Mike Covell’s Blogg

One of the most important aspects of any research trip, other than the research of course, is the planning and preparation that goes on in the days leading up to a trip.  In the past I had thought about spending a day at the British Library in London, but during my previous visits to the Capitol I just didn’t have the time to squeeze in a visit.  This week I was able to plan a day in London and visit the library to spend some time researching certain aspects of the case.  With primary research on Jack the Ripper, From Hell, From Hull? Vol. I coming to a close I thought it would be the best, and probably last time I would get to visit before the final copy was ready.  The trip would be one of both primary and secondary resources, taking in correspondence, financial papers, and articles from the period, coupled with material written after the fact.  Some of these have often been alluded to, but never published and they proved to be quiet interesting.  They would include,

Robert D’Onston Stephenson and Grant Richards

Robert D’Onston Stephenson and Theosophy

Robert D’Onston Stephenson and the Workhouse

Robert D’Onston Stephenson and Betty May’s Tiger Woman

Robert D’Onston Stephenson and Highgate Hill Infirmary

Robert D’Onston Stephenson and the Islington Board of Guardians

With these topics in mind I searched for both primary and secondary sources associated with Stephenson and Co, and my searches came back time and time again with two locations, the most important of these, holding the most information, was the British Library.  I had arranged to see a collection of books and files to cover the majority of the topics above and packed my bag for the trip, booking my tickets online.

 The train journey began from Hull at 7.40 on a very wet Friday morning.  The last time I had taken this journey was the day my father passed away, it felt strange, but at the same time it felt right.  Dad loved history and was the first person I showed my research to. 

 The first stop on the journey was Hessle Station, a place associated with several notable families, and several names that appear in Jack the Ripper, From Hell, From Hull? Vol. III.  The station itself retains much of the Victorian architecture, but now stands in the shadow of the modern monolith that is the Humber Bridge.  The train eventually passes the Hearfield family mill at Little Switzerland.  It was here at the black mill that the Hearfield family crushed chalk, the present day Humber Bridge Country park being the site of their quarry.  Thomas Hearfield was a Hull based Solicitor who was often called in to defend Richard Stephenson Junior in the 1870’s.

 Another station on the way is Goole, a location associated with Annie Deary in the later years of her life.  From the station one can see the cranes that dominate the docks, as well as both the Victorian and more modern water towers. 

 Thorne North is another station stop and another location associated with Annie Deary.  It was in Thorne that Deary was born, and registered in the 1841 Census with her parents.  The station retains much of its Victorian fittings and fixtures, and the main station house dominates the outward bound platform side, albeit with modern automatic doors. 

 A quick change at Doncaster and I was on the much quicker train that sped through the English countryside to London, arriving at 10.45.

 After completing my pre-registration at the British Library I left my belongings at the locker room and with writing pad, laptop, and wish list made my way to the Rare Books Room.  The first thing that strikes you about the British Library is the size, it is essentially a multi-storey building with lifts and stairs and very much reminded me of Relativity by M.C. Escher.  Lifts, stairs and escalators going back and forth and I got lost in the building at least once during the day.

 The Rare Book Room is enormous, and after familiarising myself with the layout and rules I approached the desk and found that my items were ready.  Within minutes I had sat down and found some of the material I was looking for.  These gave new insights into some of the aspects of Robert D’Onston Stephenson’s life and it surprised me that despite the age of the material it had never been published in recent years.  I typed up the relevant passages and sought out some other material.  I spent from 11.00 until 13.00 in the rare book room and managed to come out with a pile of material that I had typed up and written up onto an A4 pad. 

 I still had more material to look at, but it was on order and could take up to 70 minutes for delivery so I went for lunch.  Outside of the British Library is a massive seating area with numerous café’s and coffee houses.  It was a warm afternoon and quiet busy.  After eating lunch I realised I still had some time to spare so visited the Sci Fi exhibition being held at the British Library, entitled Out of this World.  This involved a lengthy timeline, finely illustrated by books, and periodicals, and touched on famous authors, stories, theories, ideas, shows, and comic book heroes.  Sadly photos were not allowed, which is a shame as the exhibition had some amazing set pieces featuring giant flying saucers, talking robots, giant metal bugs, and props from Doctor Who.

 Heading back to library I headed for the Humanities Room where one of the items I requested had been delivered.  I spent some time in here looking for the relevant information before returning the book and heading to the Rare Books Room for the final stint of my research.  I sat here until 5 o’clock and found letters that were pertinent to my research, reading and copying them out.  I didn’t get to see everything I wanted to see, but found some fascinating snippets on Robert D’Onston Stephenson that had never been discussed before and has opened up new avenues of research for the future.

 It is always nice to have direct access to the source material and to not have to rely on others for it.  I also came across several articles on Frederick Bailey Deeming that will come in handy at some point.

 Leaving the British Library I headed for the tube to take a trip to Kensington with a view to visiting a Family History Centre.  Turning up in Kensington the building I sought had closed.  Although this was something of a setback and I was quiet disappointed I decided to visit the nearby museums.  First of all I took in the Victoria and Albert Museum, a building that was so big I got lost and had to ask for directions for the way out.  The museum was packed with some fascinating objects but because of the name I was expecting objects and information about Victoria and Albert.

 Across the road was the Natural History Museum, a location I had longed to go but never made the trip.  I loved it, and spent quiet some time admiring the dinosaurs, animals and displays on offer, and hope to return with the children one day. 

 After leaving the museum I head back via the tube for King’s Cross and my journey home.  It had been a long day but well worth it as I came away with more material that I thought I would get and some information that I had thought might exist, but never imagined that it did, or that I would get my hands on it.  

The chapter list is finished, with just a few minor editing points to be addressed, here goes,

Frederick Bailey Deeming 1853-1892

                                Introduction

Chapter I               Frederick Bailey Deeming 1853 – 1881

Chapter II             Frederick Bailey Deeming’s First Wife Sydney and South Africa 1881-1888

Chapter III           Frederick Bailey Deeming in Africa during 1888

Chapter IV            Frederick Bailey Deeming in New Zealand during 1888

Chapter V             Frederick Bailey Deeming’s Second Wife- Beverley and Hull 1890

Chapter VI            Frederick Bailey Deeming’s Trial for Fraud in Hull – Local and National Press opinions

Chapter VII          Frederick Bailey Deeming’s Trial in Hull for Fraud in Hull – The Official Files 1890

Chapter VIII        Frederick Bailey Deeming’s in the Hull Watch Committee Meeting Minutes, 1890 – 1891

Chapter IX            Frederick Bailey Deeming and the Hull Watch Files – CTCW/179, 1891

Chapter X             Frederick Bailey Deeming in the Home Office Files – HO144/479/X30712 1890 – 1892

Chapter                 XI           Frederick Bailey Deeming and the Preston Murder of Mary Jane Langley. 1891

Chapter XII          Frederick Bailey Deeming at Rainhill  1891

Chapter XIII        Frederick Bailey Deeming’s Third Wife, Rainhill and Australia, 1891

Chapter XIV         Frederick Bailey Deeming and the murder of Emily Mather, Australia, 1892

Chapter XV          Frederick Bailey Deeming’s Fourth and Fifth Marriage Proposal, Australia 1891-                                1892

Chapter XVI         Frederick Bailey Deeming Stands Trial 1892 – Press opinions

Chapter XVII       Frederick Bailey Deeming – The Australian Trial File - 1892

Chapter XVIII     Frederick Bailey Deeming’s Death 1892

Chapter XIX         Frederick Bailey Deeming in the Whitechapel Murder Files - 1892

Chapter XX          Frederick Bailey Deeming and the Whitechapel Murders

Chapter XXI         Frederick Bailey Deeming and the letter from Eddowes.

Chapter XXII       Frederick Bailey Deeming - The East End Murderer - I knew him

Chapter XXIII     Weird and Wonderful Deeming stories

Chapter XXIV      Frederick Bailey Deeming and Mr. Jabez Balfour

Chapter XXV       Frederick Bailey Deeming in the Australian Files – 1892

Chapter XXVI      Frederick Bailey Deeming’s belongings

Chapter XXVII    Frederick Bailey Deeming – Medical opinions

Chapter XXVIII  Frederick Bailey Deeming – Old theories debunked

                                Frederick Bailey Deeming – Conclusion.

Acknowledgements,

Sources,

Appendix I            List of exhibits produced at Deeming’s Trial.

Appendix II          Property foind in Deeming’s possession when arrested.

Appendix III        Precise career of Frederick Bailey Deeming as presented at the trial.

Appendix IV         Frederick Bailey Deeming in the Hull Press post 1892

Appendix V          Frederick Bailey Deeming in the International Press post 1892

Today marks the 120th anniversary of the discovery of the body of Mary Jane Langley. Hull Daily Mail, Monday August 1st 2011, features a fantastic article on the research I have conducted, and the thoughts of the remaining relatives here in Hull. Here is the article that featured in Ripperologist Magazine,

Frederick Bailey Deeming in Preston and Hedon

 Over the years a number of crimes have been attributed to Frederick Bailey Deeming, with claims that his criminal exploits were carried out in Germany, Africa, Australia, and Great Britain.  This article will not look at Deeming’s criminal career, or candidacy as a Ripper suspect, but will in fact explore a little known unsolved murder that Deeming was connected to by the press in Yorkshire.

I must admit, that despite having a respectable knowledge of local crime and murders, I had not heard of the tragedy that befell Mary Jane Langley in Long-lane, Preston, despite visiting the area of Hedon, Preston, and Sproatley on numerous occasions.  I had friends and family for many years in these areas, and had often cycled out to the small villages on the weekends.  I first came across the case on a trip to the East Riding Archives to look for information pertaining to Frederick Bailey Deeming, under his alias Harry Lawson.  As I was searching I was asked if he had any known aliases, so with a wry smile on my face I informed the helpful staff that most people knew him as the notorious Frederick Bailey Deeming.  At this point it seemed to turn on a light switch in the minds of the staff, who quickly produced a large book packed full of newspaper cuttings, photographs and primary sources on Beverley’s rich history. [1] Among the cuttings were local historical announcements, parish reports, cuttings covering the Baccarat Scandal, and some fantastic reports on Frederick Bailey Deeming.  Whilst most of the reports covered the trial and subsequent hanging, there was one report that really got my attention.  The report featured in the Yorkshire Post that stated,

WILLIAMS AND THE NEWLAND MURDER A Hull correspondent says:- The coincidence between the discharge of Lawson in July and the mysterious murder of Mary Jane Langley at Preston, near Hull, the last week in that month, was remarked upon in Hull yesterday, when the supposition that Lawson was Williams and became known; but there is nothing whatever to connect the two events.  Supposing Lawson to be Williams, even then he was, according to the dates given of his movements, busily engaged in Liverpool. [2]

I searched for more references to Deeming and the unsolved murder and found another report from a few days later in the Sheffield and Rotherham Independant, the article stated,

DEEMING’S CONDUCT IN YORKSHIRE Deeming was allowed to leave the Hull Gaol on the 16^th of July, and remained in the vicinity for a few days to settle matters, it is stated, with the solicitors, Locking and Holditch, who had defended him, and it was during these few days that a horrible murder was committed about five miles from Hull, at Preston, but the police have been unable to trace the murderer of the young lady – Miss Langley – the daughter of a farmer.  The police have now a supposition that Deeming may have committed the crime. [3]

Given that newspapers have gotten it wrong, and continue to do so, I decided to dig a little further into the murder of Mary Jane Langley, and was surprised at what I uncovered but first I will cover Deeming’s antecedents in Hull and East Yorkshire.  It is a well ascertained fact that Deeming was in Hull in February and March 1890, this comes from the marriage between Deeming and Helen Matheson can be seen in the following marriage index entry,

Name: Helen Matheson, Year: 1890, Quarter: Jan- Feb- March, District: Beverley, County: Yorkshire, Volume: 9d, Page: 148

The entry in St Mary’s Church Parish Registers reads,

1890 Marriage solemnized at the Parish Church in the Parish of St Mary’s Beverley in the County of York, No: 462, When Married: Feb 18^th 1890

Married in the Parish Church in accordance to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church

The names of the father’s and their professions do not fit in with the known facts, and the marriage entry has a long black line, not unlike a cut, through the entry.  It is my opinion, based on the physical appearance of this document and the known facts, the bottom half of the entry is not part of the original top piece and added at a later date.  The entry is held on microfiche at the Treasures House in Beverley, a part of East Riding Archives, and the original document was unavailable for perusal so I could not ascertain what had happened and why the entries of the fathers did not match.

On February 22^nd 1890 the Beverley Guardian featured the following,

MARRIAGES Beverley- February 18^th, at St Mary’s Church, by the Rev. Cannon Quirk, assisted by the Rev. H. E. Gaussed, curate, Harry Lawson, younger son of the late H. Lawson, Liverpool, to Helen, elder daughter of the late Findlay Matheson, Inland Revenue.

Given that the names in the newspaper do not match the names of the fathers on the parish records, I believe in this instance that the newspaper article is actually right, for the simple reason that the parish records are damaged, and the record featuring the father’s names is on a separate piece of paper in the files.  This indicates that it was lost, or damaged, and that in the process of repairing the records, an unrelated record was added to the page.  What happened next is the subject of much debate, with some sources claiming that Deeming went down south before returning to Hull but do not provide a source for such a claim. [4] [5] What is known is that on March 15^th 1890 Frederick Bailey Deeming defrauded Raynoldson’s Jeweler’s and fled Hull for Monte Video via Southampton. [6] The case filled newspaper columns in Hull when Detective Grasby was sent to apprehend Deeming and return him to Hull, with Grasby’s own account of his adventures on the high seas making interesting reading and Grasby something of a local hero. [7] On October 16^th 1890 Deeming was brought before the Hull Magistrates and received a 9 month sentence for his part in the jewelry frauds and was subsequently sent to Hull Jail. [8] It was during his time in Hull Jail that the 1891 Census was taken with Deeming appearing under his alias of Harry Lawson, one of the reasons why researchers in the past have had difficulty finding him.  The Census entry reads, [9]

Harry Lawson      32           Prisoner                                Engine Fitter                       

Joseph Dawber    46           Prisoner                                Solicitor

Ripperologist’s will note that Joseph Dawber, Robert D’Onston Stephenson’s cousin was serving time for his part in financial fraud.  If one goes by Deeming’s sentence he should have been released by July 16^th 1891 with several newspaper articles stating that he was released “early July 1891” [10] with one source giving the exact date of July 16^th 1891. [11] It was the latter report that claimed Deeming remained in Hull for several days after his release to meet with his legal team.  It was during this period that a young girl was murdered on a small lane between Hull and the outlying village of Preston.

The Preston Murder

On the morning of Thursday July 30^th 1891 William Langley, a farmer residing at residing at West End Farm, Long-lane, Preston set out to Driffield with his wife in order to attend a farmers market and pay their rent.  The couple waved to their 18 year old daughter Mary Jane as they set off, taking note that she stood at the garden gate waving them off. [12] It would be the last time they saw their daughter alive. 

The family was registered in the 1891 Census residing at 110 North-road, Preston,

Class RG12, P3921, F47, P17, GSU Roll6099031

William Langley 53           Head Farmer

Mary                      44           Wife

Mary Jane             18           Daughter

William                  16           Son         Milkman

Frederick              11           Son         Scholar

Thomas                  9              Son Birth registration DRY/31/53

Rachel                   6              Daughter Birth registration DRY/37/367

Elizabeth               7              Daughter Birth registration DRY/35/451

Upon returning to their home at 6.30 they noticed that Mary Jane had failed to do any of the house work requested and made enquiries with their son William to ascertain where Mary Jane had gone.  William informed his parents that Mary Jane had left Preston for Hull with the purpose of getting a photograph of her self. [13] Some years earlier Mary Jane had left Preston unannounced to visit Cleethorpes, and Mr. Langley had recently found a letter from Albert Hall, Mary Jane’s boyfriend, that stated, “I shall only be too happy to go to Cleethorpes with you.” With this information Mr. Langley had assumed that Mary Jane had visited Cleethorpes for the day, and thought nothing of it. [14] On Friday July 31^st 1891 Mr. William Langley had still not heard from his daughter, finding this highly unusual he decided to visit Hull to speak with Mary Jane’s friends.  The family had previously resided on Southcoates-lane, off Holderness-road in East Hull, and still had friends in the area. [15] On the off chance that Mary Jane was staying with Arthur Hall, Mr. Langley also decided to pay the young man a visit, but upon arriving he discovered that Mr. Hall was not home, but he was in the town and not at Cleethorpes as previously thought and certainly not with Mary Jane.  It was also proved before the Hull Police that Mr. Hall was working in Hessle during the period in which Mary Jane had been murdered. [16] [17] By Saturday Mr. Langley had sent his son William to Hull with the purpose of finding out if Mary Jane had visited any of her friends.  William Langley Junior made enquiries at Mr. Edmonds Photography store in Witham, East Hull, and Mr. Edmonds confirmed that he had indeed taken Mary Jane’s photograph. [18] [19] Mr. William Mortimer Edmonds, had a photographic studio at 123 Witham which is a road connecting the town of Hull with Holderness-road and was easily reached by the tram service that ran east. [20] It is stated that she paid 3s and 6d for the photograph and left his studio at three o’clock. [21] It is unknown where Mary Jane went next, Mr. Edmonds had stated that Mary Jane had told him she was “to make for Hull then head to Marfleet via the train.” [22] The railway service that ran between Hull and Withernsea, taking in Southcoates, Marfleet and Hedon was opened on June 26^th 1854 and ran along 18 and ½ miles until it was closed to passengers, under the Beeching Axe, by October 19^th 1964, and finally closed to all transport on May 3^rd 1965. [23] The station named Southcoates stood on Holderness-road, between Witham and Southcoates-lane, places that Mary Jane was well acquainted with, but as the line ran from Paragon Station from 1864 it is quiet possible that Mary Jane set off from the main station.  Regardless of where Mary Ann set off from, a gatekeeper at Marfleet Station had claimed to have seen Mary Jane arrive at the station on the ten past five train from Hull on the Thursday evening although other sources refute this and claim Mary Jane appeared at the station at 2.19. [24] In later days a number of eyewitnesses were found by the police and the press, and one such eyewitness was Annie Severs.  Severs was the niece of Mr. Smith of Sycamore Farm, and the surrounding land.  Mary Jane had to pass across these fields to get home and severs remembers seeing a girl in a black dress who had got off the train from Hull at Marfleet just after two o’clock.  Severs recalled seeing her wearing her gold watch and chain, and that they engaged in conversation.  When pressed by the press Severs admitted to seeing a man pass by before Mary Jane, and described him as rough looking and tall. [25] Severs account was at odds with previous accounts and was ruled out by some. Another eyewitness was a man named only as Kitching, who was employed in a field with a rolling machine.  It was another field that Mary Jane had to cross, and Kitching recalls seeing a young girl in a black dress carrying an umbrella. Kitching recalls seeing no one else, nor hearing or seeing anything out of the ordinary after his sighting. [26]

With enquiries reaching a dead end, Mr. Langley had told his wife that he planned to go to the Hull police, but told his wife that he had a dream the previous night that a dog had ran from a ditch on the lane outside their property and that had gone into the ditch and found his daughter lying dead. [27] Mr. Langley had to pass the exact spot on the way to Marfleet Station, and with a feeling of dread he looked over the bridge into the drain below.  It was here that he discovered his daughter’s body lying dead. [28] A local man named only as “Taylor” was passing the scene and made a short journey to Lower Farm to raise help from Doctor Soutter.  Soutter returned to the scene and examined the body; his findings were reported in numerous press accounts as thus,

The ditch was perfectly dry, and there were no apparent signs of a struggle.  Deceased was lying on her left side, partly concealed from view under the bridge, with her head resting on her umbrella, and her clothes turned up as far as her knees.  A wet hankerchief was found near the body, and, singular to relate, her jacket and hand were found some distance away.  A jagged wound in the girl’s throat was discovered, sufficient enough to fit a persons fist, and it could not have been self inflicted.  The girls silver Geneva watch and gold albert were missing.  The body was left until between four and five when the East Riding Police arrived. [29]

Several police forces, including Hull, Hedon and Sproatley, joined forces and soon several suspects were arrested.  Among them was a James Parkin, who was found to have attacked and threatened two women out at Sutton, another small village on the outskirts of Hull, albeit four miles to the north.  The police arrested Parkin and on his person found two purses from the two women he had accosted at Sutton.  Eyewitnesses soon came forward and confirmed that Parkin was working when Mary Jane was murdered, thus ruling him out as a suspect. [30] Another suspect was soon arrested by the name of John Rennard, known locally as Jack Rennard or Jack Renny.  Rennard by all accounts was a family man brought up by a corn miller named William Rennard in the parish of Southcoates in Hull, the same parish that the Langley family had resided in. [31] By 1871 the Rennard family were living in Beeton-street, a location between Witham and the Southcoates railway station. [32] Ripperologist’s will also be aware that Beeton-street was the street where Doctor Frederick Richard Chapman’s brother resided!  The family appears again on the street in a trade directory with William Rennard, Miller, 87 Beeton-street. [33] By 1881 William Rennard had passed away and the family is still residing at 87 Beeton-street off Holderness-road in East Hull.  By this point John Rennard is working as a shipwright, [34] and by 1886 he marries Agnes A Bradley at St Andrews Church, Drypool. [35] By the 1891 Census the family is residing on Courtney-street, off Holderness-road in Mawson’s Court. [36] The street stood just one street east of Beeton-street and the Hull to Withernsea line ran between the two streets.  Standing opposite Courtney-street was the Nag’s Head public House, a place that Rennard was a regular drinker as we shall see soon.  It was claimed that Rennard had been drinking in Preston, funnily enough at another public house named the Nag’s Head and that upon leaving he had met with Mary Jane Langley in Long-lane, killing her, and wiping the blood on his pants before stealing her watch and making for Hull to drink at the Nag’s Head on Holderness-road opposite Courtney-street. [37] The problem here is that the police responsible for the apprehension of Rennard had not only got their times wrong, but Rennard had very good reason for his bloody trousers.  Rennard was known by many to be a quiet man with a passion for ratting, and would often take his dog into the fields around Hull at that time to capture and kill rats.  It was also stated in the same piece that Rennard would often visit Marflett, Hedon and Preston with his dog, and take the walk back to Hull. [38] Of course it didn’t matter if Rennard was ratting or not, it was soon revealed that he had an even better reason for having blood covered trousers, and his wife was quiet vocal about the blood stained trousers, even going so far as revealing that she had more than one pair of trousers that were smeared with blood. [39] It was revealed that James Rennard didn’t wear underwear and suffered from heat spots on his calves and thighs.  Rennard would sit and scratch the sores for hours until they bled.  It was a condition that was partially created due to the rubbing of his trouser lining with his legs.  Doctor Keelan testified that Rennard’s condition was a natural condition brought on by heat boils and excessive scratching. [40] Representatives from Hull Daily visited Rennard’s house and turned a pair of his trousers inside out, finding blood in the areas that his wife had stated, furthermore, the press spoke to several farmers in the region who all testified that they allowed Rennard to use their land for ratting. [41] Despite all the evidence showing that Rennard was innocent and a victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, the Hull Police sent him to Hull Jail to await trial.  It was also at this point that Mr. Edmondson admitted that Mary Jane could have left him earlier than he thought, and therefore could have caught the earlier train.  It was also revealed that the East Riding Police had discovered that Rennard had sold the coat he wore on the day of the murder to a man named Keegan, but upon inspection the coat revealed no trace of blood on it. [42] By August 15^th 1891 the newspapers were filled with remarkable stories about the trial of Rennard and how it collapsed. [43] Among the many facts that the police had been overzealous to tie to Rennard included,

• Footprints in the drain that did not match Rennard’s shoe size
• Bloodstains on the insides of his trousers only
• No bloodstains on the outside of his trousers or coat
• The watch that Rennard had in his possession was a mans watch, not a females
• Eyewitnesses described a “very rough looking man heading towards Long-lane” but this man could not be found.
• Eyewitnesses reported a bloodstained man wearing a felt hat on Beverley-road, but this man could not be found.

The jury returned a verdict of “Willful murder against person or persons unknown,” and Rennard was liberated, so happy were the locals that they took Rennard out into the street and pulled him around in a cab, with many locals starting a financial fund to help any financial costs that might have arisen whilst Rennard was in Hull Jail. [44] [45] 

Mary Jane Langley’s death was registered with the following information,

Name: Mary Jane Langley, Born: about 1873, Year of Registration: 1891, Quarter: July- August- September, Age: 18, District: Sculcoates, County: Yorkshire, Volume: 9D, Page: 101

 The Hull Corporation’s death registers, held at Hull History Centre, feature the following information,

 Compartment: 112, Grave: 92, Death Reported: 30^th July 1891, Burial Date: 4^th August 1891, Age: 18,

Trade: Farmer, Residence: Preston, Address: 1 Regent Place, Cause of Death: Found with her throat cut in Preston Lane, Informant: William Langley

 The grave, which can be found at Hedon-road General Cemetery reads,

 In affectionate remembrance of Esther, the beloved daughter of William and Mary Langley of Southcoates, who died August 2^nd 1883 aged 6 years and 10 months.  Also Harriet, sister of the above who died at Preston (in Holderness) March 20^th 1888 aged 21 years,  Also Mary Jane, sister of the above, who was suddenly cut down July 30^th 1891, aged 18 years.  It was not that our love was cold, that earthly lights were burning dim, But that the Sheppard from his fold, Had smiled and drawn them unto him. (A Middleton)

 The Hull Press featured several reports covering the scenes at the funeral, and the masses of people that turned up to pay their respects at both the graveside, and the location of Mary Jane’s death.  The causes of death, and dates registered are as follows,

 1883 August 6^th Esther Mary Langley, Daughter of William Langley, Cow Keeper, Farmer, Southcoates-lane, 6 years 6 months, brain fever.  1888 March 23^rd Harriet Langley, West End, Preston, 21 years old, dropsy.  1891 August 4^th Mary Jane Langley, North-lane, Preston, Found with her throat cut in Preston-lane.

Rennard went back to normal life and was later registered at Courtney-street in 1901 [46], and his death was registered in 1947. [47] There is no other mention in the Hull Press or Magistrates Sessions of Rennard and it appears as though he led a quiet life with his family.  His son, John Rennard Junior is listed in a list of enlisted men from Hull and Yorkshire fighting in the Great War. [48]

The case attracted quiet a lot of local and national press interest, and with that came some unusual claims.  Mr. Langley claims that he had had a dream that his daughter was dead, a day before he found her, and one church goer in Hull wrote to the press on several occasions to state that spiritualists should be brought in to solve the crime.  They were largely ignored.

 Frederick Bailey Deeming and the murder of Mary Jane Langley

 With the press response in 1892 claiming that Deeming could have been involved we must examine the similarities, if there are any, between the murder’s of Mary Jane Langley, Marie Deeming, Marie Deeming jnr., Bertha Deeming, Sydney Francis Deeming, Lilla Deeming, and Emily Mather.  It is also vital that we must check Deeming’s whereabouts during this period to see if Deeming was indeed in the district, or whether he had already left for Rainhill.

A brief look at the medical reports from each death is interesting, with both the Preston Murder and Melbourne Murder being covered in some depth in the press, although the official inquest reports from the Preston Murder have vanished despite a thorough search of the Hull History Centre, East Riding Archives, and Borthwick Institute in York. 

Without official reports, I am going to look at the published inquest testimonies as reported in the Hull Press.  The case was covered nationally, but I am going from the reports that were written by correspondents that were sat in on the proceedings.  The best report on the inquest on the murder of Mary Jane Langley came on August 10^th 1891, and featured Doctor Soutter, who was the first medical man on the scene. [49] He claimed, 

The wound on the right side of the neck extended five inches across to the left, the margins of the wound being an inch and half apart.  There was a scored incision of the skin of the left side continuous with the wound a quarter of an inch long.  The edges of the large wound were jagged in several places.  There was another somewhat similar scoring on the right side an inch long.  On looking into the interior of the wound the upper part of the larynx was in view, the trachea being divided, showing both cords.  The gullet was also divided.  The wound appeared deepest on the left side, but this was due to the larynx being pushed over to that side.

In the same article, Doctor Soutter made the following claims,  

There were no marks of violence on the thighs or genitals.

The wound had probably been inflicted by a right handed man.

The murderer had made attempts to hide the body in the ditch below the bridge.

The next report is taken from the trial of Frederick Bailey Deeming in Australia on the body of Emily Williams, recorded on the 8^th, and 22^nd of March, and 2^nd, 5^th, 6^th and 7^th days of April in the year 1892. [50] The report covers the testimony of William Lowell Mullen, and states,   

 William Lowell Mullen, states, I am a Doctor of Medicine practising at Melbourne

On the afternoon of the fourth instant at the Morgue in conjunction with Dr. Mollison I made a post mortem examination of the deceased.  Emily Williams.  The throat was found to be cut in two distinct places. These wounds began separately on the left side and ran into each other on the right side forming a large gaping wound. The Upper wound started immediately below the angle of the jaw on the left side and passed across the fron [sic] of the neck to the middle of the right side of the neck in a direction slightly downward to the right. Its deep direction was slightly upwards. The thyroid cartilage was cleanly divided transversely and the lower part of the pharynx was exposed. The Lower wound began on the left side an inch and a quarter below the lobe of the ear on the left side. It extended horizontally across the neck joining the upper wound on the right side; it had passed through the windpipe immediately below the cricoid cartilage and had also divided the gullet. The large blood vessels on both sides were divided by these wounds.

The report goes on and the following points are made,

On examining the vagina the hymen was absent, but there was a well marked fourchette. The generative organs were normal. In my opinion the deceased had never been confined of a child.

The immediate course [sic] of death was haemorrhage from the cut throat.

 The wording describing the wounds in the case of Mary Jane Langley are open to interpretation, sadly Doctor Soutter does not give any idea as to what side the wound began on, claiming only that The wound on the right side of the neck extended five inches across to the left.  From this are we to believe that the killer started from the right to the left?  Soutter also fails to mention whether the killer was in front, or behind Mary Jane, but does indicate that he believes the killer was a right handed man.  The two marks, or scoring, on either side of the throat are interesting.  Could this be an attempt to cut the throat in more than one place?  Sadly without official documentation and a sketch of the body we will never know.  Soutter also mentions that the killer had tried to hide the body by pushing it into a small space under the bridge. 

Mullen’s account of the murder of Emily Williams is a bit more thorough and goes into the murder in much greater detail, the full account can be found online at the Extraordinary Tale of Frederick Bailey Deeming website. [51] The main elements that make up the medical testimony from William Lowell Mullen are

• Emily Williams.  The throat was found to be cut in two distinct places. These wounds began separately on the left side and ran into each other on the right side forming a large gaping wound.
• On examining the vagina the hymen was absent, but there was a well marked fourchette. The generative organs were normal.
• The immediate course [sic] of death was haemorrhage from the cut throat.

The report does note that various fractures where noted on the skull, however; this was not the cause of death. 

In the case of the Rainhill murders it is again up the testimony in the press that helps us ascertain what happened to Marie Deeming and her four children, but again we are faced with difficulties in ascertaining the minutia, and instead left with the following, [52]

• The body of the first child was removed and taken to an upstairs bedroom where it was discovered the child’s throat had been cut.
• The body of a fair haired little girl, aged about seven, was removed and it was discovered that her throat had been cut.
• The body of a woman was discovered…her throat had been cut.

Another report features a quote from Doctor M’Lellan, who spoke at the inquest, which states, [53]

• The girl Bertha had been strangled, and all the others had died from wounds in their throats.  They were slashing cuts right across. 

The same publication also featured the testimony of Inspector Pattinson, which stated, [54]

• We first found the body of Maria.  She was lying face downward on the left side of her mother.  We next found the baby, lying face downward on the mother.  The bodies were removed upstairs.  We next found Bertha, at the foot of her mother on her right side.  When we got the bodies upstairs we found that the throats of three of the children and the mother had been cut, and Bertha had been strangled.

It is interesting to note in all cases that the cause of death, apart from Bertha, was that the victims had suffered a fatal wound to the throat.  That each victim was hidden from view, or at least that was what was attempted, and that each victim did not suffer sexual assault.

 Conflicting Testimony

 For every story that claims Deeming was in Hull during the period in question, there are also the stories that he was elsewhere.  Many of the stories differ, but some state that Deeming was back in Rainhill during the period when Mary Jane Langley was murdered.  If this is true, then we can conclusively rule out Deeming as a suspect.  We know that Mary Jane Langley was last seen alive on July 30^th 1891, but one source [55] claims that Deeming, under the alias Albert O Williams, was in Rainhill during this period.  The report claims, On Monday, the 21^st July, he [Deeming] interviewed Mr. E. H .Short of the Railway Hotel, adjacent to the Rainhill Station, and asked if he could be provided with accommodation.  It is further reported that Deeming stayed there for three or four nights but then returned to Mr. Short’s hotel.  It later states that Deeming stayed at the hotel for about three weeks.  Despite these claims appearing in the local, national, and even international press, no source can be found for the story.  Another source [56] claims that Deeming went to the villa for a few days but returned to the hotel, remaining a few days before returning to London.  Another source gives us a little more to go on when it was revealed that a ledger at Messrs Howarth and Co., St. Helens, revealed a ledger that featured Miss Mather, Rainhill, ordering a barrel of cement on July 23^rd 1891. [57] Some researchers and authors have used this as proof that Deeming was definitely in the area, but it is quiet possible that Deeming sent Miss Mather a telegram asking her to order the cement.  It is also stated that Mrs. Mather, Emily’s mother, was in charge of the letting of the property, so it is quiet possible that Deeming had asked that the cement be ordered prior to his taking of the property so that he may carry out his plans.  The report has many contradictions however, and does not tie in with Deeming’s movements in other sources.  Despite searching through the catalogues held at the National Archives, Liverpool Archives, and speaking with the very helpful members of the Rainhill Civic Society, no source can be found regarding whether Deeming was in Rainhill during the period in question.   

 Conclusion

 I will be the first to admit the only evidence linking Frederick Bailey Deeming to the murder of Mary Jane Langley is nothing more than circumstantial, but the case for Deeming being the murderer is certainly stronger than the case for Rennard being the murderer.  The distance between Hull Jail and Marfleet Station is a little over a mile, and with a tram service serving the distance between getting to and from Marfleet Station was not a problem, furthermore, getting to the Hull to Withernsea line was also easy as the line ran between Hull’s Paragon Station, the station that is adjacent to the Royal Station Hotel, where Deeming had earlier left his newly wedded wife to defraud Renyoldson’s Jewelers.  It is also possible for one to travel from Hull, via the railway, to Hedon Station, and walk the distance back along Long-lane at Preston to Marfleet Station which is a little over 4 ¼ miles away.  With Deeming inside Hull Jail for 9 months is it possible he was on the look out for female companionship?  Is it possible that Deeming came across a female that already had a boyfriend, and in a fit of rage killed her, then stole her possessions?  It is of course just a theory, but given that his chosen modus operandi was death by throat cutting, and that he always made efforts to hide his crimes, and that no other person was ever charged for the crimes, it seems likely that he could have been involved in this shocking murder.  Sadly we will never know, and any attempt to pin the blame on Deeming leaves us feeling like we have nothing but circumstantial evidence.

 When I began writing this piece I read over the many newspapers, both locally and nationally, that featured the case, and found tantalising mentions of official documentation, maps, diagrams and testimony being recorded.  It is still unknown where this information is, and whether it still exists.  The Hull History Centre certainly shows no information on the case; neither does the East Riding Archives.  National Archives and the Borthwick Institute at York also fail to show any official documentation on the case.  I have been contacted my members of families that were related to the police officers on the case, and a relation to Mary Jane Langley, and all offer their own stories and ideas on the case.  It is also interesting to note that the few books that mention the case all still believe that Rennard was the guilty party, despite the lack of evidence against him.  Whether Deeming was the killer or not is certainly open to debate.  I don’t claim to know the identity of the killer, but hopefully the research into this unsolved murder from 1891 will help bring closure to the family who still discuss the life, and death, of Mary Jane Langley.

 I will add this little point though.  When Mary Jane was murdered several of her items were missing, these were recorded by her father and brother, and mentioned in several press reports from the period.  These items were described as [58] A silver Geneva watch and gold albert, and her purse.  A later report lists the missing items as [59] gentleman’s gold albert chain and silver watch.  When Frederick Bailey Deeming was arrested in Australia, a thorough list of all his belongings were made, some of them were everyday items but the following appeared on the list [60]

• 1 Gold Albert with 3 pendants
• 1 Chronograph watch (silver) No. 48421
  4 purses

Yet another coincidence?

 Reference:

1              DDX1314/2 Newspaper Cuttings held at East Riding Archives.

2              Yorkshire Post March 18^th 1892

3              Sheffield and Rotherham Independent March 22^nd 1892

4              Most Unique Ruffian, A, J.S.O’Sullivan, F.W. Cheshire, 1968, P.44

5              Scarlet Thread, A, Maurice Gurvich and Christopher Wray, Fairfax Books, 2007, P. 107

6              Hull Daily News, September 1^st 1890

7              Hull Daily Mail, September 3^rd 1890

8              HO27, P217, P236Harry Lawson, Date of trial 16^th Oct 1890, Charge: Fraud, Sentence: Imprisonment 9 Months

9              Class RG12, P3925, F154, P2, GSU Roll 6099035

10           Yorkshire Post March 18^th 1892

11           Sheffield and Rotherham Independent March 22^nd 1892

12           Hull Daily Mail, August 4^th 1891 features an interview with William Langley

13           Ibid

14           Letter dated July 20^th 1891 is partially featured in the Hull Daily Mail, August 4^th 1891

15           In the 1881 Census the family can be seen residing at Southcoates-lane, off Holderness-road in East Hull.  Class RG11, P4756, F38, P1, GSU Roll1342149

3 Southcoates-lane, Southcoates ward, Hull

William Langley                 43           Head                      Farmer

Mary                                      34           Wife

Harriett                                                 14           Daughter               Scholar Birth registration DRY/13/68

George Thornton                 12           Son                         Scholar Birth registration MYT/72/496 Registered as George Howden Langley

Mary Jane                             8              Daughter               Scholar Birth registration WES/32/394

William                                  6              Son                         Scholar Birth registration DRY/21/425

Esther                                    4              Daughter               Scholar Birth registration DRY/24/54

Frederick                              1              Son                         Scholar Birth registration DRY/27/484

16           Hull Daily Mail, August 4^th 1891

17           1891 Census, 2 Western Buildings, Williams-street, RG12, P3941, F56, P18, GSU6099051

Frank Duffill                         26           Head Coachman

Alice Duffill                          22           Wife

George Christopher Duffill 4

John William Ayscongh     17

Arthur Hall                            20           Boarder Dock Labourer Birth registration MYT/83/183

18           Hull Daily Mail, August 3^rd 1891

19           Hull Daily Mail, August 4^th 1891

20           1889 Kelly’s Directory of Hull and 1892 Kelly’s Directory of Hull list William Mortimer Edmonds, 123 Witham, Photographer.

21           Hull Daily Mail, August 4^th 1891

22           Hull Daily Mail, August 4^th 1891

23           Lost Railways of Holderness, The Hull Withernsea and Hull Hornsea Lines, Peter Price, Hutton Press Ltd., 1989, P. 8

24           Hull Daily Mail, August 4^th 1891 and Hull Daily Mail, August 6^th 1891

25           Hull Daily Mail, August 6^th 1891

26           Ibid

27           Hull Daily Mail, August 4^th

28           Ibid

29           Ibid

30           Hull Daily Mail, August 3^rd 1891

31           1861 Census, Southcoates, RG9, P3580, F125, P25, GSU543155

William Rennard                                 37 Head Corn Miller

Jane Elizabeth Rennard    35 Wife

Robert Thomas Rennard    11

Mary Jane Rennard            10 Scholar  Birth registration DRY/5/98

Annie Rennard                     6 Scholar registration Birth registration DRY/6/234

William Rennard                                 4 Scholar registration Birth registration DRY/7/154

James Rennard                    2 registration Birth registration DRY/8/76

John F Rennard                   7 months Son Birth registration DRY/9/54

Wilson Lat                            22 Boarder Joiner

32           1871 Census, 11 Beeton-street, Southcoates, RG10, P4780, F88, P2, GSU847340

William Rennard                                 45 Head Miller and Grocer

Jane E Rennard                   46

Robert Rennard                   20 Miller

Annie Rennard                     16 Miller

William Rennard                                 14

John F Rennard                   12

Annie Boden                         9 Visitor

33           1876 Fields Trade Directory of Hull lists, William Rennard, Miller, 87 Beeton-street

34           1881 Census, 87 Beeton-street, Southcoates, RG11, P4755, F56, P9, GSU1342148

Jane E Rennard                   55

Robert T Rennard                31 Shipwright

John F Rennard                   20 Shipwright

Robert Sheperd                    19 Plasterer

35           Marriage Index 1886 lists John F Rennard marries Agnes A Bradley at St Andrews Church, Drypool, Hull, Ref JF/6/310

36           1891 Census, 4 Mawson’s Court, Courtney-street, Sculcoates, RG12, P3924, F62, P16, GSU6099034

John F Rennard Head        30 Shipwright Born Yorks. Hull

Agnes A Rennard                 27

William Rennard                                 4 Birth registration DRY/42/156

Tom Rennard                        2 Birth registration DRY/45/189

John Rennard                      3 ½ months Birth registration DRY/50/273

37           Hull Daily Mail, August 4^th 1891

38           Hull Daily Mail, August 5^th 1891

39           Hull Daily Mail, August 6^th 1891

40           Ibid

41           Ibid

42           Hull Daily Mail, August 6^th 1891

43           Leeds Mercury, August 15^th 1891, Daily News, August 15^th 1891, Freemans Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser, August 15^th 1891, The Standard, August 20^th 1891, Yorkshire Herald and York Herald, August 20^th 1891, Huddersfield Chronicle, August 22^nd 1891, The Blackburn Standard and Weekly Express, August 22^nd 1891. 

44           The Blackburn Standard and Weekly Express, August 22^nd 1891

45           Huddersfield Chronicle, August 22^nd 1891

46           1901 Census, 13 Courtney-street, Sculcoates, RG13, P4485, F21, P2

John Fishertoft Rennard   40 Head Shipwright Born Yorks. Hull

Anges Rennard                    35

William Rennard                                 13

Tom Rennard                        12

John Rennard                      10

Isaac F Rennard                 9 Birth registration DRY/55/295

Annie Rennard                     2 Birth registration DRY/69/109

Kate Rennard                       10 months Birth registration DRY/74/338

47           John F Rennard Died in 1947, his death is registered thus,

Name: John F Rennard, Death Registration: 1947, Age at Death: 87, Registration District: Hull, Inferred County: Yorkshire, East Riding, Volume: 2a, Page: 263

48           John Rennard jnr of 11 Garden Terrace, Courtney-street, Hull fought in the Great War.  In the ERF RE regiment number 157

49           Hull Daily Mail, August 10^th 1891

50           PROV, VPRS 30/P0 Criminal Trial Briefs, unit 886, case number 261/1892

51           Site found here

52           Hull Daily Mail, March 17^th 1892

53           The Times, March 19^th 1892

54           Ibid

55           Liverpool Mercury etc, March 16^th 1892

56           Belfast News Letter, March 17^th 1892

57           Bristol Mercury and Daily Post, March 17^th 1892

58           Hull Daily Mail, August 4^th 1891

59           Hull Daily Mail, August 10^th 1891

60           List of property found in Deeming’s possession when arrested, PROV, VPRS 937/P0 Inward Registered Correspondence, unit 511, Deeming Case

Further reading on Frederick Bailey Deeming

Most Unique Ruffian, A, J.S.O’Sullivan, F.W. Cheshire, 1968

Scarlet Thread, A, Maurice Gurvich and Christopher Wray, Fairfax Books, 2007

Further reading on the Preston Murder

Hedon and Holderness, John Markham, Highgate, 1994

Killers at Large, AA Clarke, Arton Books, 1996

Websites

Hedon Blog  http://hedonblog.wordpress.com/

My Blog http://blog.casebook.org/mcebe/

Jtrforums.com http://www.jtrforums.com/

The Extraordinary Tale of Frederick Bailey Deeming http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/deeming/

19^th Century Newspapers online, the Times online archives, Australian Newspapers online archives, and New Zealand’s Papers Past website.

Acknowledgements:

Thank you to Ray Duffield of the Hedon Blog for all his help finding the right lane in Preston, and for the staff at the Hedon Museum for helping confirm the lane was the right lane.  There is nothing worse than standing on a long lonely lane in the open countryside with wind and rain flying in sideways and you’re second guessing the spot you’re stood in is the right spot! 

Thank you to Ali Bevan, Paul Gibson, Howard Brown, Jon Rees, Robert Anderson, Matthew Soare, the staff at the Nags Head in Preston, and all the Hull History Centre staff that have put up with me.  Thank you to all the staff at the National Archives, Liverpool Archives and Rainhill Civic Society for their help and input.  Thank you to my son Bradley who accompanied me to the grave of Mary Jane Langley.  He asked me to take his photo next to the grave as he wanted to pay his respects and took my photo that later appeared on several websites, and in the 2010 Jack the Ripper Conference pack.

This article was created by Mike Covell for Ripperologist Magazine. Any third party websites or tacky booklets featuring this information will be in breech of digital copyright laws.

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting the East Riding Archives in Beverley, a wonderful modern building that houses the archives and local studies.  The problem with Hull over the years is that the Sculcoates district fell under the area of the Diocese of York, and as such a lot of the material from Sculcoates is held at the East Riding Archives.  Because of this any research on Robert D’Onston Stephenson, Frederick Bailey Deeming, and the Murder of Mary Jane Langley has to be conducted between the two centres, Beverley, and Hull.

On this trip I was trying to locate some maps that were used at the inquest into the death of Mary Jane Langley.  The maps were part of a bundle that fell under the Beaumont family, as Mr. Beaumont was the County Surveyor at the time, holding offices in both Hull and Beverley.  Mr. Beaumont was called upon to provide material for the trial to show the locations of the eyewitnesses, houses, Marfleet Station, and the spot where Mary Jane Langley was discovered.  As I was brought the map bundle the roll was placed on the table and rolled out, being held down with maps.  Several members of staff came out to aid the opening and laying of the maps, of which there was 5.  The problem was the maps were incomplete.  The location of Mary Jane Langley was missing from each map!  It appears as though these were used to show the inquest where the body was found, but subsequently this location was cut out and removed to the now missing official files, leaving us with only the 19th Century newspaper accounts of where the body was discovered!

I sat and spoke with one of the archivists who was really helpful, and set about looking at other material.

One of the reasons I travel to Beverley to research is because of the Matheson family.  Helen Matheson and her family had resided in Beverley for some years, owning several properties and businesses throughout the market town.  I was able to trace the families movement through Census returns, trade directories and newspaper articles.  One interesting point that was discovered was that Helen’s grandfather was a well known political man in Beverley, fighting corruption in the local government, and to this day a heritage plaque marks the spot where he lived, with Helen Matheson’s grandmother and mother!

I came away from Beverley with a folder of new material, including

Newspaper accounts of Frederick Bailey Deeming’s 1890 trial for fraud in Hull.

Newspaper accounts of the Hedon/Preston Murder.

Newspaper accounts of the life and death of members of the Matheson family.

Newspaper announcements of births, marriages and deaths of the Matheson family.

Photos of several locations associated with Frederick Bailey Deeming, Helen Matheson, Helen’s mother, and Helen’s grandparents.

This morning I had the pleasure of fitting a large piece to the jigsaw pertaining to Frederick Bailey Deeming’s life and time in Hull.  

Several weeks ago I found a copy of the typed up Hull Corporation Committee Minutes for the Hull Watch Committee.  The entries referred to featured Deeming, under his alias Harry Lawson, and the Hull Watch Committee trying to ascertain who will pay for the manhunt and extradition of Deeming from Monte Video, and entitled “Harry Lawson vs Regina”.  The two entries, spread over two books dated 1890-91, feature no conclusion to events.  One tantalising clue offered was that the Hull Finance Committee would have to discuss the case at its next meeting.  Sadly the Hull Finance Committee books make no mention of the case and for a short while the trail went cold.  

Some months ago I had spent time at the Hull History Centre and acquired the criminal file of Frederick Bailey Deeming, again under the alias of Harry Lawson and wondered if there was anything after this that might me of interest.  The trial file itself was huge, comprising close to 70 pages of correspondence, magistrates papers, evidence files and telegrams and covering Dec 1889 to Sept 1890. [1]

I then discovered that the National Archives had a Home Office file on Deeming/Lawson and requested copies.  When they arrived they covered the period after the trial file, and covered the dates from Dec 16^th 1890 to Oct 20^th 1891.  Despite the size of the file it felt like something was missing. [2]    

I was about to give up searching but was kindly informed by the staff at the Hull History Centre that there are other avenues.  This meant searching through a huge file pertaining to all manner of committee meetings, minutes, and correspondence.  Sure enough, there among the Hull Watch Committee Meetings was a note, “Henry Lawson vs Regina” The name was wrong, but as this was becoming common place I ordered the files.  

 This morning I was granted access and to my delight they showed the full events that unfolded between January 14^th 1891 and September 30^th 1891.  There is some overlap between the other two files, but this file alone is worth reading.  It transpired that questions were asked over who should pay for the manhunt and extradition of Frederick Bailey Deeming.  Usually this would fall on the Hull Watch, however, as the case was an international event it didn’t fall under their remit.  There was also a matter of whether the innocent Mr. Thomas Reynoldson should pay for the apprehension, however, this was declined.  Then there was the problem of Frederick Deeming’s Solicitor, who hounded the police and local government claiming that Deeming nor the Solicitor should pay.  Eventually a conclusion was drawn, and whilst it was never officially typed up, today marked the discovery of a new chapter in Deeming’s life. [3]

 1 CQB 396/1328 CR(A) 1890 under the alias Harry Lawson/Deeming/Denning/Deming.

2 HO144/479/X30712 under the alias Harry Lawson/Deeming/Denning/Deming.

3 CTCW/179 Box 4241 Correspondence and Minutes, Reg vs Henry Lawson alias Deeming 1891.

Hull Reference Library

 This week I had the pleasure of carrying out research in Hull’s Reference Library.  In the past I have visited the library for various research, most recently for Lloyds Shipping Registers and to peruse the two volumes of Lewis Carroll’s Diaries that are held at the library.  More recently the library has undergone a massive renovation and the Reference library is a vastly improved experience.  The desks are modern, there are more computers available, and whether it was just because the room has been altered it looked as if there were more books and journals on display than in previous years.  I had visited the Reference library just after the renovation for a lecture that I gave on Jack the Ripper- The Hull Connection, however, as this was at night and I was to appear before a crowd my mind didn’t register the new and improved facilities on offer.  

This time I was looking through the Lloyds Shipping Registers for steam ships and the Lloyds Shipping Registers for Sailing Vessels in the search for details regarding the ship that Sadler worked on, “Fez” and all of the ships mentioned by Frederick Bailey Deeming and the people that surrounded him.  These included the Ballaarat, Coleridge, Thames, Samuel Plimsoll, Pretoria, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Zebra, Albany, Ophelia, and Sardinian. 

 The Lloyds Shipping Registers were brought out to my desk and I spent a few hours poring over them and found everything I needed plus more. 

 The Hull History Centre

 After that it was a brief stop at the Hull History Centre to look into the antecedents of the 1890/1891 Home Office File on Frederick Bailey Deeming.  This was essentially Frederick Bailey Deeming’s attempt to accuse the Hull Police and Hull Jail of stealing several articles of Jewellery and Clothing.  It also brought in the East Riding Police, Home Office, and the Criminal Investigation Department from Scotland Yard.  The case then became an International incident with the items of jewellery and clothing actually belonging to a South African man who had reported Deeming stealing them off him, thus bringing the South African Government and Police into the case.  What is odd about the whole affair is the lack of newspaper reports covering what was essentially an international diplomatic mess.  I had, some months ago, viewed the Minutes from the Hull Watch Committee Meetings, and discovered 2 pages that covered Frederick Bailey Deeming.  I had hoped these documents would shed light on the case, but discovered that they had nothing to offer.  These were essentially pages asking the question of who will pay for the International manhunt for Deeming for defrauding Reynoldson’s Jewellers.  Sadly, the 2 pages did not reveal who would foot the bill, and therefore raised more questions.  One of the pages hinted that the Minutes of the Hull Finances Committee might hold the key, however, subsequent searches of this file failed to turn any answers up.  I was just about to give up, as I was expected to make two appointments later in the day, when I asked why there was little information as to the outcome of these financial queries.  Luckily I found the answer in a dusty file that had a list of many of the Hull Corporation Committees.  Here in plain view was a file featuring correspondence, and other material on the question of whether Deeming’s manhunt would be paid for by the Hull Police, or someone else in Local or National Government.  The reason why the file has evaded capture for so long is because Frederick Bailey Deeming’s alias was spelt wrong.  Sadly I was expected elsewhere so could not request the files, but they will be checked at the next available opportunity.    

This morning I took delivery of L.C. Douthwaite’s Mass Murder. The book, published by John Long, London, 1928, features such cases as Burke and Hare, George Joseph Smith and Fritz Haartmann. There are aslo chapters, that will draw the attention of Ripperologists, on Thomas Neill Cream and Frederick Bailey Deeming.

For me the book is interesting as it is one of the earliest books I can find that claims Deeming was in jail in 1888 despite the Home Office files from 1890/91 claiming that the 1890/91 prison term was the first time Deeming had been in any British prison.

Some time ago I ordered a copy of the Home Office Files on Frederick Bailey Deeming, covering the period December 1890 until April 1891 and spanning 43 pages.  The files, HO144/479/X30712, which arrived moments ago, feature correspondence between the Home Office and Helen Matheson asking why the Government refuses to charge Deeming alias Lawson under the Bigamy laws.  Correspondence between Beverley Police and the Secretary of State, Correspondence between Scotland Yard’s Criminal Investigations Department and the Home Office, Correspondence between the Home Office and the Hull Police, Correspondence between Messrs Reynoldson and Son and the Home Office, and much much more.

The file is currently out of order, so I will spend some time sorting it into chronological order for easier reference.

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to be able to visit the Hull History Centre and found some interesting articles.

February 1988 saw a number of articles that were published, in the Hull Daily Mail, looking at the life of Stephenson. These mention that Melvin Harris claims Stephenson is JTR. The first claims that Stephenson was a doctor, drunk, drug addict, black magician.

The second article in the Hull Daily Mail, using the name Roslyn D’Onson, claims that Stephenson became ill after the murders and booked himself in the London Hospital. It also claims that Stephenson killed 7 prostitutes.

On March 15th 1988 Andy Aliffe, wrote a letter to Hull’s Libraries and Archives asking for help on Stephenson. I have a copy of this letter in my files.

March features an article, in the Hull Daily Mail, that claims Stephenson resided at 5 Regent Terrace and later Norwood Terrace, that he was a customs officer, and that he was involved in smuggling with Thomas Piles. It then goes on to state that Piles shot him and Stephenson fled Hull, appearing in London to form the Pomp.

As you can imagine these addresses are erroneous, they were the home of another Robert Stephenson residing in Hull. The article finishes with an appeal from Melvin Harris, leaving his address at the foot of the page.

July features a report in the Hull Daily Mail, that I have posted here previously, about Ripper Tours in Hull.

August features a report in the Hull Daily Mail, that I have posted here previously, that once again looks at the Ripper tourism boom.

A short while later Peter Ainscough, the County Librarian writes a reply that claims that the only Robert Stephenson they can find is residing in Norwood Terrace in the City. He is a Outdoor Officer with the HMC. They also quote from the Eastern Morning News article. Although the letter is undated, the reply quotes the July and August reports. I have a copy of this letter in my files.

All is quiet until November 1989 when Stephenson appears in the Hull Daily Mail again. This time a small photo of him appears on the front cover! This article looks at the FBI profile against what they claim they know about Stephenson. It is full of “facts” such as Stephenson was a trained surgeon” and “Stephenson fought battles” and “Stephenson lived in Whitechapel,”

1994 saw the Hull Daily Mail publish a short overview of The True Face of JTR. Again the article featured a few facts.

The 1930’s Hull Times saw an article on Frederick Bailey Deeming. This include, an overview of Deeming’s time in Hull, Beverley and Hull Gaol. The article also carried some of the memories of Detective Thomas Grasby, as well as a picture of the man in later life. The memories include his trip to Monte Video to arrest Deeming. His memories of Charles Pearce in Hull, his memories of the Caughy-street Murder, where Councillor Richard Stephenson was very vocal of the Hull Police, and his memories of the Preston Murder of Mary Jane Langley.

The Hull Times in 1941 features a special titled “Swindler, Bigamist, and Murderer” about Deeming. The article, which covered the full page features details of Deeming’s time in Hull and Beverley. The interesting thing about this article is that several players from the period give us a little more information that wasn’t featured in the press of the period. They include the names of ships, dates, shipping lines, and names.

The following week the same publication featured a follow up article entitled, “How Coincidences Caught Callous Murderer” this time covering Deeming’s life in Rainhill and Australia. Henry Webster, former governor of Hull Prison is mentioned.

Earlier this week I visited the Hull History Centre with a view to searching for a few loose ends that needed tying up.  Whilst there I thought I would search for one last time for the criminal papers that covered the trial of Frederick Bailey Deeming in Hull in 1890.  In the past I had unearthed a rather short one line snippet from the calendar of prisoners that stated that Deeming, under the alias of Harry Lawson was sent to Hull Prison for 9 months, however, a search of the actual papers pertaining to this period did not hold any information on Deeming/Lawson.

Despite this the search continued and for the past 5 years I have discovered that the case was covered in the Hull and Beverley press as well as some national publications.  The case also made it into the Hull Watch Committee’s Minutes book when at two meetings the Hull Corporation discussed financial compensation for the capture of Deeming.  These records alluded to the decision being made by the Finances Committee, but a search of their records turned up nothing.

This week for the final time I searched and found the Harry Lawson card, taking the unique number and handing it over.  Moments later I was presented with a large bound file, plus an even larger file.  The Harry Lawson material was a part of a bigger haul that was neither here, nor there, so I laid it all out and began searching.

After a short period of time I uncovered the files on Deeming/Lawson, and set about recording them, and putting them back into their own file in numerical order so that future researchers can find the material.  I was surprised at the amount of material inside.

There are in total around 77 pages of material, which includes,

Eyewitness testimonies on large A4 sheets,

Eyewitness recording papers on small A5 sheets,

Harry Lawson letter to Miss Matheson,

Harry Lawson letter to Reynoldsons Jewellers,

Reynoldsons Jewellers letter to Harry Lawson,

Telegrams between Hull and the following destinations, Southampton, London, Beverley, and Portsmouth on A5 sheets,

Harry Lawson’s defence statements,

Correspondence from police officials,

And much much more.

I have spent the week prepping the work and cataloguing it and still have much to do but as you can imagine this is a lovely haul with lots of new information about Frederick Bailey Deeming and his criminal lifestyle.