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After the murders began, Lusk and other members of
the public formed themselves into the Mile End Vigilance Committee, with Lusk as chairman. The committee had
sent letters to the government suggesting that a reward be
offered for any information that might lead to the arrest of the murderer.
On the evening of 16 October Lusk received a small parcel through the post wrapped in brown paper. The
following night, at a meeting of the committee held at the
Crown Public House, Mile End, treasurer Joseph Aarons informed the press that inside the parcel was a letter from
Jack the Ripper, and a box containing what appeared to be a human kidney.
The letter read:
"FROM HELL
MR LUSK
SIR
I SEND YOU HALF THE
KIDNE
I TOOK FROM ONE WOMAN I
PRASARVED FOR YOU TOTHER PIECE I
FRIED AND ATE IT WAS VERY NISE I
MAY SEND YOU THE BLOODY KNIF THAT
TOOK IT OUT IF YOU WATE A WHIL
LONGER
SIGNED CATCH ME WHEN
YOU CAN
MR LUSK "
The kidney, with one inch
of renal artery, was sent to be examined by two pathologists, who proclaimed it to be that of a woman aged of about 45,
in an advanced state of Bright's Disease.
The female renal artery
is about three inches long. Catherine Eddowes, the fourth victim of Jack the Ripper; was 43 years old and suffered from Bright's Disease. One of her kidneys had been removed,
and two inches of renal artery were found inside the corpse.
Thus George Lusk's part in the history of the Whitechapel murders was assured, He was
excluded from Doric Lodge in 1889 for non-payment of dues.
The other members of the Lodge with a connection to the murders in the membership lists were Inspector Charles Digby, a member since 1862 who had been in charge of police reports for H Division, and was also present at Lusk's initiation, and Arthur Duttfield, who became a member in 1887, He gave his occupation as cart and van builder. It was his old yard in
Berner Street where the body of Elizabeth Stride was found
on the 30-31 August.
Also listed was John Cohen,
who was detailed to become a
member following Lusk's initiation. He was a cigar
manufacturer of 345 Commercial Road, and was balloted for as a member, which resulted in two black balls against him. He later became vice-president of the Mile End Vigilance Committee.
As to Sir Charles Warren, the one Freemason that Knight got correct, after he retired as Commissioner, he was called back into military
service, and finally retired with the rank of General, and retired to Western-Super-Mare, where he died in 1926.
Stephen Knight wrote one more book, The Brotherhood, another attack on Freemasonry - in 1986, and died shortly afterwards. But the research
goes on ...
Recently I came upon the name of Detective Sergeant Eugene Charles Bradshaw, a member or Prince Leopold Lodge. He was involved in all the enquiries with respect to the murders and, by coincidence the Lodge met on the nights of the murders.
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MQ Magazine
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