ARE THEY STILL ALIVE? JACK THE RIPPER - THE QUEENSLANDER 1937.

Published in the Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld)  Thursday 7th January 1937.

ARE THEY STILL ALIVE? — 6

JACK THE RIPPER, 

By J.L. Hodsen

    IT is a strange thought for Londoners, that when they look across the Tube at an old man, not so very old either, for Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Wells, Mr. Shaw, and Mr. Lloyd George must have heard a lot about him when they were young men—he may be "Jack the Ripper" himself.

    If you ask what he would look like, nobody can tell you. Nobody can be sure he ever saw him. Several have said they did, of course. A former constable who lived not long ago at Woodford Green, Essex, believes he arrested the very man—a man wearing a tall hat and a silk-faced frock coat. He had a fair moustache, light blue eyes, rosy cheeks; about him was the general air of a doctor. The constable's superiors let him go, ridiculed the notion that this was the Ripper. 

    The idea that he was a surgeon it favoured by a number of those criminologists who have studied the mystery—the theory is based on the fact that the mutilations bore signs of anatomical skill— and a doctor is said to have confessed in Buenos Ayres at some unspecified date, when dying of cancer, that he was the man. Nothing is conclusive; so much legend, so much wild theorising, so much panic at the time have done their part in overlaying the truth. 

    It was on August 7, 1888, that the first murder was committed. Nobody paid any undue attention to it. Why should they? The woman was a drab, ill-favoured, a Martha Tabram who occupied a room in a dingy tenement off Commercial Road, in the East End.

It was true that she had 35 knife wounds, but many a diseased mind has inflicted injuries of this nature —the facts were not so rare as in themselves to call for comment. That sort of crime is rarer now, but it is still known. It was peculiar, of course, that no one had heard a sound, not a cry: the policeman on his beat hadn't an atom of help to give. The woman was buried. 

    Life in those ill-lit, dingy streets and courts went on as usual—you can imagine it—hard work, brawling, drinking when money was to be had, vice in dark places. What was a drab more or less? Three weeks after the first murder, a second—a donkey shied at something and a woman, Mrs Nichols, whose trade was the same as the first, was found in the open gutter of a place called Buck's Row, near Spitalfields.

The horror was bad enough in itself, but when the police surgeon discovered, on examination that the throat, as in the first murder, was cut from behind and that, once more, mutilation was added to mutilation; sensation was spread abroad and fear also—fear of the unknown lurking in the dark. 

    That fear developed into a panic a week later when a third victim, Mrs. Chapman, was found dead In a court within a stones-throw, her wounds of the same sort and—a queer thing—the miserable, ragtaggle contents of her pockets laid at her feet in some sort of crazy, geometric design.  

    No one could doubt now—at all events no one did doubt—that a killer was at work who struck secretly, efficiently, and left no trace —no trace beyond a vague story of a suspicious man in a black suit carrying a small bag. The police were roundly abused and doubled and trebled their numbers in the area. 

    A number of revolvers were issued, and rubber soled boots—an innovation then. The public formed a Vigilance Committee—even well-known offenders began to offer help, for this murderer was making their own craft more difficult to pursue. Coffee stall keepers bemoaned the unwillingness of people to stay about in the streets—but every street was looked on as a possible murder ground. Only one individual seems to have thrived on the murders—a man whose lodging-house window overlooked the flags where the last victim's body had lain.

He started a sort of devilish peepshow, and did a roaring trade. Three further weeks passed during which hysteria rose and began to fade and, as it waned, was suddenly raised to greater heights. For now two women were murdered on the same night—the night, of a dance in a social club near the Commercial Road. 

     A Mrs. Stride was killed in a yard behind the dance-hall, and Catherine Eddowes —both of them middle-aged unfortunates— in Mitre Square less than an hour later. The Ripper was possibly disturbed before the customary disfigurements that identified him were left on his first victim and hurried away to complete his night's task elsewhere—as a postcard received by the Central News Agency explained. "Couldn't finish straight off’ the person wrote —"had no time to get ears for police."  

Was this postcard genuine, together with one or two others that reached the same agency—genuine in the sense that the murderer wrote them ? Again, nobody can be sure. Nothing of value came from them except that the writer who called himself Jack the Ripper and "Saucy Jackie," christened himself with as foul a title as exists in on criminal history. 

    The accounts of the crimes rang across Europe. In London's East End every man with a small bag was suspect; a scratch on the hand was enough to lead to your being denounced. In Tunbridge Wells a woman spoken to by a bearded man carrying a black bag dropped dead in fright. In the vicinity of Aldgate Pump and the area of a square mile In which the crimes had been committed, scores of persons were arrested. Hoaxers and lunatics gave themselves up in several parts of the country. It was suggested that the pupils of the dead should be photographed, for on them would be imprinted a picture of the Ripper himself. 

    The police were vigorous, employing great numbers both uniformed or disguised In rags; they were ready to take anybody into custody and did—but they achieved nothing. They were no nearer getting the man than if he were a ghost who materialised out of the atmosphere, did his atrocious work and vanished as a wraith. The reward of £1500 might as well not have existed. For five weeks nothing further happened beyond wild alarms, vain arrests, and fruitless denunciations.

But if it were the Ripper who had promised on his postcard to do his Job better next time he fulfilled his word on November 9. For on that night Miss Mary Jeannette Kelly, an Irish girl from Limerick, who lived in a ground-floor room in Miller's Court —a young woman of 24, whose looks alone among the victims might have been expected to attract him—was found dead, her innumerable wounds—184 of them—executed in some approximation to a geometric design bearing resemblance to that in which the pocket content of Mrs. Chapman had been arranged. 

    This crime is generally accepted as the last that can, with certainty, be attributed to The Ripper. That it was the final one has been adduced in support of a theory that the murderer was the doctor who confessed in Buenos Ayres, for his work was now, it is argued, completed—he had found the woman who was his son's downfall and taken his vengeance.

    It is not an impressive theory. But If you discard it, there is no shortage of others. One is that the Ripper was a religious homicidal maniac, avenging himself on women of an undesirable kind. Yet other investigators have argued that the monster was either George Chapman, the Southwark poisoner (certainly he had surgical knowledge and was working in a Whitechapel barber's at the time) — but it was his custom to marry his victims first; or that Neill Cream, another poisoner and a medical student, was the man. Cream was reported by Billington, the executioner, to have begun to say as he stood on the scaffold: "I am Jack ..." ere the bolt was drawn and the rest of the sentence went with him to eternity. But as Cream was in gaol in the United States during the time The Ripper was committing his crimes, that doesn't bear much investigation either. 

George R Sims in 1884

    George R. Sims asserted the Ripper was a doctor found dead in the Thames, and William le Queux is credited with the fanciful belief that the murderer was sent over by the Imperial Russian Government to expose our faulty police system and that he returned to Russia when his task was done!

    But even that is not the peak of imagination, for a spiritualist claimed that his clairvoyance has yielded HIM the secret. Jack the Ripper, he has declared, was a highly respected West End surgeon, whose wife, found him normally kind and loving but who nevertheless, was aware of his cruelties, for had she not found him torturing cats over a flame. Taxed with his crimes this surgeon (the story goes) confessed to his Jekyll and Hyde existence, was examined and found insane by a medical body, and quietly disposed of in a lunatic asylum. To hide the truth, it was given out that he had died, and an empty coffin bearing his name was duly buried.

Sir Melville Macnaughten

    Of the more authoritative opinions, Sir Melville Macnaghten, who was at one time Chief of the Criminal Investigation Dept., held the view that the Ripper came from a noble house and committed suicide the day after the final murder (though it is not plain why he held this theory) and another Superintendent of the Department, a Mr. John McCarthy, also now dead, declared that he was satisfied the murderer was a doctor who killed himself. 

    But all is conjecture. We know nothing that is beyond question other than that the man had some knowledge of anatomy and possessed a sexual impulse which drove him crazy from time to time. He is probably dead but it is not beyond the limits of possibility that Londoners may find themselves in a Tube or omnibus calmly and unwittingly watching this monster. The man would probably be seventy-odd years old now.

The Casebook of George Cracknell, Detective.

    Young George Cracknell joined the Metropolitan police in the year 1873 and was assigned to F Division in Kensington. The unassuming and pleasant PC Cracknell gave six unblemished years to F Division before he was transferred to T Division, where he would serve for the next nineteen years.

    We first hear of his exploits on the 8th December 1878 in Reynold's Newspaper whilst still serving in F Division.

Fopstone Road, now Nevern Place.

    Daniel Bailey was an unemployed discharged soldier, he had been given a pension of 6d a day for 18 months, this had now lapsed. To make up his money he took to begging house to house saying that he wanted to return to his native Scotland, the cost being 22s and he only had 21s 6d. So each day someone would give him 6d and this had been going on for months. He was arrested by PC Cracknell on Fopstone Road, Earls Court Road, Kensington, even though Bailey's "ingenious system of begging" raised some laughs in court he was sentenced to three months with hard labour.

    After joining T Division we catch up with George on the 24th December 1879 in the Morning Post.
    "Edward Payne, labourer, employed at the works of the new school in William Street, North End, Fulham was charged with being in the unlawful possession of two pieces of wood and one pound of lead.
    On Monday evening PC Cracknell stopped the prisoner in the Great Western Road, Kensington with the lead and wood in his possession. He stated he had brought them from his work. Payne pleaded that he did it for his family as they were very poor, the magistrate was unmoved, he was given the choice of a 19s fine or seven days imprisonment."

    Attaining the rank of Detective Constable in 1880, this account comes from the Morning Post, Thursday 30th December 1880.
    "James Lvras (?) a labourer was charged with loitering in Wrights Lane, Kensington supposed for the purpose of committing a felony.

Wrights Lane.

    The prisoner was watched by the police, who found a jemmy up his sleeve. It appeared to have been used as the point was broken off.
    Detective Cracknell said he had made inquiries about the prisoner and found he had been in the Rifle Brigade and bore a bad character.
    The prisoner in his defence stated he was on his way to St James Park when a man and woman said he could earn 15s to 16s if he came with them. He went with them as far as the railway station where he was taken into custody, they gave him the jemmy and told him to put it up his sleeve.
    The prisoner was committed to trial for carrying a housebreaking implement."

    We see in this account published in the West London Observer on the 17th May 1884 that sometimes a policemans lot was not a happy one.
    "Suspicious Conduct - Three young men named William Gaskin, Charles Crim and William Ward, all living in Fulham were charged with being suspected persons loitering on Wandsworth Bridge Road supposed for an unlawful purpose.

    Detective Cracknell said that at 10.45 on Friday night he and PC Bolton (my great great uncle!) were in the Wandsworth Bridge Road watching the suspects who went to the pub for ten minutes. 

They then left the pub and headed over the bridge to York Road, the prisoners stopped a man then ran away, soon they stopped another man. This man they "hustled", he had something under his arm and he struck out at the prisoners, they ran away a second time.

Wandsworth Bridge Tavern c1900

    The prisoners then returned to Fulham where they stopped a third man, at this point Cracknell and Bolton secured the prisoners.
    PC Bolton said that while they were going along Harwood Road Crim struck him in the mouth knocking him down then kicked him, another constable came to his assistance and he secured the prisoner. Detective Cracknell said Gaskin had already been to prison for horse stealing, the prisoners were remanded."

   George was back on the beat by 1885 for reasons I cannot find, he was called to a rather disturbing death according to Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper, Sunday 29th March 1885.
    "Burnt to death while in a fit - Yesterday Dr Diplock held an inquiry at the Bollo Bridge tavern, Acton into the decease of Henry Richardson aged 55, who met a shocking death from burns.

Bollo Bridge Tavern 1960s

    The evidence of Amelia Smith, the wife of a labourer, showed that Richardson lodged with her at 3 Hanbury Road. For some days he had been unwell, but his illness was not considered serious. Upon his room being entered on Thursday morning, he was found dead in front of the fire place. A portion of his body was extensively burnt.
    PC Cracknell 409T said he was called by Mrs Smith. He saw the body lying in the fender, a large fire was burning in the grate and the deceased's head was lying near the bars. Verdict, accidental death from burns."

    Back in the CID in May 1885 George had some trouble with juvenile delinquents, the West London Observer,  Saturday 2nd May 1885 carried the story.
    "Charles Read 18 and William Read 14 were charged with breaking into the house of Charles Dubben in Mulgrave road, Fulham. Henry Whitfield had been supervising works on the unoccupied house when several things were stolen from it.
    Mr Whitfield slept at the house one night to catch the thieves, he heard intruders and chased them catching Charles and locked him in a room from which he escaped. A description was reported to the police and the prisoners were apprehended, one of them was in possession of Mr Whitfield's tobacco and a cap belonging to Charles was found in the property.
    Detective Cracknell apprehended William who denied being in the house, the assistant gaoler stated William had recently been in court and had received 12 strokes for stealing figs from a shop.
    The parents were known to the police and are described as drinkers, the prisoners were committed for trial."

    An eagle eyed George cast his gaze on a passing plumber with just cause in this story from the West London Observer, Saturday 6th March 1886.
    "Albert Claverton, a plumber of Cassidy Road was charged with being in unlawful possession of a quantity of lead piping.

Fulham Road

    Detective Cracknell said on Wednesday he saw the prisoner in the Fulham Road carrying a large plumbers bag. He was asked what was in it and replied tools, Cracknell then opened the bag and found twenty three pieces of lead piping under the tools, he said the piping was given to him by Mr Churchman his foreman.
    Detective Cracknell asked the foreman who denied it, the prisoner changed his story by stating a Mr Bevan gave him it, Mr Bevan said he gave no such permission but he nor Mr Churchman could identify the lead.
    The prisoner said he did not take the lead with felonious intention, Cracknell stated the prisoner was not known to the police and he had six children and his wife confined that morning. Mr Paget committed him to prison for two months with hard labour."

    A day at the athletics turns nasty, the particulars were reported in the Morning Post, Wednesday 3rd August 1887.
    "Joseph Trotter 26 describing himself as a traveller, was indicted for trying to steal a watch and chain value £20 from the person of Sampson Burn Stevenson.
    The prosecutor is a licensed victauller and keeps the Old Crown and Cushion 447 Westminster Bridge Road. On the 11th of July he went to the Lillie Bridge Grounds to witness the athletic sports and was for a time sitting in the grandstand.

Lillie Bridge Ground

    At about half past 3 o'clock he got a check to pass out of the grounds, he had not got about 3 yards when he was surrounded by a crowd of persons and anticipated that robbery was intended. He placed his hand on his watch but as some of the men drove their elbows into him fearing they would injure his eyes he raised both arms to protect them. No sooner had he done this than he felt a hand upon his watch chain and his watch was hanging out of his pocket.
    At this moment George Cracknell, a detective of T Division came up. The prosecutor had not seen who had attempted to steal the chain. According to the evidence of Cracknell he and Sergeant Saunders saw the prisoner and eight others surrounding the prosecutor and called out "mind your watch" when he was nearly knocked down by a man rushing violently against him, and the prisoner, whom he had seen with the prosecutors watch in his hand, dart behind the crowd and for a time escaped.
    The prisoner was afterwards arrested and when searched at the police station was found to have a £10 note, two £5 notes, £3 of gold and 17s 6d in silver. The prisoner was found guilty."

George Cracknell, Jubilee medal (author's collection)

    You can't win 'em all, the West London Observer, Saturday 2nd July 1887 picks up the story.
    "Henry Herbert, a labourer of Lodge Avenue Fulham Road, was charged with stealing a waistcoat, value 10s, the property of Nathaniel Jones a tailor of Lillie Road.
    The prosecutor deposed that he missed the waistcoat on Saturday night from the shop. He did not know the prisoner, but he came in with another man.
    The prisoner - "I beg your pardon, I'm not guilty of the crime and I don't know nothing about it (laughter) I'm not guilty"
    Detective Cracknell said he arrested the prisoner on Tuesday. He said he was never in the shop and his father said his son was at home at the time. Mr Partridge ordered him to be discharged."
    I think George's instincts were good in this case, the prisoner was discharged but he would soon be in prison for other offences.

    George was a busy man as we see from this story in the same newspaper edition as the one above.
    "Catherine Ponsford, a married woman, was charged with robbing Lydia Moss, of Filmer Road, Fulham.

Filmer Road today

    The prosecutrix deposed that she missed a cameo brooch on Jubilee day, also two gold rings and other articles. She identified a table cloth and said she saw it safe on Monday week. The prisoner lived in the same house.
    Mr Partridge - How do you know she took them?
    The witness - There was no other person in the house. In answer to questions the witness said the prisoner was the landlady.
    The son of Mr Woodhouse, of North End Road, said the table cloth was pledged by the prisoner last week.
    Detective Cracknell said on Tuesday night he went to Filmer Road and arrested the prisoner, who denied all knowledge of the property. In a drawer in the kitchen he found another table cloth. After the second table cloth had been identified Mr Partridge granted a remand.

    A brutal and cowardly assault, George investigates, West London Observer, Saturday 6th August 1887.
    "Thomas Brookes of Builow Street, Henry Herbert of Lodge Avenue and John Elder of Imperial Cottage, all labourers, were charged with being concerned in violently assaulting Police Constable Romayne on the 21st ult. in Gas Factory Lane, Fulham.
    The constable said there was a number of men in the lane using bad language. He spoke to them, when Brookes struck him in the face, cutting it and knocking him down. The other prisoners kicked him. He was still incapacitated from duty.
    Brookes said he was in the beerhouse and was pulled out by the constable who was drunk and he fell down.
    Detective Cracknell said the prisoners were in the habit of going around in gangs. Mr Partridge committed all the prisoners to four months with hard labour."

   The case of the slippery coiner, Reynolds's Newspaper,  Sunday 29th September 1889.
    "EXTENSIVE SEIZURE OF COUNTERFEIT COIN - ESCAPE OF A PRISONER.
    Lillie Wilson 22, married, was placed in the dock charged for being concerned with a man in having in their possession a large quantity of counterfeit coin, with intent to utter the same.
    The prisoner was further charged with having in her possession seventeen moulds and other utensils for manufacturing counterfeit coin.
    Detective Sergeant Drew, T Division, said the other afternoon he was in Harwood Road, Fulham, when he saw a man leave number 58 and he was arrested by another officer. He, the sergeant, went into the house and saw the prisoner standing at the door of the third floor front room. He asked her if her name was Wilson, she said "yes", he asked if she was Mrs Wilson, she replied "yes".

58, Harwood Road, Fulham.

    He then told her he was a police officer and her husband was in custody for uttering counterfeit coin. He also said he believed she had a quantity of base coin in her room and that he was going to search it. 
    She said "I know nothing about him, what he does has nothing to do with me. I don't mind being locked up as long as he is with me, I'm better in prison than out while he is in there. I will not leave him, there is no bad money in this place."
    He searched the room and in a portmanteau found seventeen moulds. In various parts of the room he found a battery and other appliances used in the manufacture of counterfeit coin. A quantity of bad money was found in the room.
    Mr Curtis Bennett - What has become of the man?
    Sergeant Drew - He escaped from the police station.
    Detective Cracknell said he took the man to the police station and left him with other officers. He produced a quantity of counterfeit coin he found in the front room on the top floor consisting of 110 half crowns, 37 florins, 99 shillings and 174 sixpences.
    Some counterfeit gold coins were found by another officer consisting of one £5 piece, eight £2 pieces, 30 sovereigns and 12 half sovereigns.
    Mr Curtis Bennett remanded the prisoner and gave directions for a report to be made to the commissioners of the escape of the man, who was lodged in the station and allowed to escape.
    Inspector Ellis said there had been an inquiry and the sergeant with a constable had been suspended."

    Detective Sergeant Charles Drew would die of phthisis in November 1895, George Cracknell acted as one of the pallbearers.

    More light fingered goings on were reported in the Morning Post, Monday 16th February 1891.
    "John and Louisa Wright, man and wife, were indicted for having stolen a box and other articles, value £42, the goods of Gertrude Blanche Clayton: a trunk and other articles, value £60, the goods of Marion Hirtt Catell: and two boxes and other articles, value £148 the goods of Marianne Milne.
    Mr Passmore prosecuted, Mr Lawless defended the male and Mr Geoghegan the female prisoner. The three prosecutrices, who reside at Enville House, Upper Richmond Road, Putney, were at Earls Court railway station about five o'clock in the afternoon on the 2nd inst. and gave over their luggage to a porter, who took it to East Putney Station and placed it on a truck.

Earls Court railway station c1900

    The two prisoners were standing on the platform and the man said to his wife "here is the porter with our luggage" and they both went by the train. At Waltham Green Station the prisoners got out of the train and on their application the luggage was handed out of the guards van at Waltham Green Station instead of Putney.
    The prisoners drove away in a cab and the next day Detective Cracknell called upon them at 9, Morcambe Terrace, Dawes Road, Fulham. The male prisoner, who was arrested in the back yard of the next house, said "it's all right, I've got all the property, I've not done away with a ha'porth".
    The boxes were found in one of the bedrooms and several of the contents in drawers. Detective Sergeant Drew said the female prisoner told him she had nothing to do with the robbery and at the police station the male prisoner said he was sorry it had happened, but he did it under the influence of drink.
    Louisa Wright was acquitted, the male prisoner, who was found guilty, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour."
 
    The case of the amateur detective, West London Observer, Saturday 26th September 1891.
    "Henry Wheeler, an elderly man, was charged with being a suspected person attempting to pick pockets in the North End Road, Fulham.
    Mrs Louise Ballen, residing in Moor Park Road, said she was looking at a stall in North End Road and felt a hand in her dress pocket. She suspected the prisoner who was near her and accordingly watched his movements.
    She saw him go up to two other women and put his hand into their pockets. After watching him for half an hour she communicated with Detective Cracknell and he took him into custody.
    The magistrate said the prisoner was old enough to know better and committed him to prison for three months with hard labour."

North End Road, Fulham.

    The ungrateful thief, West London Observer, Saturday 5th March 1892.
    "Frank Easter, a plate engraver, of Cedar Road, Fulham, was charged with stealing a pair of boots and a clock, the property of Mr Lewis Hutchings of Nascot House, Fulham.
    Elizabeth Cole, the servant, said on the 28th January the prisoner, who had worked in the house, came and pleaded poverty. Her mistress gave him two shillings and some food, she left him in the kitchen with a pair of boots which he was given to clean. The next morning she missed the boots.
    On the 11th February she went down the stairs in the morning and found the kitchen window wide open and the clock gone.
    Detective Cracknell said on Thursday he arrested the prisoner on being discharged from Wandsworth Police Court. He told him the charge, the prisoner said "yes, I stole the boots and sold them for 5s to a man on Blackfriars Bridge. I also want to speak the truth, I broke into the house and stole a clock which I sold to the same man for half a crown, but I don't know where he lives."
    The officer stated the prisoner has been convicted for burglary, the prisoner asked for mercy and said he had lost his wife this month and was in great trouble.
    Mr Curtis Bennett committed the prisoner for trial."

    A fortune teller robbed, didn't see that coming! West London Observer, Saturday 12th March 1892.
    "Two young men named Michael Burke, a labourer and William Bethel, a plumber, were charged with being concerned with three other men with stealing money from an automatic fortune telling machine.
    Mr William Barham, landlord of the Nell Gwynne public house King's Road, Fulham, the prosecutor, deposed that he kept the machine on the mantleshelf in the private bar, he believed it contained 8s or 10s. On Tuesday afternoon he saw the prisoners in the bar with three other men, all being around the machine.

The Nell Gwynne pub, sadly closed.

    He watched as the men looked suspicious. After he went to the bar and saw the prisoner Bethel putting something in his pocket resembling a screwdriver. A pair of pliers were on the shelf, and the same prisoner who had his hand upon them said they belonged to him. There was also two or three pennies on the shelf.
    He examined the machine and found some of the screws taken out of the back, which was partly forced off, only eleven pence being left in it. Witness sent for a constable, then all the men ran away.
Cross examined by Burke: I saw you covering the other men, I followed and caught you.
    Detective Cracknell said he arrested the prisoners and took them to the station, both prisoners denied the charge, Bethel saying he was quite innocent. It was stated that both prisoners had been convicted for assaulting the police.
    Mr Curtis Bennett sentenced them both to three months imprisonment with hard labour."

    A tale of Wormwood Scrubs, London Daily News, Monday 6th September 1897.
    "Gertrude Green, aged 25, described as a domestic servant, was charged at the West London Police Court, on Saturday, with stealing two tin boxes containing three dresses, two petticoats, one black silk cape and other articles of wearing apparel, value £5 from the custody of Daniel Brooks a tailor of City Road, St Lukes, by means of a trick.
    The prisoner was before the court a week ago for stealing property from a house at 57, Lillie Road, West Brompton, where she had passed the night in company with a man friend. Among the things she stole on that occasion was a season ticket to the Victorian Era Exhibition.

The Victorian Era Exhibition

    She presented herself for admission to the exhibition the day following, and having produced the ticket, the official, who had received certain information, identified it as the one that had been stolen and in this way she was arrested.
    Daniel Brooks, in his case, stated that on the 19th August the prisoner called at his house and said she was an officer from Wormwood Scrubs prison and desired to see the clothing of his daughter, who was undergoing a sentence at that gaol, for conveyance to Scotland Yard for the purpose of identification.
    She threatened him that if he resisted her demand she would summon the detectives who were watching his house, he gave her the two boxes of clothing.
    Mr Rose - Did you believe her?
    Witness - I suppose I was foolish enough to do so (laughter), she is wearing one of the dresses and the trimmings of the hat. I also gave her 2s 6d for the fare to the Yard.
    Mr Rose - You should believe people are telling you the truth as far as possible, but when it comes to half a crown you should have been a little suspicious. (laughter)
    Witness - She also borrowed an umbrella belonging to my wife and promised to return it the next day, with facilities for seeing my daughter at the prison. I communicated with the police when I did not hear from her.

Female convicts, Wormwood Scrubs

    Mr Rose - You parted with those things believing she was an officer from Wormwood Scrubs?
    Witness - Yes, Sir.
    Detective Cracknell, who had charge of the case, mentioned that the prisoner had only recently been liberated from Woomwood Scrubs herself, she having suffered a term of eighteen month imprisonment. The prisoner said she met the daughter in prison and she told her that she could have the things.
    Evidence having been given to prove the articles had been pledged, Mr Rose committed the prisoner for trial."

    The retirement of George Cracknell, West London Observer, Friday 18th March 1898.
    "When Detective George Cracknell retired from T Division of the Metropolitan Police, after 25 years service, 19 of them in Fulham, so popular had he made himself during his long period of work in the borough, that a movement, having as it's object the presentation to him from his friends of a substantial recognition of his merit, sprang into being with Mr Oswald Hanson as the leading spirit.
    The matter was taken up with more than ordinary readiness and enthusiasm and the movement attained it's consummation in a dinner, which was held in compliment to Mr Cracknell at the Atlas Hotel, Seagrave Road, Fulham, on Thursday week."

The Atlas Hotel, still going strong

    A huge amount of family, friends and colleagues turned up to wish George well and after a sumptuous dinner the tables were cleared.
    "The loyal toast was drunk on the proposal of the chairman, who after a song (Jack's the Boy) by Mr Flew, rose to perform what he termed "his very pleasant duty", the submission of the toast of the evening "the health of their guest and friend Mr George Cracknell" (applause).
    "During his 19 years in T Division he has commanded the esteem not only of his superiors and fellow officers, but all the members of the general public he has come into contact with. (applause) Mr Cracknell was a man of a most unassuming nature and I would say this, not out of any disrespect for any members of the force, that their guest had always struck him as being particularly honest - even for a policeman (loud laughter). If it was ever a question whether he could conscientiously, and consistently in his duty, say a good word for a prisoner, he had always done so (hear hear)."
    George was then presented with a cheque for an unspecified amount (called "oof" in the parlance of the day) to see him through his retirement.

Ealing Town Hall

    After his retirement George became a porter at Ealing Town Hall, after twelve years service he was tragically run down by a tram and died on the 8th October 1910.

SMUGGLERS' BATTLES PART 1 - Five and twenty ponies. 1720 to 1738.

SMUGGLERS' BATTLES PART 1.

Five and twenty ponies. 1720 to 1738.

    A history of the skirmishes seen across Britain during the "golden age" of smuggling, gleaned from newspaper accounts from the time it shows how far both side would go to gain success.



November 1720;

    On Monday morning last very early were two boats of smugglers with goods from Ostend, having passed London Bridge, were attempted to be taken by some customs house officers, but they shot one of them in the eye (of which he died a few hours later) and proceeded, they were pursued almost to Chelsea.

October 1721;

    Last Sunday several horse grenadiers brought into Southwark a person suspected of smuggling, he was yesterday committed to the Fleet Prison.

December 1721;

    There has lately been a scuffle between the customs house officers and the smugglers, in which the latter were worsted, though double the number of the officers. In this engagement one Hughson, the ringleader of the smugglers was taken prisoner and brought away by the officers. Carried the next day before three Justices of the peace in order to suffer the penalty of the late act against smuggling, he was committed to the charge of a constable from whom he made his escape.

April 1722;

    They write from Lydd in Kent that two smugglers have defended themselves against the riding officers, were at last overpowered by them and carried prisoners to Lydd. But that on Sunday the 18th past in the morning there came ten horsemen to the prison having all of them pistols, swords and hatchets hanging by their sides.

The George Hotel, Lydd where this daring escape occurred.

    They demanded the two prisoners but were refused, upon which some of them got off their horses and entered the prison door and went upstairs firing their pistols before them as they went up. Coming to the door of the room where the two men were they broke it open and carried them off.
    One of the riding officers was shot in the arm by the men who were disguised as they could not be known, one of them was wounded and is since dead.

June 1722;

    They write from Colchester that several of the customs house officers have seized in an old barn near that town, a quantity of run brandy worth 500l. As also divers old guns and swords with which the smugglers use to defend themselves from justice.

October 1722;

    On the 27th some customs house officers belonging to Portsmouth seized at Stokes Bay six hogsheads and ten anchors of brandy, which is looked upon as a small part of what was run there last night.

Stokes Bay

    On the 31st October about twelve persons disguised and armed with swords and staves barbarously assaulted and beat Mr Joseph Clap, an office with the customs house at Portsmouth in the execution of his office. They stole from him his horse and arms and threatened at the same time several other officers of the customs.



January 1723;

    Yesterday was seized by the customs house officers at the White Hart Inn in Whitechapel, 4 bags of coffee of about 16 bushels and taken to the customs house, together with the waggon and horses which are forfeited.

The White Hart still exists and is a great pub to visit

February 1725;

    Edinburgh. An officer of the excise being informed that a considerable quantity of run brandy was hid underground at Stockbridge, about a mile from the city, went with a party of soldiers to seize it. They were strenuously opposed by a knot of countrymen who resisted the officer in the execution of his office and the soldiers firing shot one of the countrymen dead on the spot and two others are since dead of their wounds.

May 1725;

    We have an account from Eye in Suffolk of the following merry occurrence. Some smugglers having loaded a hearse with run brandy, with design to convey it farther into the country and being apprehensive that a certain person at Hexon near Eye, through which it was to pass, would inform the officer of excise and get it seized. One of the smugglers informed the officer himself that two hearses were to pass, one about three hours before the other and that in the first was just a dead corpse, but the last was full of brandy.
    Whereupon the officer permitted the first to pass, wherein was the booty and upon seizing the other found only a dead corpse.

 March 1728;

    Yesterday morning about 3 o'clock seven men on horseback were dogged to an inn near Long Acre and upon searching the hay loft by some of the King's officers assisted by a constable, there was 700 weight and upwards of tea. As the officers were doing their duty six men came with forks and other weapons and a battle ensued, but the officers and constable took three of them who are sent to New Prison.

New Prison, Camberwell

June 1730;

    Robert Kneale, commander of a customs house boat at Whitehaven, being with 3 men at an inn at Ryall near Annan, Scotland, waiting for the tide to bring up their boat. In the night the house was forced by a mob who in a very violent and barbarous manner beat and dangerously wounded Mr Kneale and his men and carried away their arms.

May 1732;

    A detachment of General Evan's Dragoons arrived here (Dover) on Friday last from their late quarters at Hereford in order to assist the customs house officers to prevent smuggling, which has grow to such height that an officer dare not attempt to do his duty, nor even a body of them.
    The Mayfield gang are so desperate, they were seen to go laden over Yeowell Minnis three times the week before last, all armed.

June 1733;

    Three smugglers and their horses were seized by the customs house officers of Greenwich, loaded with a great quantity of tea and other contraband goods, the persons were secured.

Dragoons on duty

    On the 10th instant a troop of Major General Gore's regiment of dragoons marched into the town of Yeovil in the county of Somerset to join another troop of the same regiment. This is in order to prevent any disturbances that might arise from a set of people remarkable for their disloyalty to his present Majesty and Government.




December 1734;

    The seizure of 7000wt of tea with a considerable amount of velvets, brocades and silks was brought up on Monday in waggons from Kent to the excise office by two officers and thirty dragoons who were concerned in seizing it and had 100 guineas given to them for their trouble.

July 1735;

    John Willson, alias Old York and John Biggs, alias Young York received sentence of death for aiding, abetting and assisting in the murder of William Cam a Dragoon. Cam who with three or four more and some Officers of the Customs had seized a large quantity of smuggled goods at Seamer near Hadleigh.

    They lay at Hadleigh that night and in the morning were attacked by a large number of smugglers among which were the prisoners. There was a sharp engagement between them in which Cam the Dragoon was killed and Biggs was shot through the calf with which shot his horse was killed.

    The two were seized in London and transported to Bury with a guard of soldiers. 

February 1736;

    A great seizure of brandy and other goods was made at Sittingborne in the county of Kent by two officers of the customs house assisted by four countrymen well armed. But the same was retaken from them by a party of six smugglers who wounded two of the countrymen and made off.

General Tatton's 3rd Regiment of Foot.

March 1736;

    On Tuesday the Customs House officers and soldiers that took the cargo of tea and John Cart, one of the smugglers, at Bexhill in Sussex and were examined before the Honorable Commissioners of the Customs. By their depositions it appears that the smugglers were so numerous and resolute that they beat off the party of Dragoons and the Officers of the Customs by plyed them so warmly they had no inclination to return to the battle. 

    But that a corps of Foot of the late General Tatton's regiment, consisting of a Sergeant, a corporal and seven privates who had been on another command accidently passed that way. They courageously attacked the smugglers and after having a hot dispute forced them to retreat and leave the cargo of tea behind. As the seizure was made and the gang defeated wholly be the valour of this small party 'tis not doubted they will have the profits of the capture which will be a hansom reward for their bravery. 

June 1736;

    They write from Kent that the customs house officers at Folkestone made a seizure of 1300lb of tea which they took from a gang of twenty smugglers.

Old Folkestone, post card.

October 1737;

    On Tuesday last Mr Bailey, Mr Mortimer and Mr Hurst His Majesties riding officers at Eastbourne in Sussex with the assistance of six dragoons made a seizure of 17 CW of tea and 105 half anchors of brandy, which they immediately carried to the customs house. The smugglers rode off well armed with blunderbusses but did not think proper to take their goods with them.

April 1738;

    On Monday the 19th instant, about one o'clock in the morning, Mr John Wheatley, a customs house officer at Pagham in the Port of Chichester with the assistance of two of his servants seized 25lb of tea, besides brandy and rum together with two horses and a waggon.
    Though the smugglers, who were five in number, and well armed, made a stout resistance and fired their blunderbuss at the officer and men, happily they missed.

November 1738;

    On Thursday night two customs house officers boarded the Samuel and Mary, Captain Holland made a seizure of five casks of brandy. Upon which the crew rose upon them, retook the brandy, manned each boat with eight men and rowed off huzzarring in triumph before the officers faces.

Highwaymen and Footpads in North Northamptonshire.

     Stand and deliver!!

    I've recently been reading stories of swashbuckling, derring-do and highwaymen, fine stuff I'm sure you'll agree. Searching through some files of old newspaper cuttings, I came across a few articles I was saving for a reason that escapes me now.
    I used to live just north of Northampton in a village called Brixworth, this rather picturesque village is found along the A508, also known as the Harborough Road as it eventually reaches Market Harborough and then on to Leicester.
    Many years ago I searched the Northampton Mercury for stories of highway robbery along this road and close environs, it was a long drawn out process, all microfilm and photocopiers, sounds quite mediaeval by todays standards!


    I've re-read the stories and I believe they need to see the light of day, so dear friends I take you back to the afternoon of the 16th December, 1738, just near the Northampton gallows (now the White Elephant crossroads..ish).

    "Mr Bracekettle of Holcot and a farmer of Overstone Grounds, on their return home from our market, were attacked by a single highwayman near the gallows, who took from each of them five shillings, being all the money he could find about them.
    Immediately he rode up to another man, but his horse stumbling, the man had the good luck to escape his hand.
    On Thursday last a butcher of this town coming from Moulton, was stopped by a highwayman who presented a pistol to his breast and took from him about forty shillings."


    Leaping ahead quite some years, something must have happened, couldn't find it sadly, we now find ourselves in October 1780....it's a Friday night...about 10 o'clock.
    "Two post-chaises were stopped upon the Harborough Road, near Kibworth by two footpads. One of the Gentlemen in the first chaise declared he would not be robbed and discharged a pistol at them. Whether either of them was wounded or not is uncertain, but they thought it proper to desist from any further attempt."

The Coach and Horses, Kibworth

    One dark night (about 8 o'clock) in December 1781 a traveller was heading down Sibbertoft Lane towards Clipston, it's a lonely spot even today but this encounter must have been terrifying!
    "John Allen of Oxendon, (on returning from North Kilworth where he had been to receive some money) was stopped in the lane between Sibbertoft and Clipston by two footpads. One of them held his horse and beat him on the arm, while the other, with horrid oaths, presented a pistol to his breast and robbed him of four guineas, threatening him with instant death if he didn't immediately deliver him the money.
    One was a tall fellow, dressed in a carter's frock and slouched hat, the other was a short man, dressed in a dark shabby coat and a slouched hat and had on a flesh coloured mask.

Sibbertoft Lane, a lonely spot.

    A farmer from Clipston that same night met the man with the mask on a path outside the lane, who dared not alone to attack the farmer but walked off to a distance of a few yards and whistles surprisingly shrill, to which another answered with a whittle. During which time the farmer ran so far they could not rob him."


    Near Brixworth is another charming village called Pitsford, I'm not sure when it changed it's name, but in the 18th century it was known as Pisford, I have to admit, that made me smile. So, we find ourselves on a Thursday night around 7 o'clock in October 1782.
    "Richard Thurland, a shepherd, on his return home from Scaldwell, in this county, to Kempstone, Woodend, Bedfordshire was stopped by two footpads between Pisford and Boughton, near the pond of the Earl of Strafford. One of whom held him by the shoulders whilst the other robbed him of a canvas purse containing seven shillings, being all he had. He begged them to return him a shilling to bear his charges, having a long way to go, which they refused."


    On a Saturday evening in February 1784 one chap had a lucky escape and another not quite so lucky.
    "Thomas Ward, baker of Brixworth, in this county, was returning from our market. He was stopped between Kingsthorpe and Boughton by a footpad who made him dismount. He demanded his money and threatened to blow his brains out if he refused. He then searched his pockets, but finding no money except a few halfpence he let him pass without any further molestation.
    The same evening Mr Jonathan Waples, butcher of Pisford was stopped near the same place and robbed of about fourteen shillings in silver. The robber was a tall man, dressed in a blue great coat and boots."


    Fairs were pretty dangerous sometimes, Boughton Fair was no exception.

Boughton Green looking towards the ruins of St John's church.

    Held on a triangular piece of ground within sight St. John's church, it was a magnet for robbers. George "Captain

Slash" Catherall was a famous name in Northampton when he was hanged in 1826 for robbing stall holders at Boughton, I doubt he was mourned by many, but more of him later. On a warm summers night in June 1784, a couple were just leaving Boughton Fair....
    "Mr Clark, hatter of this town was returning with his wife in a one horse chaise from Boughton Fair. He was stopped near Boughton by two footpads who robbed him of a few shillings, but not content with their booty one of them attempted to get into the chaise to search Mr Clark, upon which he jumped out on the other side and made the best of his way to Boughton. They then demanded Mrs Clark's money, which she was proceeding to deliver, but luckily a person coming in sight, they decamped in great haste.
    The same night a man who had been selling cutlery goods at the fair was stopped by the same fellows. But making some resistance one of them struck him several times on the head and face with his pistol, after which they robbed him of about six guineas and got clear."
    I bet Mr Clark was in trouble again that night!

Scotland Wood , sadly quite depleted.

    Meanwhile back on the Harborough Road, at a place called Scotland Wood, which is around where the A508 crosses the A14, on a warm Thursday evening in August 1784 a vehicle is approaching...
    "A post chaise, in which were three Gentlemen was stopped near Scotland Wood, between Maidwell and Kelmarsh by two footpads. But the Gentlemen who were each armed with a pistol declared they would not be robbed and threatened to fire upon them if they persisted in their attempt. They thought it proper to make off."

    To round off a particularly bad year for robberies in October 1784 the North Mail from London was held up by two miscreants armed with pistols at the turnpike road, Boughton and Brampton crossroads.   Mail bags from several towns and cities were found scattered around as far as Bozeat, although ransacked the robbers failed to find several bank bills.
    Three days later one of the men was apprehended in London and the other was being hunted, the captured man was a butcher from Spitalfields market.

    This next story is of probably the luckiest victim of them all, it was on a cold January night, about 8 o'clock in 1785...
    "Mr John Munden of Brixworth was returning home from this town, he was fired at from a gate near a place called Coal Tracks, between Kingsthorpe and Boughton by a fellow on horseback. A ball passed through the breast of his coat, providentially without doing him any damage, though his coat was buttoned across the breast and the ball entered between the button holes. Mr Munden's horse started at the report and flash of the pistol and was very near throwing his rider, but luckily he recovered his seat, rode off at full speed and escaped being robbed."

    Sometimes the baddies were caught and they could expect little mercy, just a couple of months after John Munden's lucky escape highwayman John Roberts luck ran out.
    "7th March 1785: On Saturday last John Roberts was executed in Boughton Lane, about 3 miles from this town, near the spot where he robbed the mail. He confessed the crime for which he suffered and acknowledged the justice of his sentence. At the place of execution he admonished the numerous spectators to take warning by his untimely fate and particularly desired them not to reflect on his brother, who was charged with being his accomplice, declaring that he was entirely innocent. After hanging for the usual time his body was cut down and put into a coffin in order to be interred."
    Nothing like a good hanging on a Saturday afternoon!


    On the 12th October 1799 another robber was caught at Boughton, sadly I don't know his fate.
    "On Wednesday was committed to the gaol of this county by the Rev Edward Bayley one William Wright of Kingsthorpe, labourer. Charged on the oath of Richard Warner, of Boughton, with having in company with three other persons not yet taken, violently assaulted the said Richard Warner in the evening of the 21st of September last on the highway in the parish of Boughton aforesaid. And with felonously stealing from the said Richard Warner two wooden bottles containing 13 quarts of ale, of the value of eleven pence, the property of Thomas Faulkener, of Boughton, husbandsman."


    It's June 1800 and back on that lonely stretch of lane between Sibbertoft and Clipston we last visited in 1781, we hear footsteps...

The Bulls Head, Clipston

    "Philip Boswell, brick maker of Daventry was travelling from Husbands Bosworth, in Leicestershire, to Kelmarsh, in this county. He was attacked about eleven o'clock at night between Sibbertoft and Clipston, by two men who demanded his watch and money. But upon Boswell saying he had none they threw him on the ground and searched his pockets, but finding neither money nor watch they untied his garters. With one of which they tied his legs and with the other his left arm to his left thigh. After which they threw him into the brook, where he would have sufficated if his right arm had not been at liberty. With which and the assistance of his teeth, after remaining in the water for ten minutes, he found means to untie the garters and extricate himself.

    The two men were dressed in smock-frocks with sticks in their hands, one man was six feet high, the other about five feet eight inches. Another man about five feet eight inches high was also with them, dressed in a dark great coat, but he did not give any assistance to the others in their assault upon Mr Boswell, but kept at a distance."


    The year is now 1801 and nearly time to return to the present era where we don't find highway robbery in the classic sense, now instead of hearing "stand and deliver!" it's more like "unleaded or diesel?", at least we don't get clubbed over the head, it just feels like we have sometimes! Anyway, appearing in court in February 1801 are two ne'er-do-wells....
    "William Jones, otherwise Johns and John Taylor, charged on a violent suspicion of having on Tuesday evening the 21st of October last, on the King's highway, in the parish of Maidwell assaulted and beat John Richardson of Brixworth, inn holder.
     Robbed him of a red morrocan pocket book, containing two five guinea Harborough banknotes, a ten pound Harborough banknote, a five pound Stoney Stratford banknote, a one pound Bank of England note and between nine and ten pounds in gold."
    They were both found guilty and hanged at Northampton on the 7th March 1801.


    It would be remiss of me not to mention the most famous highwayman of North Northamptonshire, George Catherall was an ex-soldier and boxer from Bolton in Lancashire, a tall athletic villain with a mashed up back due to many military floggings.

    He and a small band of trouble makers had been in town for a while committing several robberies, he soon got a name for himself, this name was Captain Slash.
    The crimes that were his downfall were committed as the Boughton Fair was closing, Catherall and a gang member called Hugh Robinson robbed a James Henley of eleven half crowns, one crown, one waistcoat, a neckerchief, a corkscrew and some half pence and Catherall alone robbed a James Hannell of one pound in silver. Arrested and tried for assault and robbery at Northampton, the two were found guilty and sentenced to death, later Robinson's sentence was commuted to life.
    The execution was performed in front of a huge crowd on the 21st July 1826, before the fatal moment Catherall kicked his boots into the crowd, allegedly in defiance of his mother who said he would die with his boots on. He convulsed for about two minutes before life was deemed extinct, afterwards several females approached the corpse to rub their wens and warts on his hand as heeling folklore directed,  he was buried on the north side of St. Giles church yard the same day.

The North side of St. Giles church, Northampton.

    In more modern times the supernatural aspect of long dead felons has become ingrained in the folkloric narrative, Captain Slash Catherall is no exception. His ghost is said to haunt St. John's ruins, personally, I've been there many times both day and night and I've seen nothing unfortunately, but who knows...give it a try!

The ruins of St. John's church, Boughton.