Mod Sullivan

[Tom_Wescott]

I thought I'd see if anyone has any insight into who Mod Sullivan was and what her connection to the case was. I believe the only press mention of her under this name is the following, from the Echo of Nov. 9th, 1888.

The house belongs to Mr. McCarthy, who keeps a chandler's shop common lodging - houses in the district, notably one in which "Pearly Poll", Mod Sullivan, and other women - incidentally mentioned in the inquiries relating to the atrocities - were accustomed to live.

Mod would obviously not be a real first name, but the best guess I have as to her identity is that she's the sister of Mr Crossingham, of 35 Dorset Street fame, which was indeed the residence of Pearly Poll in the second half of 1888. Mr. Crossingham's brother-in-law was Danny Sullivan, which is why I've suggested Mod Sullivan was his wife. If this were the case, I would imagine the tangential connection referred to by the reporter is that she would have been interviewed by the police following the murder of Annie Chapman, who likewise lived at 35 Dorset Street. The main problem I have with accepting this theory is that I don't see Danny and his wife LIVING at the lodging house, but only working there. Come 1891 their address was 4 Paternoster Row, but I have no idea about 1888. Anyway, I'm curious to know more about this witness, so if anyone has any info or ideas, please share them.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Howard Brown]

Tom:

Nina is going to give it a shot....

[Howard Brown]

Tom:

Nina couldn't find anyone, surnamed Sullivan or otherwise, that fit your request.
Sorry.

[Robert Linford]

Hi Tom

William Crossingham married Margaret Sullivan in 1898. So this may have been Daniel's sister that he married. Daniel might not have been married at all, as far as I can see. I'm not sure whether the "Mod" Sullivan was Margaret Sullivan, since this Margaret would have been only 14 in 1888.

[Tom_Wescott]

Hi Howard, tell Nina I said 'THANKS'!

Robert,

Very interesting stuff. There must have been a different female Sullivan on the scene in 1888. Perhaps another relative of Danny's, or someone who just happened to have that name or use that alias. But whoever it was, The Echo reporter was aware of her having some connection to a Whitechapel murder prior to Kelly's.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Howard Brown]

She said you're very welcome, Tom...
One quick note here;
Is it possible that this Sullivan lady's name was Maude ?
Nina looked...didn't find one...but "Mod", to us, might be Maude.

[Robert Linford]

I suppose it could be Maud or maybe a misheard Mogg for Margaret.

[Robert Linford]

There are a very few people listed as "Mod" in the censuses, and quite a few names in births for which "Mod" might be an abbreviation.

[Nemo]

Chris Scott provided a list of East End unfortunates which has a Margaret Sullivan aged 26 in 1881

http://forum.casebook.org/archive/index.php/t-2398.html