Whitechapel Flashcards
(90 cards)
1
Q
Pollution in 19th Century Whitechapel?
A
The prevailing wind from the west carried smoke and gas fumes throughout the street of London
2
Q
Who did the Pollution affect?
A
- The Young and the Elderly (weaker immune systems)
- Labourers outside working
- Caused an increase in Asthma
3
Q
Who was Dr Thomas Bernard?
A
Trained as a doctor at the local hospital, who went on to set up many orphanages
4
Q
What was Dr Bernard’s first project and what did it lead to?
A
It was a school set up for children without parents, one of his students called Jim Jarvis called Dr Bernard up to a rooftop in order to show him where they sleep in order to escape being sent to the workhouse
5
Q
When did Dr Bernard set up his first orphanage?
A
In 1870, for Boys
6
Q
When did Dr Bernard die?
A
1905
7
Q
When Dr Bernard died, how many Bernardo homes were set up nationally?
A
Nearly 100
8
Q
How children did each Bernardo home care for?
A
85 Children
9
Q
What was the Workhouse?
A
It was a poor relief system set up to take care of the young, poor, sick and elderly, who were expected to do manual labour in exchange for a place to sleep
10
Q
What were the conditions like in the Workhouse?
A
- Families were separated
- Rats were carrying diseases everywhere
- Expected to wear a uniform and were labelled as inmates
11
Q
Why were the conditions so bad in the Workhouse?
A
It was made as a deterrent, to keep costs down by preventing people from using it and to be seen as a definite last resort
12
Q
Why were Vargants kept separate in the workhouse?
A
They were seen as lazy and a bad influence on the rest
13
Q
What work was there in Whitechapel?
A
- Railway Construction
- Labourers in London’s docks (uncertain income and hours varied)
- Factories: Matches, Tailoring, Shoe Making
- Sweatshops
14
Q
When did the economy become depressed with widespread unemployment?
A
1870s
15
Q
What were Sweatshops like?
A
Small, cramped, dusty, paid very little for long hours
The workers were often immigrants, escaping other countries and couldn’t speak with the police about the conditions
(Some worked 20-hour shifts and had to sleep on site)
16
Q
Where was the majority of Housing and what was it like?
A
The majority of housing was in overcrowded rookeries riddled with crime and disease
17
Q
In 1877, how many people would be contained in 1 rookery?
A
1 Rookery would contain 123 rooms, accommodating 757 people
18
Q
What was the 1881 census (Population: Housing)?
A
Population: 30,709
Occupied Houses: 4,069
19
Q
How did so many people fit into so few homes?
A
Houses were divided into numerous separate apartments. There could be up to 30 people living in each apartment, it was so densely packed it was hard to move.
20
Q
When was Model Housing set up?
A
1881 with 286 flats replacing a slum-filled area with 11 new blocks of flats.
21
Q
Who paid for the model housing?
A
George Peabody
22
Q
Who designed the model Housing?
A
Henry Darbishire
23
Q
What was the Artisans Dwelling Act?
A
Gave local authorities the power to purchase and rebuild slum areas
24
Q
How much did it cost to rent a room per week in the model housing?
A
3 shillings for one room
25
What was the average weekly wage?
22s, 6p
26
What is Sanitation?
Conditions associated with public health such as running water and sewage systems
27
Why was there such a high crime rate in Whitechapel?
Many would rather fall into crime instead of going to the workhouse and battling extreme poverty. In addition to this, many of the available jobs were either factories or sweatshops where the conditions were deplorable.
28
Why was crime easy enough to do?
- Overcrowding
- Poor Lighting
- Confined Spaces
- Multiple exits in the rookeries
29
Why was Alcohol and Drugs such a large part of Whitechapel society?
- Many fell into dealing as a way of getting money
- It was safer to drink alcohol than water most of the time
- There were many opium dens across Whitechapel since drugs were an escape from their actual lives
- Many addicts would commit more crimes just to fund their addiction
30
How many Prostitutes were there in Whitechapel?
1200
31
How many Brothels were there in Whitechapel?
62
32
Why did so many women fall into prostitution?
Many were unable to work the long hours in the factory doing hard labour so they turned to prostitution as a job instead. This is because they were very poor and didn't have many stable job options.
33
Was Prostitution legal?
Yes, but it was seen more as a social problem rather than a crime.
34
Why was discrimination against Jews prominent?
- Many Jewish immigrants were seen to own Sweatshops where other Eastern European immigrants would have to work in very poor conditions
- Many believed that Jack the Ripper was Jewish since they didn't believe that an Englishman could do this
- Police had to prevent Jewish riots as well as common beatings of Jewish people
- Differences in Culture made many sus of them ( Sabbath, Speaking Yiddish )
35
Anarchy?
A political movement that opposes all forms of organised government
36
Who was a leading Anarchist?
Mikhail Bakunin (Russian)
37
Why was there a growth in Anarchy in Whitechapel?
Due to all the social and economic problems
- Poverty
- Unemployment
- High Tensions
- Crime
They felt like the government wasn't helping enough to support the people of Whitechapel
38
Were the Anarchists mostly successful?
No, they did briefly take over Pris in 1871, however, most other movements had failed. That's why they fled to England which seemed more Politically tolerant than most of Europe.
39
Why did the Irish/Fernians receive so much hate?
- Violence and Drunkness were seen to be common among them
- People were scared of them due to the nationalist terrorist attacks
- Many wanted to be free of the UK, so people saw them as traitors
40
Examples of Fernian Terrorism?
- Bomb attack on Clerkenwell prison in 1867
- Dynamite Sunday: In 1885, fernians launched an attack on Londonds most central landmarks such as London Bridge and the Tower of London
41
Why were there many Irish young men in Whitechapel?
They came to England to get a ship to work in the USA, but many ran out of money before they could find a ship to take off
42
Where did many of the Irish work?
Many lived near the docks, therefore they mostly made a living from labouring jobs in the Canals, Railways or Docks on the Thames
43
When did many Jewish immigrants flee to England?
In the 1880s many Eastern European Jews fled to England to escape discrimination and oppression
44
Why were Jewish people getting oppressed in Eastern Europe?
In 1881, Tsar Alexander II of Russia was assassinated and a Jew was blamed
45
What % of Jewish People were living in Whitechapel compared to Britain?
In 1888, 95% of residents who lived in Whitechapel were Jewish even though less than 1% of Britain's population was Jewish
46
Why did many Jewish people stick together in Whitechapel?
- Security against violence
- Lower Costs
- Culture
- Kosher Foods
47
Why were Jewish WORKERS in Sweatshops hated?
Many Jewish workers worked for Jewish-owned sweatshops for very low wages, since many non-Jewish business owners wouldn't respect their preferences (not working on Sunday). Many businesses couldn't compete so they blamed the Jewish Workers for working for so little.
48
What reinforced the negative stereotype about Jewish people?
Newspapers, who said Jack the Ripper was Jewish without any evidence
49
What is a socialist?
Someone who believes that poor people would get a better deal if the government would take over all important industries and services would run for no profit but the good of all
50
Social Democratic Foundation
Founded in 1881, with the aim to take down the Capatilsist system, representing women's rights, agricultural labourers, industrial labourers
51
What was Bloody Sunday?
In 1887, the SDF was involved in a demonstration gone wrong in Trafalgar Square
52
Why did the Police visit a Lunatic Asylum as a part of their investigation?
They immediately assumed that the killer was insane due to the ferocity of the attacks. They visited an asylum in order to see if anyone had escaped recently, however, they were very secure so was it just a waste of time?
53
Why did the Police take up Public Leads?
- Police Investigated a claim that a criminal from Bethnal Green was involved, but they were wrong (time wasted)
- However, it ruled out suspects and formed a better and more reassuring relationship with the public
54
What were the witnesses like as a part of police investigations?
- There were very few witnesses
- Their evidence was unclear and contradictory, therefore Police ignored some of the evidence
- They would try to clarify key dates and times with them
55
Were the journalists helpful to police investigations?
- They were very untrustworthy and j did stuff for views
56
Why did Police resort to Soup Kitchens for info?
- They weren't allowed to offer rewards for fear of time wasters
- After difficulty in resourcing they set up soup kitchens to give out free food in return for info
- Due to poverty in Whitechapel, some were encouraged to come forward but didn't receive very helpful info
- Many would try to lie for food so the info didn't really seem reliable
57
Did the Victim's possessions help police investigations?
- despite the sensible approach, no helpful info was gained from it
- However, they did find Annie Chapeman's rings in a local pawn shop which could help with a motive for the killings?
- Could possibly link the victim to the killer?
58
Did the leads in the community contribute to the police investigation?
After Catherine Eddowes had been murdered, many suggested that the killer was uneducated and unskilled, and persuaded the police to switch their focus to Butchers and Sweet Shops, even though the killer was medically trained.
59
What did the Coroner's Reports help with?
- Would tell the police, how they were killed and what time it was at approximately
- Suggestions from a specialist are more trustworthy
- Doctor Wynne Baxter suggested that the killer was a skilled surgeon who wanted to collect organs
60
Did the Post Mortems help the investigations?
- Limited info gained from it
- Post Mortem Doctor said he was left-handed and knew anatomy so police checked slaughterhouses and hospitals
- Gave some detailed info abt possible suspects
61
How did the Police Sabotage their own investigation of Mary Ann Nichols?
- Witness wasn't properly questioned
- Body was only examined very briefly
62
How did the Police Sabotage their own investigation of Elizabeth Stride?
Ignored Witness descriptions that didn't match
63
How did the Police Sabotage their own investigation of Catherine Eddowes?
A Piece of evidence was destroyed in order to prevent a riot against the Jews
64
How did the Police Sabotage their own investigation of Mary Kelly?
- Police took too long to come
- Changed the witness descriptions to match their suspicions
65
How did the Police Sabotage their own investigation of Annie Chapman?
One of her best friend's statements was ignored
66
How was the media affecting police investigations?
- Even if the media, all of their leads were investigated to settle down those in society and to try and create a positive image of the Police especially due to the socialists
- They Published Journalist guesswork
- Published unreliable local interviews
- Press were openly hostile and criticised police methods
- Newspapers often blamed foreigners for the sake of society's views which created further distractions towards the police and added discrimination towards immigrants
67
Did technology help police investigations?
Many new tech was used during the murders, however, since they were new they were pretty much useless
- No fingerprints or DNA testing
- Crime scene Photography
68
Why did different leads leave police clueless?
The conflicting evidence of him either being a surgeon or a butcher left the police with no leads
69
When was the Vigilance Committee set up?
1888
70
Who was the Vigilance Committee?
- They were set up because they were fed up with all the police failures and wanted to take things into their own hands, with the aim of embarrassing the police
- However, they were heavily understaffed
- Despite Government advice, they set up rewards and received over 300 hoaxes
- They weren't government-approved
- They were armed which caused a disturbance in the area as well as a distraction to Police Investigations by sending them false leads and encouraging criticism since many were seen to be SDF supporters
71
How many Inspectors, sergeants, Ordinary Constables and detectives were there in H division?
27 Inspectors, 37 Sergeants, 500 Ordinary Constables, 15 Detectives
72
Was the size of H division appropriate for the population of Whitechapel?
Whitechapel's population was around 30k compared to less than 600 Police Recruits in H Division
73
What were the views on H division?
- Many viewed the Police as social workers rather than actual police
- They set up Soup Kitchens as well as helped Vagrants and Stray Children which made them unpopular
- They dealt with street traffic, mental illnesses and runaway horses
- Many thought that they should also focus on preventing crime
74
How did all constables start their shift and why?
All constables started their shift by marching in a column to where their beat was, which was known as "The March". This was to make the police seem unified and act as a deterrent when in reality it was just a waste of time and helped notify criminals when Police were near
75
What were Night Stops?
Each beat Policeman was expected to stop and question people at night to see what they were up to in order to find out info and maybe evidence. However, all it did was make the innocent more annoyed and angry
76
Why did Constables have to meet up with a sergeant?
In order to report on how things were going, all convos would be written to prevent lying. It can be seen as helpful since if the constables had any important info the sergeant would then make sure that it would be properly investigated. But ngl most of the time the constables wouldn't have much important info and it would just be a waste of time for the sergeant to talk to so many constables.
77
What were the recruits like in H division?
They were often badly educated and didn't receive much training, therefore, sergeants had to spend a lot of their time keeping an eye on the constables. Most of the time, work for the constables was repetitive, boring and dangerous so many didn't really like their job and just did it for money.
78
Consequences for H Divison?
Surprisingly it was very strict, if a beat constable was seen to off his beat without reason, he could either be fined or fired. Which acted as a good deterrent and made sure many were doing their jobs well.
79
What were lodging houses?
If you had nowhere to sleep, you could sleep for 8 hours in a bed before it was passed on to the next person. There were 3 8-hour shifts per day for each bed.
80
How many in Whitechapel used lodging houses?
It is estimated that there were over 200 lodging houses in Whitechapel at this time, where more than 8,000 people lived (1/4 of the population)
81
Why were Jewish people hated?
Jewish immigrants found work easier than some since they would work for other Jews, but many poor locals were unemployed. In addition to this other businesses employed immigrants from Eastern Europe since they were desperate for work and would accept low wages
82
What did the Police do to try to improve the system?
The Bertillion System
- The failure to catch the Ripper provoked a review of police record-keeping, leading to the introduction of a new system that would take a record of measurements and mug shots taken and stored in a central file. They felt like these unique identifiers could in theory be used to catch repeat criminals. However, there isn't much evidence to show the success of this system in the CID.
83
When was the Bertillion System put into place?
1894
84
How did the JTR murders lead to Improvements in Police Communication?
In 1888, police were only able to communicate from a distance via a whistle. However, by the end of the century, they started to benefit from the introduction of phone lines. However, in Glasgow, these were introduced way before in 1891.
85
When did H division first have a phone in the station?
1907
86
How did the JTR murders lead to Improvements in the environment in 1890?
- The Houses of the Working Classes Act (1890): opened the way for the new London County Council to begin housing development schemes to replace slums with mass low-cost housing
- The Public Health Amendment Act (1890): gave more power to local councils to improve toilets, paving, rubbish collection and other sanitary services
87
What were the general ops on the police in Whitechapel and in England?
Police in England were very disliked
- During the 1860s, policemen could expect to be assaulted twice a year
- There was insufficient police
Police in Whitechapel
- They were ignorant to think that they were okay to deal with Whitechapel without any training
- They mostly just helped with stray children, beggars, loose horses
- Many felt that instead of acting like teachers they should focus on preventing crime
88
What evidence can we use to find about the work of the police?
Official Statistics: Data collections that show a specific number of things, often reliant on police records being created and submitted
Police and Court records: Records of arrests, assaults, releases as well as records of court proceedings and reports on trials. This could lead to human error.
Memoirs: Memories that LE have written about their careers
Political Documents: The Home Office, and the Government often comment on crime, including reporting on crime statistics and methods
The Media: Newspapers liked to report on the state of crime and policing
89
Who was "Leather Apron"?
In the beginning, the police questioned local prostitutes, who said that they were fearful of a man who was running an extortion racket, demanding money from the prostitutes, and beating up those who refused. The only thing he wore which was identifiable was his leather apron. Sergeant William Thick, an officer who was greatly involved in the investigation into the Jack the Ripper murders, was adamant that whenever the people of the area spoke about “Leather Apron” they were referring to a man named John, or Jack, Pizer who was a Polish Jew who worked as a bootmaker in Whitechapel. So the police set about trying to find him, to either prove his guilt or else eliminate him as a suspect. But under intense interrogation, Pizer provided cast-iron alibis for the nights of the two most recent murders and was quickly ruled out as a suspect.
90
