Dr JM Porter

[A.P. Wolf]

Has anyone information on this character, a retired army surgeon who wrote an eloquent letter to the New York Times in January of 1883 extolling the virtues of Warner's patent medicines, a family firm based in Rochester, New York, that had cured his Bright's Disease?
It sure sounds like Tumblety writing the letter.

[How Brown]

A.P.

I will get to work on this and Nina will too...tonight.

Sounds interesting,sor.

[How Brown]

A.P.

Can you transcribe the letter or send me information as to where it is located so I can do it?

Is it in the NYTimes? If so,I can probably find it on my own.

Thanks again...sor.

[A.P. Wolf]

Yes, How, the letter is in the NYT of 6th January 1883; and it comes across as pure Tumblety to me.
There is a vague reference in Tumblety's own writings to a Mr Porter; and I was also able to find a vague reference to the Rochester firm of Warner being involved in some sort of blackmail attempt in the same year.
I had hoped to firm these vague references up with the BDE but the site is down at the mo.

[A.P. Wolf]

I forgot to mention, How, that this Dr Porter claims to have been practising medicine in New Orleans in 1879, then moved to Philadelphia; and actually addressed his 1883 letter to the NYT from Saratoga Street, Baltimore.
All of that sounds very familiar.

[How Brown]

New York Times
Page One
February 7,1892
Manhattan Athletic Club
Its Sixth Annual Dinner Enjoyed By Four Hundred Persons
Under a large illuminated cherry diamond in the auditorium of the pretty theater at the Manhattan Athletic club last night, 400 jolly fellows,members and guests, enjoyed the sixth annual club dinner.
The festivities were under the direction of the Vice president of the club, Dr. E.V.Hoyt andthe occasion proved to be one of the pleasantest of the kind in the history of the MAC.
At the speakers table running the length of the room were the president, George W. Carr, Eugene Van Schalck,Cornoer Schultze,E.B.Harper,John W.Vrooman,F.B.Wilson,Julian Hawthorne,F.P.Morris,A.C.Palmer,Rollin M.Morgan,J.H.Parker, and Dr. E.F.Hoyt.
George Carr responded to the first toast....and also referred to his many years as president, and humorously compared his position with that of Chauncey DePew of the union League.
Among those present ( skipping through all the names-H.B.) was Dr. J.M. Porter

The reason I emboldened that name of Chauncey Depew was that I am certain I have heard it before...either from Joe Chetcuti or R.J....or maybe even you,A.P.

Nina is working on the Porter-New Orleans-Philly connection right next to me as I type.

[How Brown]

A.P.

I found another J.M.Porter in attendence in at a Chicago soiree ( High society snooty types) in February of 1882. Probably not our fellow...but dig this:

Tumbelty, according to Martin McGarry ( page 215 of Evans & Gainey's First American Serial Killer )liased with the young New York businessman in July of 1882. McGarry was his traveling companion during this time.

You just mentioned that the letter from Doc Porter emanated from Saratoga Street,Baltimore.

McGarry appears to have spent time with Tumbelty AFTER the date on the letter you provided,A.P..... McGarry does not mention Baltimore in his recollection of his time with Doc Tumbelty to the New York World ( who would interview Dr. T. just a few weeks later in that infamous interview), but he does mention Dublin,Inniskillen Falls,Philly,Boston,New Haven,New York..............BUT

McGarry does mention Saratoga. Saratoga is a city in New York.

And there is a street in Baltimore named Saratoga.

Right now, it seems to be that Tumbelty's tour with McGarry started this way:

New York City
Niagara Falls
Rochester
Saratoga
New York City
Rome(N.Y.)
New York City
Boston
New Haven
Philadelphia ( He apparently was here at least twice so far and I am looking for more trips to Philly)
New York City
Glasgow(N.Y.)
New York City
Queenstown
Dublin (N.Y.)
Inniskillen Falls (N.Y.)
New York City

No Baltimore mentioned. In fact,Philadelphia is the city farthest south visited by these two or by Tumbelty alone according to McGarry.

You may be right,A.P.

[Sam Flynn]

The reason I emboldened that name of Chauncey Depew was that I am certain I have heard it before...I may be able to help jog your memory, How... he didn't look like a skunk and speak like Maurice Chevalier, by any chance?

[How Brown]

Good one Sammy...but seriously, I know I've heard that name ( its like...Robert Linford...you don't forget names like that,ya know?) in relation to the WM.

Pepe

[Donald Souden]

Howard,

Not sure where you heard of Chaunce lately, but he was a senator from New York around the turn of the century--the 19th into thr 20th that is. He was supposed to be quite a good old boy story teller and opposed the direct election of Senators. Probably figured it was cheaper to bribe a few dozen members of the state legislature than to bribe ever-fickle voters with promises of benefits. Not sure what connection he might have to JtR, though I suppose he might have run across Tumblety, as it seems most anyone of importance did back then . . . or at least so the Doc claimed.

Don.

[How Brown]

Supe:

Thank ye kindly,because thats where I heard of the man. In trolling through the newspaper archives,his name came up as I was reading something relevant to the Case ... probably one of the instances where newspapers labeled a local killer ( multiple or not ) Jack The Ripper.

Much appreciated. Thanks:high5: