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Grand Years 18 September 2024
A Fact of Life - Jack the Ripper!
Photo Gallery
Major people that were concerned or involved
with Jack The Ripper!
DUKE OF CLARENCE.
The exploits of Queen Victoria and her son
In October 1888, Queen Victoria returned to London from the Isle of Wight three weeks before Mary Kelly became a victim of Jack The Ripper. Victoria was a ‘passionate observer’ - and letter-writer - of the situation. Four other women had been murdered by the Ripper. Victoria’s grandson, the Duke of Clarence, and the artist Walter Sickert, were well and truly in the fame. Is this what you think?
Deprivation was rife among the masses; there were poverty and hunger, unemployment and disease. Major crimes, like stalking and assassination, were commonplace. The monarchy was threatened; fear was running high. The exploits of Queen Victoria’s grandson, the Duke of Clarence, questioned about the gruesome murders, did little to assist the Crown. It was claimed the Duke of Clarence committed the murders after syphilis caused him to go insane; even though he was in Scotland at the time of two of the killings that occurred in London.
<< Frank Morris. Background from The Times, June 6, 2014; newspapers of the period.
Walter Sickert
UK’s Patrica Cornwell, the crime writer, accused “the great artist Walter Sickert” of the killings, saying that a letter purportedly sent by the Ripper bore an unusual watermark found on the artist’s writing paper.
Sir Charles Warren
Resignation of the Commissioner!, said The Times. In the House of Commons yesterday, November 12, 1888, the Home Secretary, Henry Matthews, in an answer a question, said that Commissioner of Police had resigned. The murders ended abruptly as they has started. Warren suddenly left after the killing of Mary Kelly on November 9 – the last murder by Jack The Ripper.
Inspector Frederick Abberline
Frederick Abberline was appointed Inspector 1st Class on February 9, 1888. Abberline believed that were more than five Ripper victims and that Jack the Ripper was a foreigner. In 1890, two years after the last murder, he was promoted to Chief Inspector at Scotland Yard. In 1892, the year the Ripper files were closed, he retired to Bournemouth.
Was Queen Victoria’s son the Ripper?
Bits & Pieces
Jack Eden, surfer / photographer
“Welcome to this celebration of Dad’s life,” said John Eden, at Jack’s funeral, in October 2019. This a recognition of photographer Jack Eden, who launched Surfabout Magazine in the 1960s.
The Surfer
Waves churn, the lone surfer stares, searching for that one.
Perfection.
Of wind and water that will carry him as his board glides along
the watery plain, towards his destiny …
GRAND YEARS is now a monthly feature. Stories of human interest. Next issue will be on October 18. Next month: We salute you!
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