A.P. Wolf
02-26-2007, 01:36 PM
Looking through inquest statements I noted that Kidney’s claims to have split with Stride on the previous Tuesday – and that he hadn’t seen her since – appear to be inconsistent with the statements of Elizabeth Tanner who says ‘she left the man she was living with on Thursday to come and stay with me at my lodging house. That is what she told me’.
A statement that appears to be backed up by Catherine Lane when she says ‘Lately she had only been there since Thursday’.
It seems that Kidney was attempting to distance himself in time from the night of the murder of Stride.
The following also gave me a laugh.
Expanded witness testimony of Michael Kidney:
‘The witness at this point began in a most incoherent manner to complain that what he had to say to them had not been properly treated by the police. Asked by the Coroner whether he had any reason to believe that any person was likely to run foul of her, he commenced in a sulky manner and in speech very difficult to understand, to explain that he had called the previous night at Leman-street Police-station and asked for a "young detective to work on his information" and was told he could not have one.-In answer to Inspector Reid, the witness said he was intoxicated at the time and drove up to the station in a cab. He wanted a young detective who was not known in the district, and was told there was not one at hand. He was an Army Reserve man and drawing a pension; he was also "a lover of discipline." He wanted the young detective so that he could go amongst people who did not know him and hear what they had to say.-Pressed by the Coroner to give his information to the jury or subsequently to the police, it appeared that he had none in particular to offer, but was convinced that he could place 100 constables in such positions in the neighbourhood that the murderer must be caught. He was, further, certain that he could effect the capture "if he had the police at his command." (Laughter.)
The Coroner having pointed out amid some amusement the difficulties which would arise if every person with a theory sought to obtain the command of the police, the witness was induced to continue his evidence.’
He does come across as a bit of a loose cannon in this exchange.
A statement that appears to be backed up by Catherine Lane when she says ‘Lately she had only been there since Thursday’.
It seems that Kidney was attempting to distance himself in time from the night of the murder of Stride.
The following also gave me a laugh.
Expanded witness testimony of Michael Kidney:
‘The witness at this point began in a most incoherent manner to complain that what he had to say to them had not been properly treated by the police. Asked by the Coroner whether he had any reason to believe that any person was likely to run foul of her, he commenced in a sulky manner and in speech very difficult to understand, to explain that he had called the previous night at Leman-street Police-station and asked for a "young detective to work on his information" and was told he could not have one.-In answer to Inspector Reid, the witness said he was intoxicated at the time and drove up to the station in a cab. He wanted a young detective who was not known in the district, and was told there was not one at hand. He was an Army Reserve man and drawing a pension; he was also "a lover of discipline." He wanted the young detective so that he could go amongst people who did not know him and hear what they had to say.-Pressed by the Coroner to give his information to the jury or subsequently to the police, it appeared that he had none in particular to offer, but was convinced that he could place 100 constables in such positions in the neighbourhood that the murderer must be caught. He was, further, certain that he could effect the capture "if he had the police at his command." (Laughter.)
The Coroner having pointed out amid some amusement the difficulties which would arise if every person with a theory sought to obtain the command of the police, the witness was induced to continue his evidence.’
He does come across as a bit of a loose cannon in this exchange.