Session 0.5 — New Year’s Eve
The setting
- New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1892, into January 1, 1893
- Dr. Julia Smith’s party at the University Women’s Club, 5 Bond Street, London
- Pine boughs left from Christmas, mulled wine, piano, candles. A crowded room of progressive women and their guests
The PCs Arrive
- Amelia Meadowcroft was already in the room, drink in hand, holding court near the loudest guest. Coat over pants and boots, .41 revolver under the coat
- Dr. Kasim Polat came alone on foot from his lodgings in a fine hat. Worth had invited him; Worth wasn’t there yet
- Professor Harry Worth had arrived earlier and had to clean mud off his shoes before joining the room
- Dr. Saroch came in later and locked onto Worth almost immediately to ask about his Christological work
- George “Georgie” Banks was last in, fighting the doorman over his coat. Smith greeted him personally and pulled him into the room.
Notable guests Smith pointed out
- Beatrice and Sidney Webb, Fabians, talking up social reform
- Ida B. Wells, anti-lynching activist, visiting from the United States
- Amelia Bloomer of the Rational Dress Society
- Florence Nightingale, possibly, across the room.
Dr Smith was distracted all night
- She kept glancing at the door.
- She brought up Maria, a student. Maria was expected, but did not show.
- She raised it with Worth. Drifted back to the topic after changing the subject
Smith’s departure
- A messenger boy slipped in past the doorman during Auld Lang Syne and gave Smith a note
- She read it once, put on her coat, and left without a word
- Georgie clocked her leaving
The calling cards (~2 AM)
- The butler handed a card to the PCs
- Text: For God’s sake, come, bring a gun. 5 Durward Street, Whitechapel.
- 5 Durward Street is the address where Mary Ann Nichols was found in August 1888: the first canonical JACK THE RIPPER victim!