George Hutt
Police Constable George Henry Hutt, 968(City). Also referred to as 'reserve constable'.[1]
Witness at Catherine Eddowes' inquest.
Joined City of London Police in 1879 (warrant no.5274). Retired 1889.[2]
Described as 'City Gaoler' of Bishopsgate Police Station, PC Hutt went on duty at 9.45pm, 29th September 1888, making him in charge of prisoners from that time. He visited Eddowes several times until 12.55am the following morning when he found her sober.
He took her from the cell to be officially discharged by Sergeant James Byfield to whom she gave her name as Mary Ann Kelly and her address as 6 Fashion Street. Hutt led her through the station saying "this way, Missus" and she asked him what the time was, to which he replied "too late for you to get any more drink". Eddowes again asked the time and when Hutt told her it was "just on one", she exclaimed "I shall get a damned fine hiding when I get home". Hutt said "And serve you right you have no right to get drunk". PC Hutt remembered that Eddowes was wearing an apron and recognised the one produced at the inquest as the one she was wearing.
She passed along a passage to the outer door and when Hutt asked her to pull the door to, she replied "all right, good night old cock" and after pulling to door almost shut (it was open about half a foot), she was seen to turn left in the direction of Houndsditch.
PC Hutt reckoned that it would take eight minutes of 'ordinary walking' to get to Mitre Square from the station.[3]
Apparently Hutt had earlier written a letter to the Evening News, condemning displays of anti-semitism in Whitechapel on the evening following the murder of Chapman. The letter was published, as from "G.H.H." of 48 and 49, Bishopsgate Street Without, on 11 September under the heading "Slaughtering the Jews".[4] The author was identified by the Jewish World as "Mr G. H. Hutt".[5]
References
- ↑ The Times, 3rd October 1888
- ↑ The Jack the Ripper A-Z, Paul Begg, Martin Fido, Keith Skinner (Headline 1996). Hutt's action in trapping a burglar in 1886 by standing on the cellar-flap of a jeweller's shop was recalled by Major Henry Smith in his memoirs (From Constable to Commissioner, pp. 113, 114 (1910), and see discussion on Casebook). For a detailed account of Hutt's life and career, see the article on him by Neil Bell and Robert Clack in Ripperologist, issue 103, pp. 39-51 (June 2009).
- ↑ Coroner's inquest (L), 1888, No.135, Catherine Eddowes Inquest, 1888 (Corporation of London Record Office)
- ↑ Transcript at Casebook.
- ↑ Jewish World, 14 September 1888.
