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 Cooper. Court and Date of Trial: Worcester Quarter Sessions,...
Catalogue reference: HO 18/166/35
What’s it about?
This record is about the Prisoner name: John Cooper. Court and Date of Trial: Worcester Quarter Sessions,... dating from 1846 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 18/166/35
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Date (When the record was created)
- 1846
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Description (What the record is about)
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Prisoner name: John Cooper.
Court and Date of Trial: Worcester Quarter Sessions, 1846.
Crime: Malicious damage.
Initial sentence: 6 months with hard labour.
Outcome: Liberate.
Petitions and letters: Petition from J. W. Huddleston, with an affidavit showing how the prisoner is innocent and that the testimony of a husband and wife is a lie, as is other testimony. He has shared this information with Mr Parkington, the Chairman, who tried the case. He, too, suggests a free pardon would meet the justice of the case.
John Parkington sends a letter to Sir Graham, where he says perjury occurred at the trial and he has now decided the prisoner should be pardoned.
Petition swearing the innocence of the prisoner is signed by 173 people, including two ministers and George Beddon, Curate of Lye, who says the Deputy Chair sentenced the prisoner, though he didn't attend the trial. The Chairman did, but left the court before sentencing.
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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)
- 166/35
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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/C20875934/
How to order it
- View this record page in our current catalogue
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- Select an option and follow instructions
Series information
HO 18
Home Office: Criminal Petitions, Series II
See the series level description for more information about this record.
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You are currently looking at the item: HO 18/166/35
Prisoner name: John Cooper. Court and Date of Trial: Worcester Quarter Sessions,...
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