The Wealthy Resident of Grosvenor Square

[A.P. Wolf]

October 27th 1888, 'The Atchison Daily Globe':

'The London police now have a theory that satisfies them and claim to have a particular individual in view and to possess corroborative evidence in support of their theory. He has been repeatedly tracked and traced, and is a well known and wealthy resident of Grosvenor Square, the most fashionable quarter of London. A sensation of immense magnitude is expected in connection with this matter.'

The clock was ticking, the clock is still ticking.
Now who lived in Grosvenor Square?

[Tom_Wescott]

Hey, I don't think I've seen this one yet. Pretty cool. Weren't most residents of Grosvenor Square wealthy though?

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[How Brown]

A.P. & Tommy:

This newspaper ( A Kansas newspaper...and the date ( October 27th ) can be found on Spry's site...

There's another mention of a Malay Cook as well.









http://www.casebook.org/press_reports/atchison_daily_globe/881027.html

[A.P. Wolf]

I believe the Saunderson's may have had a residence in Grosvenor Square, which, if they did, sort of squares the circle.
We have to remember that young Saunderson was placed in a private asylum very shortly after this report; some believe it may have actually been on the same night as the murder of Kelly; from whence he emerged years later to kill an unfortunate by cutting her throat; and hence went off to play billiards for the rest of his life at Broadmoor with Thomas.
Both keen gardeners, I bet they fought like buggery over the pruning knife for the roses.
It was a good year for the roses.

[Chris Scott]

Here is an earlier and more detailed account of the Grosvenor Square resident...

Ogdensburg Journal
10 October 1888

JEKYLL AND HYDE.
A Remarkable Theory as to the Whitechapel Assassin.
THE POLICE HAVE A CLEW.
At Least They Are Watching a Man Who They Think Was Driven to Crime by the Influence of Stevenson's Remarkable Novel.

London, Oct. 9.
I am informed by a gentleman who stands in close relations at Scotland Yard that several of the leading detectives have thrown over the clews and ideas heretofore taken up and are working on an entirely new and most remarkable theory.
This theory is that the horrible crimes which have so disturbed the city and interested the entire world are the result of a case in real life of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." Furthermore, the detectives believe that the existence of such a case is directly attributable to the excitement and morbid reflections caused by a mind dwelling upon the circumstances detailed in the story and play just named.
Parallels are ingeniously drawn between the acts of the Whitechapel monster, who not only kills but mutilates his victims, and the frenzied brutality with which the Mr. Hyde of the fiction stamps upon the girl, whom he knocks down and injures in the deserted and echoing streets at midnight, as told in the first part of the book.
Not only have the police been brought to this astounding position, through what they claim is direct evidence corroboratory of such a theory, but they are industriously working with a particular individual in view, and they believe that they are truly upon the right track. If it be so, London is promised for a not far distant future a sensation of such magnitude that the tragedies leading to it will sink almost into insignificance beside it.
My informant tells me that a well known, prosperous resident of Grosvenor Square is the man under police surveillance. He moves in the best of society and is completely removed from derogatory suspicion among those who are his daily associates.
The man, however, as I am assured, has been tracked and traced until it is absolutely established that he does lead a double life. This Dr. Jekyll lives for the eminently respectable world in which he moves. The other self, like Mr. Hyde, lives mysteriously, revoltingly. This latter self has been tracked to the Whitechapel district, and has been seen, in its form of a man, skulking stealthily about dark corners and alleys, or stalking moodily through deserted side streets.
This duality of life and conduct established, it remains, of course, to positively connect the subject with the deeds of which he is suspected, and this, at least, one leading detective has hopes of accomplishing.
Of course there are some who scoff at the sensational theory, and allege that at the worst the Grosvenor Square Dr. Jekyll visits Whitechapel in curiosity and perhaps with a desire to apprehend the murderer other than to commit a murder. But I send the information for what it is worth. The story is certainly interesting and striking, and not half so improbable as many of the absurd clews that the police have followed in these cases.
Great secrecy is maintained by the police in the matter, and only very remote references to it have been published here.

[How Brown]

Thanks a lot for that one, Chris...good find !
That's an American paper as was the Atchison,correct ? Ogdensburg New York ?

[Chris Scott]

Hi How
Yes, a New York paper
Chris

[Paul]

It probably doesn't need saying, but just in case there is anyone unfamiliar with addresses, Dr William Gull lived at 74, Brook Street, off Grosvenor Square.

[How Brown]

Thanks for that Mr. B.
Quick question since you appear to be awake:

At any time, has Gull's address ever been mentioned in connection with any theory which involved him as a theorized suspect in the past ?
Obviously, the story of PAV,Netley,et al developed over the years...but with a different basis. This story that Chris brought back up makes me wonder whether Gull was ever suggested simply because of that address.
Help a pal out. Thanks.

[Nemo]

I know Gull was an advocate of vivisection so I would be surprised if his name hadn't been mentioned at some point in connection with the Ripper crimes

[Robert Linford]

I took a census walk along GS in 1891. There were a fantastic number of properties containing only servants.

[Paul]

Thanks for that Mr. B.
Quick question since you appear to be awake:

At any time, has Gull's address ever been mentioned in connection with any theory which involved him as a theorized suspect in the past ?
Obviously, the story of PAV,Netley,et al developed over the years...but with a different basis. This story that Chris brought back up makes me wonder whether Gull was ever suggested simply because of that address.
Help a pal out. Thanks.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
- er, just put the tea on the bedside cabinet; oh, Howie, it's you...

Thomas Stowell gave the address of Gull in his 1970 article in The Criminologist, in which he also made the somewhat odd comment: "it is said that on more than one occasion Sir William Gull was seen in the neighbourhood of Whitechapel on the night of a murder."

I don't recall it ever being said that Gull was said to have been seen in Whitechapel on the nights of the murders, so Stowell's comment seems an odd one to have made.

Stowell then goes on to tell the Lees story as recited by Fred Archer in his recently published Ghost Detectives (1970), adding his own anecdote that Caroline Acland had told him that at the time of the murders her mother had been visited by a police Inspector and a medium who asked impertinent questions.

Stowell seems to have accepted the rumours and the Lees story, but, of course, attributed it to Gull being in Whitechapel to certify the Ripper - who Stowell though was Prince Albert Victor. It has been mooted (Colin Kendell, back in 1990) that Stowell's real purpose was to point the finger at Gull, not PAV.

Paul

[How Brown]

Thanks for that Paul. I was just wondering whether the Grovesnor Square story could have transmogrified into the Gull/Netley/PAV tale at some point down through time. :tea:

[Paul]

Thanks for that Paul. I was just wondering whether the Grovesnor Square story could have transmogrified into the Gull/Netley/PAV tale at some point down through time. :tea:

Or, of course, inquiries were made about Gull and the story told by Caroline Acland about a visitation by the police and a medium is true - Gull was, as the 1888 papers state, "well known" and "prosperous" and he did move "in the best of society". And the Chicago newspaper account, claiming that the unnamed doctor was an ardent vivisectionist, seems to be pointing at Gull. Dum de du dum.

[Gumshoe]

Is thish thread having problems? I see that message board stalwarts like Mishters Linford and Begg state that they are posting elsewhere but cannot see their own posts on thish thread. The thread seems to work alright for me, so ish there still a problem for some posters?

[Robert Linford]

Hi Gumshoe

All sorted now, unless thish ish a false dawn.