Record revealed
Hoax letter signed by ‘Jack the Ripper’
This is one of hundreds of letters in police files claiming to have been written by the infamous Whitechapel Murderer – otherwise known as 'Jack the Ripper'.
Item
Prisoner name: John Smyrk (or John Smirk, or John Smyrke). Court and date of trial:...
Catalogue reference: HO 17/15/23
What’s it about?
This record is about the Prisoner name: John Smyrk (or John Smirk, or John Smyrke). Court and date of trial:... dating from 1821 Apr 17 - 1821 May 7 in the series Home Office: Criminal Petitions, Series I. It is held at The National Archives, Kew.
Is it available online?
No, this record is not available online. However, you can order a copy. Other ways to view it.
Can I see it in person?
Yes, this record is held at The National Archives and is available to see in person. How to view it.
Full description and record details
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Reference (The unique identifier to the record described, used to order and refer to it)
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HO 17/15/23
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Date (When the record was created)
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1821 Apr 17 - 1821 May 7
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Description (What the record is about)
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Prisoner name: John Smyrk (or John Smirk, or John Smyrke).
Court and date of trial: Old Bailey April Sessions 1821.
Crime: Robbery.
Initial sentence: Death.
Annotated (Outcome): Considered at Report in Council 30 June 1821.
Petitioner(s): Prisoner and six signatories certifying his good conduct; J Jorgenson, in Newgate.
Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): Youth; first offence; respectable connections; ashamed of conduct; brother in penitentiary; family distress.
Other papers: Certificate of character of John Smyrke, prisoner's father.
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Held by (Who holds the record)
- The National Archives, Kew
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Former department reference (Former identifier given by the originating creator)
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Bh 23
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Legal status (A note as to whether the record being described is a Public Record or not)
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Public Record(s)
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Closure status (Whether the record is ‘open’ (available to the public) or ‘closed’ (not available due to a legal exemption))
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Open Document, Open Description
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Subjects (Categories and themes found in our collection (our subject list is under development, and some records may have no subjects or fewer than expected))
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Record URL
- https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C16238004/
How to order it
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Series information
HO 17
Home Office: Criminal Petitions, Series I
See the series level description for more information about this record.
Catalogue hierarchy
Over 27 million records
This record is held at The National Archives, Kew
1,719,919 records
Within the department: HO
Records created or inherited by the Home Office, Ministry of Home Security, and related...
19,921 records
Within the series: HO 17
Home Office: Criminal Petitions, Series I
176 records
Within the piece: HO 17/15
Petitions referenced Bh, Bk, Bl and Bm. (Described at item level)
You are currently looking at the item: HO 17/15/23
Prisoner name: John Smyrk (or John Smirk, or John Smyrke). Court and date of trial:...
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