Mike Covell’s Blogg

  The Spooky Isles

Continuing on with Jack the Ripper Week is The Spooky Isles, with a fantastic post on The Top Five Jack the Ripper movies.  The post, written by Eric McNaughton, can be viewed here,

http://www.spookyisles.com/2012/09/top-5-jack-the-ripper-films/

Today, hot off the press, is another article on The Spooky Isles, from some fella called Mike Covell.  The article is entitled “Jack the Ripper Scares during the “Autumn of Terror” and can be viewed here,

http://www.spookyisles.com/2012/09/jack-the-ripper-scares-during-autumn-of-terror/

More on Charles Cross:

The theory that Charles Cross aka Charles Allen Lechmere, who was also mistakenly called “George” in the earlier press reports, and Ripper books, is gathering pace, with more publications featuring the story. 

Charles Cross was born Charles Allen Lechmere in the year 1849.  His birth was registered in St. Anne’s Soho, and he was the son of John Allen Lechmere and Maria Louisa Lechmere, nee Rouson.   

In 1858, Charles’ mother, Maria Louisa remarried, to Thomas Cross, who was a police constable.  Charles took his surname on occasion.

In the 1861 Census, they can be seen residing together, [RG9, P276, F29, P5, GSU542605]

Thomas Cross       36           Head      Police Constable

Maria Louisa Cross            34           Wife

Emily Cross                          14           Dau        Scholar

Charles Cross                      11           Son

 In 1871, at the age of 20, he married Elizabeth Bostock, who was at the time aged 21.  The marriage took place on July 3^rd 1870, in the Parish of Christ Church, Watney-street, in the Borough of Tower Hamlets.  Charles’ father was named as John Allen Lechmere, and Elizabeth’s father was listed as Thomas Bay Bostock.  Charles’s occupation is listed as Carman, and the marriage took place at the Christ Church.  [P93/CTC2, Item 026]

 The 1871 Census lists, [Class RG10, P530, F45, P28, GSU8213387]

In the Civil Parish of St George in the East,

Charles A Lechmere            21           Head      Carman

Elizabeth Lechmere            21

 The London Echo, dated September 3^rd 1888, featured the following,

 Charles A. Cross, a carman, in the employ of Messrs. Pickford and Co., said that on Friday morning he left his home about half-past three. He reached Messrs. Pickford’s yard at Broad-street, City, at four o’clock. He crossed Brady-street into Buck’s-row. Was there any one with you? - No, I was by myself. As I got to Buck’s-row, by the gateway of the wool warehouse, I saw someone lying at the entrance to the gateway. It looked like a dark figure. I walked into the centre of the road, and saw that it was a woman. At the same time I heard a man come up behind, in the same direction as I was going. He was about thirty or forty yards behind then. I stepped back to await his arrival. When he came, I said to him, “Come and look over here. There’s a woman.” We then both went over to the body. He stooped one side of her, and I stooped the other, and took hold of her hand, which was cold. Her face was warm. I said to the man, “I believe the woman is dead.” The other man at the same time, put his hand on her breast over her heart and remarked, “I think she is breathing, but very little, if she is.” He then said, “Sit her up,” I replied, “I’m not going to touch her. You had better go on, and if you see a policeman tell him.” When I found her, her clothes were above her knees. There did not seem to be much clothing. The other man pulled her clothes down before he left.

Did you touch the clothes? - No, Sir.

Did you notice any blood? - No, it was too dark. I did not notice that her throat was cut. I then left her, went up Baker’s-row, turned to the right, and saw a constable. I said to a constable - the last witness - “There’s a woman lying in Buck’s-row. She looks to me as though she was dead, or drunk.” The other man then said, “I believe she is dead.” I don’t know who this man was; he was a stranger, but appeared to me to be a carman. From the time I left my home I did not see anyone until I saw the man who overtook me in Buck’s-row.

The Coroner - Did you see anything of a struggle.

Witness - She seemed to me as if she had been outraged.

You did not think so at the time? - Yes, I did; but I did not think she had been injured.

You had no idea that she had been injured at all? - No.

 The Star, another London based newspaper, also published September 3^rd 1888, featured the following, which gave the address for Charles Cross,

 CARMAN CROSS was the the next witness. He lived at 22 Doveton street, Cambridge-road. He was employed by Pickfords. He left home on Friday at twenty minutes past three, and got to Pickford’s yard at Broad-street at four o’clock. He crossed Bradley-street into Buck’s-row. He was alone. He saw something lying in front of the gateway - it looked in the distance like tarpaulin. When he got nearer he found it was a woman. At that time he heard a man coming up the street behind him; he was about 40 yards behind. Witness waited until he came up. He started as though he thought witness was going to knock him down. Witness said to him, “There’s a woman.” They both went to the body and stooped beside it. Witness took the woman’s hand, and finding it cold said, “I believe she’s dead.” The other man put his hand on the breast outside the clothes - over her heart - and said, “I think she’s breathing, but very little.” He suggested they should shift her - set her up against the wall - but witness said, “I’m not going to touch her. Let’s go on till we see a policeman and tell him.” Before they left the body the other man tried to pull the clothes over the woman’s knees, but they did not seem as though they would come down. Witness noticed no blood; but it was very dark. He did not see that her throat was cut. They went up Baker’s-row, and saw the last witness. Witness said to him, “There’s a woman lying down in Buck’s-row on the broad of her back. I think she’s dead or drunk.” The other man said, “I believe she’s dead.” The policeman said, “All right.”

The following day, The Times, dated September 4^th 1888 featured the following testimony:

 George Cross, a carman, stated that he left home on Friday morning at 20 minutes past 3, and he arrived at his work, at Broad-street, at 4 o’clock. Witness walked along Buck’s-row, and saw something lying in front of the gateway like a tarpaulin. He then saw it was a woman. A man came along and witness spoke to him. They went and looked at the body. Witness, having felt one of the deceased woman’s hands and finding it cold, said “I believe she is dead.” The other man, having put his hand over her heart, said “I think she is breathing.” He wanted witness to assist in shifting her, but he would not do so. He did not notice any blood, as it was very dark. They went to Baker’s-row, saw the last witness, and told him there was a woman lying down in Buck’s-row on the broad of her back. Witness also said he believed she was dead or drunk, while the other man stated he believed her to be dead. The constable replied “All right.” The other man left witness at the corner of Hanbury-street and turned into Corbett’s court. He appeared to be a carman, and was a stranger to the witness. At the time he did not think the woman had been murdered. Witness did not hear any sounds of a vehicle, and believed that had any one left the body after he got into Buck’s-row he must have heard him.

Charles Cross died in 1920 and was survived by his wife, Elizabeth, who eventually passed away on 12 September 1940.  Her death was registered:

Name: Elizabeth Lechmere, Birth date: Abt 1849, Date of Registration: Jul- Aug- Sep 1940, Age at Death: 91, Registration District: Essex South Western, Inferred County: Essex, Vol: 4A, Page: 418.

Charles Allen Lechmere’s last will and testament reads:

Charles Allen Lechmere, of 2 Rounton-road, Campbell-road, Bow, Middlesex, died 23^rd December 1920.  Probate London, 2 June to Elizabeth Lechmere, Widow, Effects £262

Today, The Docklands and East London Advertiser, featured a follow up report on Charles Cross as a suspect in the Ripper Murders.  The article can be read here, http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/did_jack_the_ripper_s_family_die_in_1943_wartime_london_air_raid_disaster_1_1503479

 The story of Charles Cross as Jack the Ripper was also published in the past 24 hours in Pakistan!!!  The story, available online at Pakistan Today, can be viewed here:

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/09/04/news/entertainment/was-jack-the-ripper-a-cart-driver-from-bethnal-green/

From Hell Companion

Ignoring the Hughes brothers film starring Johnny Depp and Heather Graham but going back to the roots of the story I think every Ripperologist remembers the first time they read Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell’s Graphic Novel.  A mixture of fact and fiction in a rip roaring plot that leaves the reader gasping for more (Moore). 

The colours are so vivid, and whilst most of the book is written in black and white, the odd dash of red really brings the page to life, and the final chapter is one that stays with the reader long after they have read the book.  The supplementary material is always a pleasure to read, but as something as massive as this, and it is a big collective volume, you would think there would be a little more…..

Thankfully, Alan Moore has announced that a companion to From Hell is to be released in March 2013!!!  Personally I am not sure I can wait that long.  The publication will feature previously unpublished material including scripts, photos, never before seen sketches, and anecdotes.  A sketch of the cover has appeared online and once again the publication is being produced with Eddie Campbell :

 http://alanmooreworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/jack-ripper-is-coming-back.html

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/07/14/top-shelf-panel-eddie-campbell-confirms-from-hell-companion-for-march-2013/fromhellcompanion-2/

September 3^rd 1888

By September 3^rd 1888 more British newspapers were featuring the case, but with very few new details making print.  A few letters to the press were published in this period, but many, like the letter written to The Daily News, by Mr. Henry Tibbetts, 24, of Artillery-lane, Bishopsgate-street Without, were already very negative in feeling towards the Met. Police.  Even press opinion was speaking out against policing in the district, with The Dundee Courier and Argus, of the same date, publishing a scathing commentary on the Whitechapel police.  The same publication theorised that a gang might be involved.

The story also reached Yorkshire when The York Herald published a short report on the case.  The short report featured details on the opening of the inquest, and how the body had been identified.

The Hull press, up to this point, had covered the discovery of Nichols, which was published in the last edition of The Eastern Morning News, on April 1^st, and a brief overview of events so far in the September 3^rd 1888 edition of The Hull Daily Mail.

September 2^nd 1888

 After the initial press response to the murder of Mary Ann Nichols, the British press showed no sign of letting up, in fact, the flood gates had opened and more and more national newspapers were printing reports regarding the mysterious murder.  Some newspaper titles published numerous reports, including the Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper that published no fewer than 3 articles in their September 2^nd 1888 edition!  These included the following bold headlines,

THE WHITECHAPEL HORROR, page 1

THE WHITECHAPEL MURDER, page 6

ANOTHER AWFUL MURDER IN WHITECHAPEL, page 7

 Surprisingly even at this early stage the press were eager to report on the victim’s antecedents, with a number of reports concentrating on the life of Nichols in the run up to the murder.  Eyewitnesses came forward to discuss the victim at the inquest and the press published the testimony of Henry Llewellyn, who described the gory details of the wounds inflicted on Nichols.   

Well 124th “The Autumn of Terror” is well under way and already the articles and theories are cropping up about Jack the Ripper, victims, and suspects.

In the press:

The Telegraph led the way with a series of articles that looked at the murders, some of which were good, some of which were not so good.

The first, worth a mention was a reprint of The Telegraph’s coverage of the murder of Mary Ann Nichols, which can be viewed here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9512915/Jack-The-Ripper-The-Daily-Telegraphs-report-of-Polly-Nicholss-inquest-from-1888.html

The second article, featured on The Telegraph’s website was a look at suspects.  Sadly this was mostly the usual suspects rounded up with little research done on them with mistakes and errors that have since been researched, debunked, and published.  The article can be read here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/9512906/Jack-the-Ripper-the-suspects.html

Finally, and I have saved the best till last, is the theory that Charles Cross was Jack the Ripper!!  The Telegraph article can be read here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/9512928/Was-Jack-the-Ripper-a-cart-driver-from-Bethnal-Green.html

Never one to miss a good theory, the Indian press picked up on the story, and featured the theory on News Track India!  The article can be read here:

http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2012/09/01/95-Jack-the-Ripper-may-have-been-cartman-who-found-body-of-1st-victim-.html

One of the oddest reports to surface was from Washington, which was published in The Sudan Tribune, in which the Sudanese government on Thursday formally informed the African Union (AU) that it no longer wished to be considered for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The article featured a quote from the Geneva-based UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer, who stated, “Electing Sudan to the international community’s highest human body is like putting Jack the Ripper in charge of a women’s shelter.”

The article is featured here:  http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article43768

Bloggs:

Jon Rees, Moderator of JTRForums.Com was featured on The Spooky Isle’s website discussing Mary Ann Nichols.  The article can be viewed here:  http://www.spookyisles.com/2012/08/how-the-jack-the-ripper-murders-began/

Social Networking sites have been awash with Ripper related posts, with Twitter leading the way for the first time over Facebook.

Television networks have also been keen to feature Jack the Ripper, with both Jack the Ripper: Tabloid Killer, and the Jack the Ripper documentary proposing Robert Mann featuring M.J. Trow being shown.

Members of Twitter can follow Gavin R at @ https://twitter.com/gavmr and follow his Twitter posts on Jack the Ripper live.  To join the conversation, and join in the chat, use the hash tag, #RipperLive

Popular web based ezine Spooky Isles begins a Jack the Ripper week on their website this week, to follow the articles by writers, researchers and Ripperologists, visit the site here: http://www.spookyisles.com/2012/08/jack-the-ripper-week-at-spooky-isles/

It has been another busy month of writing and researching and it seems like I have not wrote on my blog for ages, for this I apologise, but when you see what has been achieved in the last few weeks and months I think you will understand the reason for my absence.

Mary Ann “Polly” Nichols

First of all let us remember the significance of today’s date, the 31^st of August 2012, 124 years to the date that Mary Ann Nichols was found murdered at the gated stables on Buck’s Row, now Durward Street. 

I am aware of activities on both Facebook and Twitter to mark the anniversary and remember, what many have now termed, the beginning of the “Autumn of Terror,” including Tweets marking the events as they happened by several Tweeters. 

Current Research

In the past few months my research has been mainly pertaining to the stories that appeared in the Hull press covering Jack the Ripper.  This has included cataloguing hundreds of reports into chronological order by publisher, and transcribing them. 

More recently I was at the Hull History Centre seeking out press reports on the murders of Ada Wilson, Annie Millwood, Emma Elizabeth Smith, and Martha Tabram, to fill in a few gaps.  Whilst it can be argued that there is no evidence that they were victims of Jack the Ripper, the contemporary press featured these victims and I therefore decided to feature them in my research.  Luckily I came away with several reports on the victims, each of which has been transcribed and added to Jack the Ripper – Newspapers From Hell, From Hull. 

The Jack the Ripper Beverley Scares

In recent weeks I have also been exploring the “Beverley Jack the Ripper Scares” that took place in Beverley just after 1888 and as such have made several visits to the area to take photos and visit the locations involved.  Beverley is a small market town approx 10 miles from Hull.  It has previously been associated with such Jack the Ripper Suspects as Frederick Bailey Deeming and Lewis Carroll, but my recent research suggests two other events that transpired in the town that provoked the local and national press into claiming that Jack the Ripper was in the town on two separate occasions. 

The newspaper articles have been uncovered, and transcribed and will be featured in an appendix in Jack the Ripper – Newspapers From Hell, From Hull, there has been, however, calls for me to release this chapter as a separate book for the target audience of Beverley, with the possibility of a series of lectures and walks in the town.  At the minute I am undecided, but who knows.

Current projects with page and word counts:

It has been a busy time of writing in the past few months, and my Kindle has taken a back seat to my laptop to get as much work done as possible.  I even took it camping, but heavy rains prevented me from taking it out and working!  The following is a list of projects that I am currently working on, several of which are finished.

Jack the Ripper – Newspapers From Hell, From Hull. 

A look at the articles published regarding the Whitechapel Murders in the Hull press during the “Autumn of Terror.”  Articles featured also include the 1873 Thames Torso Murders, The Gateshead Murder, The Grimsby Jack the Ripper Scare, The Beverley Jack the Ripper Scares, with previously unpublished material on Frederick Bailey Deeming, Thomas Sadler, Florence Maybrick, The Baccarat Scandal, Robert D’Onston Stephenson and many more people associated with the case.  Also featured are reports from 1889 – 2012 that were featured in the Hull press on the case.  Appendices include material on the Hull Police, Hull Press, and an A – Z of people involved in the case.

Fully Referenced, Source List, Bibliography.

217 Pages, 177,069 words

Jack the Ripper – From Hell, From Hull? Vol I

A look at Robert D’Onston Stephenson, his birth, life, and time spent in Hull, with chapters covering his time at the Hull Customs, his family, his time spent in Brighton, London, and his writing career.  Features a wealth of unpublished material including letters and information gleaned from primary sources.

Fully Referenced, Source List, Bibliography.

351 Pages, 265,919 words

Jack the Ripper – From Hell, From Hull? Vol II

A look at Frederick Bailey Deeming’s links to Hull with never before published material from Hull, London, and Australia, including trial files, correspondence, and press reports.  Popular theories are explored, discussed, and in many cases debunked.

Fully Referenced, Source List, Bibliography.

216 Pages, 179,094 words

Jack the Ripper – From Hell, From Hull? Vol III

A look at 8 other suspects previously named as Jack the Ripper with links to Hull, from the doctor that worked her, to the writer whose family held positions of importance in the City.  Each suspect chapter is filled with previously unseen material, press reports, and primary sources gleaned from archives across the UK.

Fully Referenced, Source List, Bibliography.

68 Pages, 51,268 words

The Preston Murder of Mary Jane Langley

An in depth look at the life and death of Mary Jane Langley, killed between Hull and Preston, and whose death remains unsolved to this day.  Crammed with previously unseen material, including press reports from 1891 – 2012 on the case.  Also included is an A – Z of people involved, filled with primary sources, census returns, BMD information, and material gleaned from Humberside Police.  Appendices include a look at the history of Hull prison, and material on another murder on the same lane 100 years later.

Fully Referenced, Source List, Bibliography.

167 Pages, 132,541 words

Mike Covell’s Haunted Hull

A look at some of the allegedly haunted locations within the Hull boundary, from haunted pubs, to clubs, education centres, shops, theatres, and many more locations.  Each location has a full history gleaned from trade directories, the census, BMD information, newspapers, and firsthand accounts.  Popular myths are explored, discussed, and their origins traced.

Fully Referenced, Source List, Bibliography.

211 Pages, 135,315 words

Mike Covell’s Paranormal Hull

A look at the odder side of Hull’s history, from strange mirages, to appearances of Jesus, superstitions, folklore, falls from the sky, satanic rituals, fortune tellers who get it wrong, and a Hull ships search for Noah’s Ark!  The book uses primary sources, newspapers, and interviews with eyewitnesses to present an open ended presentation of the weird and wonderful in Hull.

Fully Referenced, Source List, Bibliography.

122 Pages, 93,667 words

Mike Covell’s Paranormal Hull – Paranormal Press

A collection of stories in the Hull press covering all manner of ghostly stories and tales of terror in Hull.  Over 30 newspapers were consulted to bring together a large collection of stories dating from 1800 to 2012.  Each story is linked to primary sources on the people, places, and events that are featured.

Fully Referenced, Source List, Bibliography.

86 Pages, 64,048 words

Cryptozoologic-Hull

A look at Hull’s history of weird and unusual creatures, from mermaids, to “Little Doug,” beached whales, sea serpents, big cat sightings, and escaped monkeys!  The book is packed with eyewitness accounts, newspaper stories from 1800 to 2012, maps, and rare photographs of these cryptozoological wonders.

Fully Referenced, Source List, Bibliography.

71 Pages, 55,295 words 

UFOlogic-Hull

A massive collection of UFO reports, eyewitness accounts, press reports, official documentation, and cases across Hull from as early as 1800 to 2012.  Read about the massive moon like structure that hovered over Hull, the Airship Scares in the early 1900’s, the National Archives Files on Hull’s sightings, and the mystery of the “Hull Hum.”  Featuring photographs, maps, and eyewitness accounts.

Fully Referenced, Source List, Bibliography.

54 Pages, 39,750 words

The Camden Town Murder.

When one gets involved in Ripperology they often find that the scope of their research and investigations expands depending upon their avenue of research, and because of this we often find ourselves researching aspects of the case that although seemingly unrelated, have some connections to the case. 

 My research into Frederick Bailey Deeming, for example, led me to reports of his involvement in the Marfleet Mystery and the murder of Mary Jane Langley, and I am aware of several other Ripperologists, who, when researching a certain suspect, are often side tracked on similar issues.

 The Camden Town Murder, which appears to be unrelated to the Whitechapel Murders, has in recent years been connected to “Jack the Ripper.”  In some cases suspects, such as Walter Sickert, have been put forward as possible suspects.

 Having an interest in Sickert I was drawn to the claims and sought out books and publications dealing with the case.  This is just an overview of two of many that are available that shed light on the case.

Sir David Napley’s The Camden Town Murder

In 1987 Sir David Napley released The Camden Town Murder, as part of the Great Murder Trials of the Twentieth Century series.  The book, published by George Weidenfeld & Nicholson Limited, is a fantastic overview of the case and features original court transcripts and contemporary newspaper reports of the trial as it unfolded.  Whilst the book does not mention Sickert, as none of the original newspaper reports or court transcripts did, it does feature a wealth of information that make this edition a great starting point for anyone wanting to find out more about the mysterious, and still unsolved, murder of Emily Dimmock.  The book is a fascinating read and thoroughly recommended.

Book Details

Hardcover: 160 pages

Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson; First Edition edition (30 April 1987)

Language English

ISBN-10: 0297791273

ISBN-13: 978-0297791270

Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 14.5 x 2 cm

No bibliography, Source list, Index or Illustrations

John Barber’s The Camden Town Murder

 John Barber’s take on the Camden Town Murder is a book that will appeal to both aficionados of true crime cases as well as Ripperologists.  The book, which is split into 10 chapters looks at the basics of the case and the background to Emily Dimmock’s earlier life.  This is where the book really excels and takes the reader on a journey into the life of Dimmock, based on primary sources such as Census returns and other genealogical data.  The chapter is also packed with photos and maps showing the locations mentioned in the text.  The next few chapters deal with the murder, investigation and trial of Robert Wood.  Again the text is accompanied by photographs of people and places mentioned, plus maps of the locations.   Chapter 5 deals with other possible suspects that were mentioned at the time, but never really explored or investigated.  It is Chapter 6 that will catch the attention of Ripperologists, with a look at Dimmock as a possible Ripper victim.  In this chapter Barber looks at the connections and anomalies between the murders, explores the theories put forward by Ripperologists, and explores such popular topics as The Royal Conspiracy Theory, and Walter Sickert.  I must say that this chapter is a breath of fresh air.  Barber takes the work of both Jean Overton Fuller and Patricia Cornwell and argues against the circumstantial evidence that they had raised in their works on the case.  The book then features chapters that cover such topics as “Who Killed Emily Dimmock?” and the aftermath of the case.  The book continues with a postscript that features the lecture given at the Whitechapel Society on February 8^th 2008, a chapter that features the final word, and a supplement that concludes the book. 

 Many of the chapters are referenced, but Barber explains in the text where the information is gleaned from anyway.  My only grumble with the book, and it is a minor one, is that the images seem to have been added to the book from a digital/video source which makes some of the images unclear and in some cases pixelated.

That said, it is a fascinating read and worth it alone for the Jack the Ripper chapters.    

Book Details

Paperback: 240 pages

Publisher: Mandrake of Oxford; New and revised edition (1 Jun 2006)

Language English

ISBN-10: 1869928148

ISBN-13: 978-1869928148

Product Dimensions: 14 x 1.3 x 21.6 cm

Bibliography, Index and Illustrations throughout

John Barber’s website on the Camden Town Murder: http://www.johnbarber.com/CTM/intro.html