Maria Louisa Roulson (aka Old Ma Lechmere)

[Gary Barnett]

Yes indeed, but the so-called weight of all those records is reducible to a handful, because once you start by calling yourself Lechmere it's difficult to stop. E.g. you can't have some of your kids called Lechmere and some called Cross. But his job at Pickford's - which his stepfather may have helped him get - and his everyday life would have been different. There was no reason why he shouldn't have called himself Cross. And in any case, suppose he lied to the police and they never checked it out : what would the motive be? How would calling himself Cross have allayed any suspicion that came his way?

My point is simply that even if he did use Cross at work, I believe he would have considered it appropriate to have provided both names to the police and the coroner. And I think his decision not do so is more likely to have had something to do with keeping the hallowed Lechmere name out of the papers than having anything to do with trying to avoid detection as being a killer.

[Robert Linford]

I believe he did give both names to the police, and acquired permission to use his everyday one. Of course, I can't prove that, but it makes more sense than his giving a 'false' surname, a true first name, a true second name and a true address.

[Gary Barnett]

Googling the Clives in the press archives is very entertaining. A burglary at Whitfield, a gamekeeper's fatal encounter with a poacher in its woods; a visit by the US ambassador; an assassination attempt on an agent of one of their several Irish estates; and more mundane stuff like prize-giving at ploughing contests and other local events.

I wonder if Maria kept abreast of such parochial news? A little while ago I found a list of the newspapers read by the residents of Tiger Bay. I'll try and dig it out to see if the Herefordshire Chronicle was included.

When I was in ASDA earlier I picked up a couple of bottles of Henry Weston's Herefordshire cider. I'll toast Ma when the sun goes over the yard-arm.

[Gary Barnett]

I believe he did give both names to the police, and acquired permission to use his everyday one. Of course, I can't prove that, but it makes more sense than his giving a 'false' surname, a true first name, a true second name and a true address.

If he acquired permission, he presumably sought it.

[Robert Linford]

Asda do a very nice 12 piece breakfast.


Yes, I believe that when he went along to the police at the weekend, he gave them his 'official' name and his everyday name.

[Gary Barnett]

Leaving Chucky's possible motives aside for a moment, how would Maria have viewed the prospect of the fairly unusual name of Lechmere appearing in the national press in connection with the sordid murder and mutilation of a Whitechapel prostitute? The connection being that a humble carman of that name had discovered the body in the early hours of the morning and not being certain whether the woman was alive or dead, continued on his way to work?

I can just picture the scene at breakfast at Fownhope if the name Lechmere had been used instead of Cross. And I bet she could too. She would have blushed to the roots at the very thought of it.

[Gary Barnett]

Asda do a very nice 12 piece breakfast.


Yes, I believe that when he went along to the police at the weekend, he gave them his 'official' name and his everyday name.

Apropos of bugger all, apart from the breakfast reference, do you watch Detectorists?

[Robert Linford]

She may not even have wanted people to know that her son was a carman, let alone that he was involved in something like this, however innocently. On the other hand, her husband was only a shoemaker and they hadn't even allowed a decent interval to elapse between his being widowed and re-marrying, so maybe she didn't give a damn.

[Robert Linford]

What is Detectorists?

[Gary Barnett]

What is Detectorists?

It's only the best thing on telly at the moment, IMHO. It's a comedy, set in Essex (Suffolk?) about - detectorists.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rbvfpns2LAg

[Gary Barnett]

Detectorists

This is the title song:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=acfJlVGz5c8

[Robert Linford]

I didn't understand it. What did he find?

[Gary Barnett]

I didn't understand it. What did he find?

I may have spoilt the whole series for you. The opening credits show a priest concealing a bible and a page marker thing with an enamelled gold handle from raiders of some kind who you see riding towards his church. He buries it near the large stone and you see the organic material decaying leaving only the gold enamelled top.

The detectorists always seem to stop their detecting when they reach the stone and go off to the pub.

On this occasion 'Lance' has a feeling and looks in just the right spot. What he finds is the enamelled gold top of the page marker thingummyjig.

[Robert Linford]

Ah, OK.

[Gary Barnett]

Ah, OK.

It only took you 4 minutes to respond - you're supposed to be doubled up with laughter for at least an hour.