees Kelly in the area at 2.00 am. If his evidence stands, then she leaves Millers Court after 1.20. Maybe she gets her fish supper then. He sees her go up the court with a trick, but no one else hears her come in. (And I'll bet that the bang that Cox heard earlier was the door of Kelly's room hitting the chair that was placed by the bedstead. The coroner hit this as he entered the room with the jury.) Hutchinson doesn't say he saw anyone else around, but maybe he just wasn't asked. Because...
...Lewis comes into the court at 2.30 am. She sees a man standing on Dorset St across from the court and looking up the court as if waiting for someone. Hutchinson does not mention seeing her. However Lewis describes seeing a man she had previously met and been frightened by conversing with a woman at the corner of Dorset St as she goes into the court. Hutchinson doesn't mention seeing this either.
So here is what we have: Kelly goes into the court with a customer at 11.45 pm. She makes no attempt to be quiet. Her door bangs and then she starts singing. She doesn't stop singing for over an hour, so she's loud well into the small hours. And then nothing. If she leaves her room, she tiptoes out. If she comes back with a trick, she tiptoes in. And doesn't sing, talk or make any kind of noise at all.
Cox:
I live at the last house at the top of the court - Miller's Court. I am a widow and get a living on the streets. I've been unfortunate. On Thursday night, at 11.45, I last saw the deceased. She was very intoxicated. There was short, stout man, shabbily dressed, with her, who had a pot of ale in his hand. He had a round, black billycock hat and a full carrotty moustache. The chin was bare. I followed them up the court, and said, "Good night, Mary." She never turned round, and he banged the door. He had nothing but a quart can of beer in his hand. She said, "Good night. I'm going to have a song." Then the door was shut, and she sang "The violet I plucked from my mother's grave when a boy." I remained a quarter of an hour in my room. She was singing all the time. I went out, returned about one o'clock, and she was singing then. I went into my room to warm my hands a bit. It was raining hard then. I went out again, and returned at 3.10 a.m. Then the light was out, and there was no noise. I went in, but could not sleep and did not go to bed. I can't sleep when I owe anything. When the murder was discovered I had not had a wink of sleep. I had no sleep at all that day. There are men who go to work in Spitalfields Market, and who leave early. Once such man lives in the court now. I heard a man go out at 6.15. He might have gone out and come back again, for all I know. It might have been a policeman. The man who was with Kelly when I saw them was short and stout. All his clothes were dark. He appeared to be between 35 and 26. I did not notice the colour of his trousers. All his clothes were dark. The man looked very shabby; but his boots made no noise whatever in going into the court. The deceased had no hat on. I did not notice that the deceased was the worse drink until I said "Good night" to her. She scarcely had time to say "Good night," as the man shut the door.
By a juror - There was a light in the room, but I could not see anything, as the blind was down.
The Foreman - Should you know the man again if you saw him?
Witness - Oh, yes, I should.
By the Coroner - I feel certain that of there had been a cry of "Murder" in the deceased's room after three o'clock in the morning, I should have heard it. There was not the least sign of any noise whatever. I have often seen the deceased the worse for drink.
Prater:
I was deserted by my husband five years ago. I live at No. 20 in Miller's Court. On Thursday I went out of the court about five, and I returned close upon one on Friday morning. I stood at the corner of the court waiting for a young man. I never saw my young man. I went into my room and lay down. I went into M'Carthy's shop.
The Coroner - Was it open at 1 a.m.?
Witness - Yes, sir, and sometimes later. I told him to say to my young man that I had gone to my room. From where I was I could see if a light was in the room of the deceased. I have only spoken to her once or twice. I lay down on the bed at 1.30 in my clothes. I fell asleep directly, because I had been having something to drink, and slept soundly. I had a little black kitten which used to come on to my neck. It woke me up from 3.30 to 4 by coming on to my face, and I gave it a blow and knocked it off. The lights were out in the lodging house. The cat went on to the floor, and that moment I heard, "Oh! Murder!" I was then turning round on my bed. The voice was a faintish one, as though some one had woke up with a nightmare. Such a cry is not unusual, and I did not take any particular notice. I did not hear the cry a second time. I did not hear any bed or table being pulled about. I went to sleep and was awakened about five o'clock. I woke myself. I was not awakened by any noise. I went downstairs and saw some men harnessing their horses. I walked out, and went into the Ten Bells public house, where I had some rum. The last witness (Mary Ann Cox) could have come down the court and gone out, but I did not see her. I saw no one particular at the Ten Bells. I was there at a quarter to six, and shortly afterwards I returned home again, and went to bed and slept till eleven o'clock on Friday morning. When I went home first at half past one, there was no singing going on in the deceased's room. If there had been, I should have heard it.
Lews:
I know Mrs. Keyler, in Miller's Court, and saw her on Friday morning about 2.30 a.m. This I noticed by Spitalfields Church clock. In Dorset Street I saw a man with a wideawake on, stopping on the opposite side of the pavement. The man was alone, and was not talking to anybody. He was not tall, and a "stout" looking man. He had dark clothes on. A young man went along with a young woman, who was drunk. The man I noticed was looking up the court, as though he was waiting for some one. I stopped at Keyler's that night. I had had a few words at home. The court was quiet. I sat in a chair, and fell asleep. I woke up at 3.30 as the clock "went." I sat awake until nearly five. A little before four I heard a female shouting "Murder" once. It was loud, and there was only one shout. The cry was from where the shop is. There was no repetition. It was a young woman's voice. I took no notice. I was not alarmed. I left the house at half past five in the afternoon. I could not get out sooner, because the police would not let us leave. On Wednesday night I was going with a friend along the Bethnal Green Road at eight o'clock in the evening, when a gentleman passed us, and he followed us back again. He wanted us to follow him. He said he didn't mind which of us. He went away, and came back to us, and said if we went along a certain entry he would treat us. He put down his bag - his black, shiny bag - and said to my friend, "Are you frightened? I've got something in my bag." Then he began feeling about his clothes, and we ran away. He was a short, palefaced man, with a black moustache. The man appeared to be about forty. His bag was not very large - about six to nine inches long. The hat he wore was a round one, rather high - a stiff felt hat. He had a long overcoat on, and a short black one underneath. His trousers were dark. On the night of the murder, I saw him again in Commercial Street. I cannot tell you where he went when we left him. We did not look behind us. On Friday morning, about half past two, on my way to Miller's Court, I met the same man, who was accompanied by a female. They were in Commercial Street, near the Britannia public house. He was wearing the same clothes, with the exception of the overcoat. He had the black bag with him. They were standing talking together. I passed on, but looked back at him. I went on my way. I did not tell a policeman, as I did not pass one on my way. I saw the man talking to the woman at the corner of Dorset Street, and left them there.
The Coroner - Should you know the man if you saw him again?
Witness - I should.
Hutchinson is on the pdf file in the witnesses section. I don't think I can reproduce that here. In brief he says he saw Kelly at roughly 2.00 am in the vicinity of Commercial Road and Dorset St. She approached him and asked for money. when he rebuffed her she moved away and encountered another man. She took this man back to her room in Millers Court. Hutchinson claims to have followed them, taken a long look at the man in question and stood outside Millers Court for around 3/4 of an hour during which no one came out. He then left.
If Kelly was singing at 1.00 am, she had shut up by 1.30 when Prater turns in. However Prater says she went into see McCarthy before she went to bed. She testifies that she arrived back to Millers Court at around 1.00 am and stands outside for a while. I'm assuming she's out there for 20 minutes and then goes to McCarthy's shop. Which is very close to Kelly's room. I doubt the soundproofing was wonderful in that area so if Kelly was still singing at 1.20 or so, Prater and McCarthy would have heard it. No one sees Kelly at this time. If Kelly had left her room between 1.05 or so, when Cox hears her singing, and 1.20 or so, when Prater goes into McCarthy's store, Prater would have seen her come out. She's standing right at the entrance to the court. Kelly is not heard from again. So either Kelly goes out after Prater visits McCarthy and then goes to bed, or Kelly is already dead.
Hutchinson sees Kelly in the area at 2.00 am. If his evidence stands, then she leaves Millers Court after 1.20. Maybe she gets her fish supper then. He sees her go up the court with a trick, but no one else hears her come in. (And I'll bet that the bang that Cox heard earlier was the door of Kelly's room hitting the chair that was placed by the bedstead. The coroner hit this as he entered the room with the jury.) Hutchinson doesn't say he saw anyone else around, but maybe he just wasn't asked. Because...
...Lewis comes into the court at 2.30 am. She sees a man standing on Dorset St across from the court and looking up the court as if waiting for someone. Hutchinson does not mention seeing her. However Lewis describes seeing a man she had previously met and been frightened by conversing with a woman at the corner of Dorset St as she goes into the court. Hutchinson doesn't mention seeing this either.
So here is what we have: Kelly goes into the court with a customer at 11.45 pm. She makes no attempt to be quiet. Her door bangs and then she starts singing. She doesn't stop singing for over an hour, so she's loud well into the small hours. And then nothing. If she leaves her room, she tiptoes out. If she comes back with a trick, she tiptoes in. And doesn't sing, talk or make any kind of noise at all.
... I think Flem/Hutchinson may be our man. You seeded that idea...and its a good one. The more I try to put things in order, the more "well known man" as killer, and Curious George seem to collide.
...but wants to be sure people are looking for Jack... who kills strangers, instead of someone close to home.
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