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: William Corp, aged 15. Court and Date of Trial: Gloucester Quarter...
Catalogue reference: HO 18/166/25
What’s it about?
This record is about the Prisoner name: William Corp, aged 15. Court and Date of Trial: Gloucester Quarter... dating from 1845 in the series Home Office: Criminal Petitions, Series II. It is held at The National Archives, Kew.
Is it available online?
Yes, this record is available from a third party. Alternatively, you can view it online for free at The National Archives. How to view it.
Can I see it in person?
No, this record is not available to see in person at The National Archives. Other ways 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)
- HO 18/166/25
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Date (When the record was created)
- 1845
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Description (What the record is about)
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Prisoner name: William Corp, aged 15.
Court and Date of Trial: Gloucester Quarter Sessions, 1845.
Crime: Larceny (2nd Indictment).
Initial sentence: Imprisonment 6 months and transportation 7 years.
Gaoler's Report: Convicted before.
Outcome: Commute sentence to imprisonment 12 months.
Petitions and letters: Convicted twice: first for stealing a kettle, property of James Gay, and was given the sentence of 6 months hard labour, then for stealing led fixtures and given the sentence of transportation for 7 years.
Letter from H D Wickham to S M Phillipps, stating he was misled by the prisoner's mother in thinking this was the prisoner's first offence. The question, he says, is whether that information would change the verdict, or the case for mitigation?
Letter from J R Cooper, Prison Chaplain, testifying the prisoner is well behaved.
Petition from a previous employer, William Millett, to the prisoner's good conduct and asking for mitigation.
Petition from the Hill D Wickham, Minister of Christ Church, 1845, and signed by 3 others, including wardens in Frome, Somerset, asking for mitigation.
Letter from G H Mason, Governor of Gloucester County Gaol to G Everest in answer to his letter, stating the prisoner has a previous conviction, which was why the Chairman and a full bench of Magistrates could pass sentence.
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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)
- 166/25
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Legal status (A note as to whether the record being described is a Public Record or not)
- 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))
- 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/C20875924/
How to order it
- View this record page in our current catalogue
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Series information
HO 18
Home Office: Criminal Petitions, Series II
See the series level description for more information about this record.
Catalogue hierarchy
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You are currently looking at the item: HO 18/166/25
Prisoner name: William Corp, aged 15. Court and Date of Trial: Gloucester Quarter...
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