|
 |
 |
|
|
|
** This is an archived, static copy of the Casebook messages boards dating from 1998 to 2003. These threads cannot be replied to here. If you want to participate in our current forums please go to https://forum.casebook.org **
Inspector Abberline's Executor Nelson Edwin Lees
Casebook Message Boards: Police Officials: Police Officials:
Inspector Abberline's Executor Nelson Edwin Lees
Author: Robin A. Lacey
Thursday, 06 June 2002 - 07:11 pm |        | Hello Jennifer (Pegg), Stephen (Butt) and other interested parties,
Re Inspector Abberline’s executor, Nelson Edwin Lees.
I have just discovered that in 1923, a Robert Nelson Lees, Beer Retailer, lived and/or worked at 290 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth – literally a few minutes walk along the road from Abberline’s house.
Unfortunately – and frustratingly – the library in which I found this archived record of R. N. Lees closed before I could pursue the matter further. Never mind, I’ll pick it up again tomorrow.
Given that it was common practice for a son to have as his middle name the first name of his father, I won’t be at all surprised if Robert Nelson Lees turns out to be the son of Abberline’s executor, Nelson Edwin Lees.
At this stage I don’t know what, in 1923, a ‘beer retailer’ would have been. Possibly a publican or what we today call an Off-Licence retailer?
I’ll update as soon as I have more info.
Regards to all,
Robin |
Author: jennifer pegg
Friday, 07 June 2002 - 03:29 am | | cheers robin (it seemed approiprite),
good to hear from you again. certainly does seem like a possiblity tnat the two may be related (but i still doubt they are closely related to rjl)
it is conforting to know that nelso edwin lees may really xist
best wishes
jennifer |
Author: Andy & Sue Parlour
Friday, 07 June 2002 - 02:29 pm | | Hello Robin, re Abberline.
While in Bournemouth for the conference last year we walked up to Abberlines house in Holdenhurst Road, we were quite surprised to see that one of the houses just before his was a solicitors.
The address is:
KINGS BENCH CHAMBERS,
ANNEX TO KINGS BENCH WALK,
THE TEMPLE LONDON,
175, Holdenhurst Road.
Could this be the solicitors that Abberline used to make out his will?
Bearing in mind that M.J.Druitt, Cameron Gull,(Sir William's son) and Reginald Brodie Dyke Acland(brother of Sir William Gull's son-in-law)all had chambers at no 9, Kings Bench Walk this makes a fascinating coincidence. |
Author: Robin A. Lacey
Friday, 07 June 2002 - 10:46 pm | | Hi Jennifer,
Like you I don't imagine that the 1923 Robert Nelson Lees of Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth is related to Robert James Lees. I did wonder if it might explain Knight's (erroneous) comment about Lees' family roots being in Bournemouth, but I have yet to find mention of Robert Nelson Lees either side of 1923. The only other Lees I can find in Bournemouth is a Mrs Hastings R. Lees who is recorded 1895 to 1931. Would she have any connection to Robert James Lees family?
I did find a newspaper cutting about a local man who in 1991 (when he was well into his seventies) sent to The Criminologist an essay he had written on Abberline. The essay was called 'Bournemouth's Silent Man.' I've contacted the Criminologist to see if I can get hold of a copy. Meantime, I have the electoral registers to go through. Should keep me out of mischief for awhile.
I know that finding - so to speak - Abberline's executor is not going to add anything much at all to the Ripper case. But it would be pleasing to be able to add even just a hint of colour to at least one of the many, many grey areas in the case.
Hello Andy & Sue,
I'll find out if the King's Bench Chambers annexe in Holdenhurst road was around in Abberline's day. If his solicitor was based there, it will - as you so aptly say - be a fascinating coincidence.
Thinking of coincidence. As I mentioned before on another thread: Druitt's family lived and worked in Bournemouth; Abberline retired to Bournemouth; at least one of Robert James Lees' married daughters lived in Bournemouth; Robert Lois Stephenson wrote 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' in Bournemouth. And now we can add a chap named Robert Lees living a few hundred yards up the road from Abberline's Bournemouth house, and a legal chambers with possible links to Druitt, Gull, etc., located a few hundred yards down the road from Abberline's house.
All I need to do now is keep telling myself it is all coincidence, repeat it is all coincidence. . .
As I drove past Abberline's house this evening, I noticed that the property is now five flats, and I couldn't help wondering how long it will be before some electrician saunters up to somebody in the local pub and says: 'ere guv, found this Edwardian diary under some floorboards when we was re-wiring that old 'ouse up the road there. Something to do with some copper or other.'
Now tell me it's already happened!
Regards to you all,
Robin |
Author: jennifer pegg
Saturday, 08 June 2002 - 05:36 am | | Robin,
mrs hastings R lees is certianly not someone i have heard of. however i will say this RJ lees had 16 children (with his wife!) spanning the yrs approx 1873 - 1897, it was reported on his death that 10 were still livivng (ie in jan 1931) however, many moved abroad to aus. and america.
it also reported lees himself was one of eight , so (frustratingly!)i am not ruling anyone out on this line. that may well be the next step.
i don't recall coming accross any hastings before!
best wishes
jennifer |
Author: Andy & Sue Parlour
Saturday, 08 June 2002 - 09:59 am | | Hello Robin, re Abberline.
The JTR case is littered with coincidences.
We have a good friend who is a retired Met Police Inspector and who spent most of his time in 'H' 'J' or 'K' Divisions in London's East End. When he first joined the Met in the early 50s he and his wife lived over Leman Street Police Station. He was involved in several murder cases and in fact once arrested the Kray's and several of the 'Firm'.
He made a very interesting remark to us.
"When investigating crime there are 3 words that
solve most, all begin with the letter 'C'.
1, Clues 2, COINCIDENCES and 3, Confessions. Add these together and you get a 4th Conviction".
Makes sense when you think about.
A&S.
P.S. If you do find a diary make sure it hasn't got a bar code on the back. |
|
|
|
|
