It is the From Hell letter that remains the most notorious to this day.
What Is The From Hell Letter and Why Is It Notorious? The From Hell letter was dated the 15th of October 1888. Therefore, the From Hell letter was dated on this day in history. The From Hell letter doesn't say the name 'Jack the Ripper'. But, it is a letter that is referring to the Whitechapel Murders. Specifically, the murders which happened on the 30th of September 1888. The murders which happened on the 30th of September 1888, were committed by Jack the Ripper. Those murders are known as 'The Double Event', as it was a night that Jack the Ripper had murdered two women.
The two women that Jack the Ripper murdered that night was Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes. Both women were murdered in the same hour, during the very early morning of the 30th of September 1888.
Part of Catherine Eddowes ear was found clipped off when the police found her after her murder. They had also found that Catherine Eddowes was missing a kidney after her murder. And that's where the From Hell letter comes in. The From Hell letter is perhaps the only authentic letter in the Whitechapel Murders case, in the sense, that there is good reason to suspect that this letter was from the killer himself. This is because the letter both references part of an ear being clipped off one of the women who were murdered in the Double Event. And, more terrifyingly, it is a letter that contained a package with it. That package had inside it half a human kidney. It's one thing to hoax a letter, but it's something far different when a human kidney is sent with the letter. It suggests that the From Hell letter is not just a hoax, but is a letter sent by the killer - Jack the Ripper. The From Hell letter reads: ''From hell. Mr Lusk, Sor I send you half the Kidne I took from one women prasarved it for you tother piece I fried and ate it was very nice. I may send you the bloody knife that took it out if you only wate a while longer signed Catch me when you can Mishter Lusk''
0 Comments
On this day in history, the Dear Boss letter was published in the Daily News on the 1st of October 1888.
This letter was believed to have been written by Jack the Ripper, at the time that it was published - on the 1st of October 1888. However, it's now thought that the letter may have been a hoax. The authenticity of the Dear Boss letter is still debated today. But, regardless of whether the Dear Boss letter is authentic or not, it is still a very significant letter in the Jack the Ripper case. The reason that the Dear Boss letter is so significant in the Jack the Ripper case, is because of what the letter gave us: it gave us the name Jack the Ripper. The Dear Boss letter was the first ever time that the name 'Jack the Ripper' was used.
The Dear Boss letter was dated: the 25th of September 1888.
Then, the letter reached Central News Agency on the 27th of September 1888 and then it was sent off to the police. It arrived at Scotland Yard on the 29th of September 1888. Finally, the letter was published to the public, via the Daily News, on the 1st of October 1888. The Dear Boss letter remains one of three letters, out of hundreds of Jack the Ripper letters that were sent to the police in 1888, that has gained the most attention and scrutiny. The second page, and last part of the Dear Boss letter reads...
On the 30th of September 1888, one of the most infamous events in Victorian history happened - it was the night of the 'Double Event'.
What Was The 'Double Event'? The Double Event was when the infamous serial killer, Jack the Ripper, committed not one, but two murders. The two murders that night were committed within around an hour of each other in London. The murders were thought to be Jack the Ripper's third and fourth killings. Previously, Jack the Ripper had murdered two other women several weeks before the Double Event happened.
Jack the Ripper's first murder was on the 31st of August 1888, when Jack the Ripper murdered Mary Ann Nichols on Bucks Row at around 3:40 am that morning. It is believed that Mary Ann Nichols was the first woman that Jack the Ripper had murdered, though, there is debate about whether or not she was his first victim.
His second victim is believed to have been Annie Chapman. Annie Chapman was murdered on the 8th of September, 1888. She was murdered at 29 Hanbury Street at some point in the early morning hours. The Double Event Several weeks passed until Jack struck again. This time, he killed not one, but two women on the same night. This night is known as the 'Double Event'. That night, his first victim (and third overall victim), was Elizabeth Stride. Elizabeth Stride was murdered by Jack the Ripper just before 1 am at Dutfield's Yard. She was found in the yard at around 1 am, it's believed that Jack the Ripper was interrupted killing Elizabeth Stride and he was possibly hiding in the darkness of the yard.
But, Jack the Ripper escaped from Dutfield's Yard without being caught that night, to go on to kill his second victim that night. This time, he killed his fourth overall victim - Catherine Eddows. Jack the Ripper murdered Catherine Eddowes in Mitre Square in London. She was last seen alive at around 1:35 am and her body was found just ten minutes later at 1:45 am.
The Double Event resulted in a shocking night in London's history. It seems that Jack the Ripper was out of control that night - probably more so than before. As, London would have been busy with police that night after he had commited his first murder. For Jack to go on and murder again that night, possibly indicates that Jack was losing control. Another indication that Jack had lost control that night, was that his second murder that night was near a police station. The Double Event was a night were Jack the Ripper evade capture, not just once, but twice. It's a night when he was almost caught. Unfortunatley though, he wasn't caught though. And, to this day, we question and wonder who the man in the shadows - Jack the Ripper was.
On this day in history, Queen Elizabeth I was born in 1533.
Elizabeth I was the daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. She was the only child they had together. Though, Anne Boleyn did suffer several miscarriages to Henry. Elizabeth was the only child that Anne Boleyn had. King Henry VIII, on the other hand, had other children, but they were not to Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth was Henry's second daughter. His first daughter - Mary; who would later become Queen Mary I (also known as Bloody Mary) - was to his first wife Catherine of Aragon.
Henry had two daughters and a son. His son, Edward, was to his third wife: Jane Seymour. Edward would succeed his father to be king upon his death. But Edward was only a child when he became king and his reign didn't last long, as the young king died very prematurely while he was still a teenager. The passing from the crown from Edward to his half-sister Mary didn't go smoothly.
The passing of the crown didn't go smoothly as Lady Jane Grey claimed the English throne. Her claim to the throne of England didn't last very long though. Grey, became known as the 'nine-day Queen'. She became known as the nine-day Queen but was never officially crowned queen.
Lady Jane Grey was deposed from the throne by Edward's half-sister Mary, who had a stronger claim to the throne than her cousin Jane. Mary had her cousin Lady Jane Grey executed for attempting to take the crown from her, this resulted in Mary becoming the second of Henry VIII's children becoming monarch.
Mary didn't just become a monarch though when she became Queen of England, she also became the first Queen of England and made the way for future female monarchs to become Queen. One of those female monarchs was her half-sister - Elizabeth. Queen Mary, didn't reign for long on the throne, she was only Queen for a few years. In her dying days, Mary named her successor as her half-sister, Elizabeth. When Mary died, Elizabeth became the third and final of Henry VIII's children to become monarch of England. Elizabeth reigned the longest of the three siblings - she was one of England's longest-serving monarchs to this day,Elizabeth I reigned for a very impressive 45 years. The reign of Elizabeth is called the Elizabethan era. The Journey To Become Queen That journey to become Queen started in 1533 when she was born. Anne Boleyn is said to have found out that she was pregnant in January 1533. Then, on September 7th, 1533, Elizabeth (the future Elizabeth I was born).
On this day in history, Titanic passenger William James Elsbury was born. William James Elsbury was born on the 3rd of September 1863. Mr Elsbury was born in Somerset, in England.
His parents were James Elsbury and Mary Ann Pope. William married Eliza Jane Hucker. Both William and Eliza had four children together during their time together. Sadly, William died on the Titanic disaster, on the 15th of April 1912. This resulted in Eliza becoming a widow. Eliza lived a few decades after the Titanic disaster and died on the 16th of September 1946. After her husband had died, Eliza never married again. Instead, she died a widow.
Two of Eliza and William's children lived until the 1990s. Both of their children - Bernice M Elsbury and Loyd Elsbury - died in 1991.
William On The Titanic William was a third-class passenger on the Titanic. He got on board the Titanic at Southampton on the 10th of September 1912. It was at Southampton on the 10th of September 1912, that Titanic set off on her maiden voyage. Sadly, William James Elsbury was one of the passengers who died on the Titanic's ill-fated maiden voyage. He died on the 15th of April 1912, alongside over 1000 other people that night.
On this day in history, Titanic survivor Dagmar Jenny Ingeborg Bryhl was born.
Dagmar Jenny Bryhl was born on the 2nd of September 1891. She was born in Sweden. Miss Bryhl was on the Titanic from the very beginning of the Titanic's maiden voyage. As Dagmar got onto the Titanic from Southampton docks: it was at Southampton docks that Titanic began her maiden voyage on the 10th of April 1912. She got on Titanic at Southampton with two other people. Those two other people were her fiance and her half brother. Her fiance was Ingvar Enander; her half-brother was Kurt Arnold Gottfrid Bryhl. Miss Bryhl was a 2nd class passenger. She was one of just over 700 people to have survived the Titanic disaster: 706 people survived the Titanic. After surviving the tragedy, Dagmar went back to Sweden. She lived for several decades after the Titanic disaster happened. Dagmar Jenny Bryhl died on the 4th of August 1969; she was 77 years old when she died.
On this day in history, Anne Boleyn recieved the title of Marquess of Pembroke.
What Is The Marquess of Pembroke? The Marquess of Pembroke was a title that King Henry VIII created for Anne Boleyn. Anne Boleyn received the title of Marquess of Pembroke on the 1st of September 1532. It was a title that was a peerage. A peerage is a title. The Peerage and Anne Boleyn When Anne Boleyn received the Marquess of Pembroke title, she was not yet married to Henry VIII. Instead, Anne Boleyn was engaged to the king. But, she was soon to become Henry VIII's second wife, and, Queen Consort of England. Henry and Anne married a few months after she was given the title of the Marquess of Pembroke. Both Henry and Anne married twice. The first time they married was in a secret ceremony on the 14th of November 1532. Then, just a few weeks later, the couple was married again on the 25th of January 1533.
Anne became pregnant that Winter. It's thought that Anne became pregnant in January 1533. Later that year, on the 7th of September 1533, Anne Boleyn successfully gave birth to a baby girl. That baby girl would be the future Queen Elizabeth I.
The birth of Elizabeth was the only successful heir that Anne Boleyn had given King Henry VIII. It is believed that her failure to produce a male heir for the king, was one of the main reasons for Boleyn's downfall. The Downfall Of Anne Boleyn The downfall of Anne Boleyn was dramatic and quick. She perhaps has one of the most, if not, thee most, spectacular downfall of an English monarch we have ever seen. Things seem to be going well for the new Queen Consort in January 1533. She was newlywed to the King of England, she was pregnant with the Kings heir, perhaps it may have seemed to her that she was invincible. But, she wasn't. It only took a few short years from when she received the Marquess of Pembroke title, to her downfall and execution. Anne Boleyn was executed on the 2nd of May 1536 by Henry VIII, just three years after she had been given the title of Marquess of Pembroke by the King. It shows how quickly her downfall came, and how quickly Boleyn fell out of favour with the King. Upon her death, it seems the title Marquess of Pembroke title was extinguished. Perhaps, probably for the best, as, who would want to inherit a title that seemed a bit ill-fated? On this day in history, the wreck on the Titanic was found. The wreck of the Titanic was finally found on the 1st of September 1985. The wreck of the Titanic was found by a joint American and French expedition of oceanographers. The 1st of September 1985 was a Sunday. The team of oceanographers were the first group of people to have seen the Titanic for almost 100 years after its ill-fated voyage. The Titanic was found that day 73 years after its sinking. The team found the Titanic to be eroding, which isn't that surprising, as the Titanic had then been on the Atlantic Ocean sea floor for over seven decades by this point. Earlier this year, it was also reported that further erosion was taking place on the Titanic. A Ship Broke In Two Halves
When the team found the Titanic in 1985, the realized that the ship wasn't just in one whole part. Instead, they found that Titanic was broken into two main separate parts. Titanic was found in 1985 by Bill Lange and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. The Titanic wreck rests on the Atlantic seabed floor, 12,460 ft below sea level.
Captain Edward Smith is most famously known for being captain of the Titanic.
His Parents He was born on the 27th of January 1850, in Hanley, Staffordshire, England to his parents Edward Smith and Catherine Smith (Hancock). His parents married on the 2nd of August 1841, in Shelton Staffordshire and went on to own a shop. His Education Captain Edward Smith went to the Etruria British School. The Etruria British School is in Hanley too. Smith went to the Etruria British School until he was 12/13 years old. After he left school, he went on to work. His First Job After finishing the Etruria British School, Captain Edward Smith went on to his first job, which was at the Etruria Forge. The Eturia Forge is also in Staffordshire, today it is a museum, called the Etruria Industrial Museum. Captain Smith operated a steam hammer while at the Etruria Forge.
The Etruria Forge was a factory when Smith worked there.
His Apprenticeship Captain Edward Smith worked at the Etruria Forge for a few years, he then went to Liverpool to start an apprenticeship with Gibson & Co. Liverpool, in 1867. It was at this time the Smith became interested in wanting to work at sea. He had gone to do an apprenticeship with Gibson & Co. Liverpool, following in his half brother's footsteps. Smith had two half-siblings. His half brother was called Joseph Hancock and his half-sister was called Thyrza Hancock. Masters Certificate Smith then went on to gain a masters certificate at about age 24/25. This masters certificate gave Smith the qualifications to command a vessel and take them out to sea. It was the start of his seafaring career. His Marriage
Captain Smith married his wife at St Oswald's Church, in Winwick, in Cheshire.
His wife was Sarah Eleanor Pennington. Smith and Pennington married on the 13th of January 1887. Both of them had their daughter a few years after they had married. They had a daughter named Helen Melville Smith; Helen Melville Smith was born on the 2nd of April 1898, she was born at Waterloo in Liverpool. Smith's Career At White Star Line By the time that Smith was married and had his daughter, he was already working for White Star Line (White Star Line was the company that owned the Titanic). Smith joined White Star Line in 1880. His first job at White Star Line was on a ship called SS Celtic. He started his job on the SS Celtic in March 1880, where he was the fourth officer on the ship. Smith went on to work on numerous ships while at White Star Line during the late Victorian era and early Edwardian era. Captain Of The RMS Olympic
Before Smith started working on the RMS Titanic, he was working on the RMS Olympic. The RMS Olympic was the sister ship to the RMS Titanic.
As you can see from the picture above, the RMS Olympic is identical to Titanic. Smith was captain of the Olympic on the Olympic's maiden voyage like he was captain of the Titanic on the Titanic's maiden voyage. However, unlike the Titanic's maiden voyage, the Olympic's maiden voyage didn't end in catastrophe. The maiden voyage of the Olympic began on the 14th of June 1911 from Southampton. Olympic followed the much of the same route that the later ill-fated Titanic would follow, as the Olympic once leaving Southampton then stopped off at Cherbourg in France and then Queenstown in Ireland, before heading out into the Atlantic ocean and setting sail for New York. Titanic was also supposed to reach New York, but, as we know, Titanic didn't reach New York on her maiden voyage. Olympic did though. Captain Smith successfully captained the Olympic to New York and landed there on the 21st of June 1911. The Olympic's maiden voyage was successful. Titanic's Sea Trials The Olympic's maiden voyage happened just a few months before Titanic's. The building of the Titanic was completed by the Spring of 1912. The Titanic's sea trials were supposed to be on the 1st of April 1911, however, due to bad weather, her sea trials were postponed for a day. Titanic's sea trials were on the 2nd of April 1912. The sea trials went on for about 12 hours, where the captain had taken the ship out to sea to run tests on the Titanic, such as speed tests, to make sure that the Titanic was working properly. Titanic successfully completed her sea trials on the evening of 2nd April 1912 from Belfast. That same evening, just an hour after the Titanic arrived back at Belfast from her sea trials, the Titanic set off again with captain Smith. This time, Titanic set off to Southampton, where she would begin her maiden voyage just a few days later. Titanic's Maiden Voyage Titanic's maiden voyage began on the 10th of April 1912. Captain Smith arrived that morning to board Titanic at 7 am. She left Southampton on midday on the 10th of April 1912. Just a few minutes after starting her maiden voyage, while still at Southampton docks, Titanic had a near collision with the SS New York. This near collision with the SS New York set the Titanic's voyage back. But, only for an hour. Around an hour later, Titanic successfully left Southampton with Smith as captain of the ship and made their way to Cherbourg, France. Titanic arrived in Cherbourg in the early evening of the 10th of April 1912 successfully. While at Cherbourg, Titanic collected more passenger . She didn't dock at Cherbourg long and by 8 pm, Titanic's anchor was lifted and she made her way to Ireland. Titanic reached Ireland the next morning. Captain Smith had successfully taken Titanic to both France and Ireland without incident. He arrived in Queenstown, Ireland on the 11th of April 1912, at Cork Harbour at 11.30 am. While at Cork Harbour, Titanic let off some passengers and collected other passengers - there was also mail that she collected. Titanic was only at Cork for 2 hours. She lifted her anchor at 1.30 pm and set sail out into the Atlantic ocean. This was the last time Titanic saw dry land. The Last Hours Of Titanic
During Titanic's last day, on the 14th of April 1912, captain Smith was in charge of Titanic throughout the daylight hours.
During that day, there were numerous iceberg warnings giving to Titanic from other ships in the area. Not all of these iceberg warnings made their way to captain Smith, as some of the warnings didn't even make it to the bridge. Despite these iceberg warnings, its thought that Titanic still sped through the waters and didn't reduce its speed during that day, and later night. On the night of the 14th of April 1912, captain Smith was at a dinner party in first class and then later retired to bed that night before 10 pm. At 10 pm, First Officer Murdoch took charge of the ship. Therefore, during Titanic's very last hours and during her collision with the iceberg it wasn't Captain Smith who was in charge of Titanic, it was First Officer Murdoch. Titanic collided with the iceberg at 11.40 pm that night. Immediately after the Titanic collided with the iceberg, Captain Smith came out straight to the bridge to see what had happened. Smith was then told by First Officer Murdoch what had happened - that Titanic had collided with an iceberg. After Smith had talked to Thomas Andrews - Andrews was Titanic's architect - it became apparent to Smith that Titanic would not stay afloat and that she would sink very quickly to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean in just a few short hours. By midnight, Smith is thought to have ordered the lifeboats to be prepared. He is then thought to have given the order of ''women and children first''. There is still speculation to this day to what Captain Edward Smith did in the final hours of the Titanic and during her sinking. But, what we do know, is that captain Edward Smith never left the Titanic, he stayed on the ship until the very end - an indication that he helped passengers and crew until the very end. It's speculated that Captain Smith was last seen on the bridge just before the Titanic sank into the Atlantic ocean. Titanic sank at 2.20 am on the 15th of April 1912. Captain Edward Smith died on the Titanic. His body was never recovered.
On this day in history, on the 24th of July 1567, Mary Queen of Scots was forced to abdicate the Scottish throne and flee Scotland in the process.
The Lead Up To Her Fleeing Mary Queen of Scots had her only child - a son named James - with her second husband, Lord Darnley, on the 19th of June 1566 at Edinburgh Castle. James would later become King James I of England and Ireland and James VI of Scotland. He was only a baby when he became King. The godparents of Mary Queen of Scots son was chosen as England’s Queen Elizabeth I and France’s Charles IX. The young James became parentless at a young age. His father, and Mary Queen of Scots second husband - Lord Darnley - was murdered just a few months after James was baptized. James was baptized on the 17th of December 1566 at Edinburgh Castle. Lord Darnley was murdered on the night/early morning of the 9th/10th of February 1567. He was murdered at about 2 am, when two explosions took off after gunpowder was placed near Darnley’s sleeping quarters that night - his sleeping quarters were at the Old Provost’s lodging at Kirk O’Field in Edinburgh that night and early morning.
Who Killed Lord Darnley?
Rather conveniently, Mary was away for the night at a wedding in Holyrood. during the time of Lord Darnley's murder. Was it just a coincidence that she was separated from her husband on the night of his murder? or was it an opportunity that Mary used to kill her own husband? We know that Mary and Darnley weren’t getting along prior to Darley’s murder; perhaps this could be seen as a motive in-and-of-itself. The murder of Lord Darnley also seems like it was premeditated - with Mary going to a wedding during the time that Lord Darnley was murdered, she would have had plenty of time to plan his murder and she was also the one who brought Darnley to the Old Provost’s to stay. Mary also showed form for planning murder. Or, at least, we know that she was prepared to murder, which gives her form. Mary was prepared to murder her own cousin, Queen Elizabeth I, therefore, if she was prepared to get rid of Elizabeth, then it seems reasonable to suspect that she may have been prepared to have got rid of Lord Darnley. There is evidence that Mary Queen of Scots plotted to kill Queen Elizabeth I, however, the same cannot be said of any evidence pointing Mary to Lord Darnley’s death. Regardless of that, it’s possible that she gave a silent nod, or was even happy at her own husband’s death, as Darnley was a drunk and violent (to name some of his ill-behaviour). Although there is a lot to point Mary towards the murder of Lord Darnley, she is not the main suspect to his murder. The main suspect to his murder is Lord Bothwell. Quite interestingly, Mary Queen of Scots married Lord Bothwell a few months after the murder of Lord Darnley. Before their marriage, Bothwell was accused of murdering Darnley. However, he was acquitted of the murder in February 1567, therefore, he was never found guilty of murdering Darnley. There are some things though that could suggest that Lord Bothwell murdered Darnley. Bothwell was ambitious, ruthless and opportunistic. It’s possible that Bothwell also wanted to be King of Scotland alongside Mary and probably did love her, as he tried to gather an army when she was captured by Elizabeth I. However, it is thought that Bothwell abducted Mary before she was captured by Elizabeth. The abduction happened on the 24th of April 1567: just a few months after Bothwell was acquitted Darnley’s murder. It didn’t take long for both of them to become married. Mary and Bothwell were wed on the 15th of May 1567, just a few weeks after Lord Bothwell had abducted her. The marriage wasn’t favoured by everyone at court it seems, which led to him fleeing from Mary on the 15th of June 1567, first to Aberdeen, then to Shetland and later to Norway.
The Abdication Of Mary Queen Of Scots
Lord Bothwell fleeing the country was the beginning of the end of Mary Queen of Scot’s reign. It was her own people, her own nobles that turned on Mary and imprisoned her in her own country. She became a Queen in name only at this point, as through being captured and imprisoned, her power as Queen and even her dignity as Queen was stripped from her. While much is said about the way that Elizabeth I treated Mary, not much is said about the way Mary’s own people treated her. Upon Bothwell fleeing the country, Mary’s own Scottish lords humiliated her in front of a spectator of crowds by denouncing her as a murderer and adultress in Edinburgh. Later that night, after Mary’s humiliating experience, she was imprisoned by the same lords in Loch Leven castle.
Mary Queen of Scots became imprisoned by her own Scottish lords.
While imprisoned at Loch Leven castle during the 11 months being imprisoned there, she suffered a miscarriage - which would have given her twins - and, she had a failed attempt where she tried to escape from the castle. Her second attempt was successful in escaping the castle though. Mary successfully escaped the castle on the 2nd of May 1568. Mary’s Abdication Before Mary abdicated in 1567 while imprisoned in Loch Leven Castle, she suffered a miscarriage. Mary suffered a miscarriage of twins between the 20th of July and the 23rd of July in 1567. It was only a day later, on the 24th of July 1567, that Mary Queen of Scots was forced to abdicate from the throne. Taking her place was her one-year-old son, James. Sources: https://www.historyextra.com/period/tudor/downfall-mary-queen-scots-execution-murder-lord-darnley/ https://britishheritage.com/history/mary-queen-scots-kill-lord-darnley https://www.history.com/news/mary-queen-of-scots-casket-letters-scandal Weir, Alison (2008) [2003]. Mary, Queen of Scots and the Murder of Lord Darnley. London, England: Random House https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/mary-queen-of-scots-great-escape/ |
Archives
April 2023
Categories
All
← Resize me
|