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 Herbert. Court and date of trial: Northampton Town October Sessions...
Catalogue reference: HO 17/87/131
What’s it about?
This record is about the Prisoner name: John Herbert. Court and date of trial: Northampton Town October Sessions... dating from 1826-1828 in the series Home Office: Criminal Petitions, Series I. It is held at The National Archives, Kew.
Is it available online?
Yes, this record is available from a third party. How to view it.
Can I see it in person?
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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 17/87/131
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Date (When the record was created)
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1826-1828
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Description (What the record is about)
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Prisoner name: John Herbert.
Court and date of trial: Northampton Town October Sessions 1825.
Crime: Stealing fruit.
Intial sentence: Transportation for seven years.
Gaoler's report: Of very bad character, having been previously convicted of felony.
Annotated (outcome): Refused. Nil.
Petitioner: William Herbert, the prisoner's father [two petitions].
Grounds for clemency: His crime was a 'trifling' one of stealing 12 or 14 apples. Asks that his sentence is shortened and he is allowed to remain in the country.
The second petition [1828] points out that others, whose crimes were much worse, have had their sentences mitigated.
Other papers included: Covering letter from [Major W L Maberly].
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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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Ql 34
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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/C16267972/
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
148 records
Within the piece: HO 17/87
Petitions referenced Qh, Qk and Ql. (Described at item level).
You are currently looking at the item: HO 17/87/131
Prisoner name: John Herbert. Court and date of trial: Northampton Town October Sessions...
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