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Titanic Uncovered

From the Thomas McCutchen Journals   

By D R Hann

Published by P D H

Copyrights and Notices

Copyright © 2012 by D.R. Hann

All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author, me, D.R. Hann.

Names, some characters, places and or incidents are fictitious and are of the author’s imagination.

Other books by D.R. Hann

Satan’s Authorized Biography

My Interviews with Famous Dead People

Dead Presidents, America’s Government on Trial

Journal of the Man from Doomsday

J.B. Madison

Elkosh

Introduction

     One reason why I wrote this book is my wife loves all things Titanic, along with millions of other people.

     I did not want to write another very fact based non – fiction book.  I wanted what my imagination wanted.

     So here you have my book; “Titanic Uncovered.”

     In my book, Captain Smith has what he felt was a very good reason why he wanted to disable Titanic but never to sink Titanic and, yes, Jack the Ripper was on the Titanic, along with bank robbers and millions of dollars.  A wife, who wants to do her rich husband in, but does not know how, that is until the Titanic hits the iceberg.  A very old, and broke magician who is looking for one last great trick and others, along with two very good Scotland Yard detectives, and a Pinkerton detective right out of the American Wild West, who discover a cover up which leads all the way up to King George V, and why this information has come to light now.       

     I would like to thank Google Search, Wikipedia, and my wife Phyllis.  Without her hard and diligent work, this book would not have been possible.

My name is Thomas McCutchen, and I was employed in his majesty, Sir King George V’s Scotland Yard as a detective for two years.

     This is my official Scotland Yard report; personal journal, letters, notes and theories, which I kept, while investigating the sinking of the R. S. M. Titanic, and what I and fellow detective, William Winston, my good friend from America, Pinkerton detective Mr. Frank Middleton and Mapiya a real Sioux Indian and a truly good friend and man uncovered.

     Never wanting to harm the good name of the White Star Line, or his Royal Majesty, Sir King George V, long live the king, I have decided not to let my documents or theories come to light until I thought a more proper time; which I felt would be one hundred years after the sinking of that poor doomed ship, Titanic.

     History has the right to know of the true facts.

     To those future people who read this, please be gentle as things were only covered to save the White Star Line, who employed many, and our good King George V, and my country, the empire of Great Britain.

     Yes, it was very, very tragic, with over 1539 souls going to a watery grave.  God bless all sound men, women, children and stow a ways, which, through my investigation, were numbered at thirty five known victims, but may have been more.

     May the future generations not judge me, for I will soon be judged by God.  I now want history to know the truth.

      May God have those lost souls now rest in their own Garden of Eden.

     So future generations please read on and know the true facts and theories as to what happened to the R.M.S. Titanic on April 15^th, 1912, and what I have uncovered.  

April 18^th, 1912; Scotland Yard report, R.M.S. Titanic

    

     My name is Thomas McCutchen.  I am a detective inspector for Scotland Yard and have been for two years.

     Today, Chief Inspector Norman Shaw, who was informed by Chief Superintendent James Thompson, who was informed by Deputy Commissioner John McCarthy, who was informed by Commissioner Frank Forest that I and five others were chosen to help with an investigation into the sinking of the R.M. S. Titanic.

     Heading the investigation will be Chief Inspector Norman Shaw, who will lead five other detective inspectors into this investigation, all detective inspectors.  William Brown, nine years at the Yard; Norman Howe, seven years at the Yard; Harry Davies, six years at the Yard; William Winston, five months at the Yard, and myself, which I have stated before, two years at the Yard. 

     This is my official record, as an instrument into our investigation, into the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic on April 15^th, 1912 at approximately 2:20 am.  At this time reported, there are approximately 710 survivors and approximately 1514 non-survivors.

     A meeting is set for three p.m. this afternoon to begin and gather all critical information into this matter.

     At the close of our 3 p.m. meeting, we will be working in three teams of two detective inspectors.  Chief Inspector Norman Shaw, will work with Detective Inspector Harry Davies, Detective Inspectors, William Brown and Norman Howe, and the last team will be William Winston and myself, Thomas McCutchen.

     As all information is, at this time, hearsay, we must be vigilant and gather just the facts.

     William Winston and I have been assigned to travel to Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland, where we will conduct interviews and do our investigation, as this was the place where the R.M. S. Titanic was built.

April 18^th, 1912 Titanic PJ

     I have decided to keep a personal journal.

When writing my personal journal, after placing the date and Titanic, I will add PJ for personal journal.

     These are my own thoughts, theories, summaries, notes and letters into the investigation of the R.M.S. Titanic and what may have occurred to Titanic on the evening of

April 14^th, 1912.

     In no way, will I let my journal interfere with my official Scotland Yard investigation.

     If our Lord takes me, and my journal is found and read, know that I, Thomas McCutchen, have written this, my journal, as a hobby to be read to myself only when I am very old and would like to remember my younger life.

     I cannot believe I was chosen for such a worthy investigation.  I will try with all I have, I feel almost unworthy for this monumental task.

     I wonder why William, with only five months at the Yard, and I, with only two years at the Yard, were chosen.  There are so many with much more knowledge and years in detective work, like the three detectives who worked the White Chapel murders, also known as the Jack the Ripper murders in 1888, yes they are not young, but they have knowledge.

     I am worried that I will miss some important information, which will never see the light of day, that could shed a suitable conclusion on why the Titanic sank.  I must stay alert; I must never leave any information in the dark.

     And now what of Emily, our on and off relationship, will this be the final bitter situation which puts our relationship under?

A letter to Emily Collins, post date April 19^th, 1912

     For six years, we have gone from a situation close to marriage to you never wanting to see me again.  My detective instinct says the only reason why you wanted me was rebellion against your own father, who wanted you to be with the likes of a Barrister.  I arrest those less desirable individuals, and those bastard Barristers speak only words, as do one of those bankers, and let them back on society.

     My dear Emily, I hope you realize how important this is, not only to me but to our nation.  My heart will be waiting, as I hope you will, but if you look into your heart and find that this situation is no longer desirable I, with a heavy heart, will understand.

     Yours, my heart is on my sleeve, Thomas McCutchen.

       

April 19^th, 1912 Titanic PJ

     Today, William and I traveled from London to Liverpool on the Liverpool Express, which made only one stop at the Birmingham station.

     We were laid over at this station as a farmer was loading his sheep, which made me anxious, as time is a very important factor to an investigation.

     As I write this, I am on the Liverpool to Belfast ferry, which should have us in Belfast by 8 a.m., April 20^th.

     Maybe we should have requested a faster mode of transportation, such as an aero flight, but I’m not so sure how safe that would have been and we must remain within a sensible budget.

     William and I will meet with a one, Constable Joseph Walsh, of the Belfast Police Department; he will be our guide and intermediary while we investigate any and all information on the Titanic.

     As more news becomes available, I now know important people such as Captain Edward John Smith and naval architect, Thomas Andrews, cannot be interviewed as they have perished along with Titanic.

     Those who were involved with the building, maintenance, and the crew members, along with even the survivors of the Titanic, will be interviewed.

     It has been reported that the White Star Line’s Chair Person, J. Bruce Ismay, was on board but did survive.

     I believe, and since I am the senior detective inspector, we will start our investigation at the Harland and Wolff Ship Yard.

April 20^th through April 22^nd, 1912; Scotland Yard report, R.M.S. Titanic 

     This report was sent via telegraph post.  We will wait here in Belfast until we have further instructions.

     Detective Inspector William Winston and I have met with Constable Joseph Walsh, of the Belfast Police Department.  We will begin our investigation at the Harland and Wolff Ship Yard.

     I have been informed, at this time, we cannot interview the Chair Person of Harland and Wolff, a Mr. William James Pirrie, because he is not in country and is doing business in France.

     Since I feel as though there were not enough life boats, the need to interview Mr. William James Pirrie is imperative at this time.

     There were a total of 8 foremen for the R.M.S. Titanic when it was being built.  Only five remain employed at the Harland and Wolff Ship Yard.

     After interviewing the 5 foremen, William and I have concluded nothing out of the ordinary has been found, except for information on life boats and the fact that there may not have been enough.  For this, we need to interview Mr. William James Pirrie, Chair Person of the Harland and Wolff Ship Yard, and Mr. J. Bruce Ismay, Chair Person of the White Star Line.

     A list of all 8 Foremen’s names and places of residence are written below.

     I have let it be known to the 5 foremen, who are still present at Harland and Wolff Ship Yard that any move without proper notification to Scotland Yard, will be a violation of an official Scotland Yard investigation and they may face a penalty, which could include a monetary fine and time in prison.  

     Following is a list of the foremen of the Harland and Wolff Ship Yard who worked on the R.M.S. Titanic:

Mr. James Murphy, May Street, Belfast, Ireland

Mr. John Sullivan, Donegall Pass, Belfast, Ireland

Mr. Neil O’Connor, Albertbridge Road, Belfast, Ireland

Mr. Charles Doyle, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, Ireland

Mr. Joseph O’Brian, Howard Street, Belfast, Ireland

     The following 3 foremen are no longer employed with the Harland and Wolff Ship Yard.  I have obtained names, dates of departure, and possible destinations for all 3.  A follow up may be needed.

Mr. Joseph Gallagher, April 10^th, 1912; traveling to Germany

Mr. Michael Lynch, April, 18^th, 1912; traveling to Canada

Mr. William Murray, April 19^th, 1912; traveling to Norway 

April 20^th, 1912 Titanic PJ

     Constable Walsh met us at the Liverpool to Belfast ferry dock.  He was rude to us; still that damned old thing about home rule and the Irish.

My gut feeling is if he could, he would have thrown William and me into his jail, never to be seen again.  My only hope is that he is a straight fellow for this investigation.  Maybe that is why he was willing to cooperate with us.  He only wants his city, Belfast, to be cleared of any and all involvement into the sinking.

     As I have let William know, we must be very vigilant while staying in Belfast.

     This first day of interviews did not go smoothly as the first 2 foremen we interviewed spoke in their native language of Irish Gaelic, which made me feel both rude and dumb founded because I had to keep asking these men to repeat what they were saying.

     At one point, John Sullivan asked me did I think he had anything to do with the sinking. Then the poor man broke, it was not very pleasant to see this proud man cry.  He told me the sinking has haunted a lot of people here in Belfast, now there is a lot more drinking and fighting than usual, and he said there would probably be more broken families and killings soon.

     Michael Lynch, told John Sullivan it haunted him so bad that he was leaving for Canada and was going to drink until the haunting left him.   

     The only bright side is Walsh did help immensely.

     As of now and early on, I feel it was not the building or maintenance of Titanic which caused her to sink, but not having enough life boats does speak rather loudly for so many unwarranted deaths.

     This very likely will turn to a criminal investigation.     

April 22^nd, 1912 Titanic PJ

     The days that followed went about the same as the first two.

     After sending my post off to the Yard, William and I will wait.  Hopefully, not too long as Belfast is dirty, with an industrial smell.

     Surprisingly, the people have been proper, but I still cannot understand the language.

April 23^rd, 1912; Scotland Yard report, R.M.S. Titanic

Telegraph post from Scotland Yard:

To Detective Inspectors Thomas McCutchen

and William Winston

     Return to Scotland Yard immediately, is most urgent.  Please make by sensible and quickest return.

     Chief Inspector, Scotland Yard, Norman Shaw

April 25^th, 1912 Titanic PJ

     William and I are returning the same way we traveled to Belfast.

    As I write, it is 2 a.m. on the Liverpool to London Express.  We should be in London by

6 a.m. or earlier, since there will be no sheep pickup at the Birmingham station. 

     This whole affair with the Titanic has me at a melancholy moment.  This is truly a wider tragedy than the deaths of those who perished and the families who now morn for them.  It has and will continue to grasp many more, so many more of the innocent.

     This is not like a person can be singled out and sent to the gallows for this tragedy, but still with enough life boats it would have lessened the burden.  If this is the case, then I feel whoever signed for so few life boats should be sent to the gallows, no matter who it is.

     Now with more and more information coming to light, why would J. Bruce Ismay want to survive?

     I question is he a righteous man?

     April 25^th, 1912; Scotland Yard report, R.M.S. Titanic

     Meeting held at headquarters.  In attendance, was Deputy Commissioner John McCarthy, Chief Inspector Norman Shaw, and all detective inspectors involved with the R.M.S. Titanic case.

     Facts were brought forth by Deputy Commissioner McCarthy.

     Facts:  Bodies are being discovered and recovered in the North Atlantic Ocean from the R.M.S. Titanic.

     America has already begun their Naval inquiry into the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic.

     I have been informed that William and I will be traveling to New York, in America, to gather information from America’s naval inquiry, which may be helpful to Scotland Yard’s investigation into the sinking of R.M.S. Titanic.

     Also reported were several bank robberies in France of large amounts of Francs.  Scotland Yard will be fully cooperating with France.

 

April 25^th, 1912 Titanic PJ

     I feel the Americans had no business starting an inquiry without us Brits.  It is very bad form. I hope King George makes this right, I hope PM Sir Henry gives those yanks a verbal threshing.

     William and I are going to New York to gather information for Britain’s naval inquiry, which Deputy Commissioner McCarthy has assured us will start very soon.  Sailing on a ship to America, at this time, can be damn scary.

     True, we are going to America to gather information, but we are in no way, at this point in time, ready to help the Yanks with their inquiry.

     If anyone will bring the truth out it, will be us Brits and Scotland Yard, not the yanks.

     They have discovered, and recovered, bodies from Titanic.  Of the bodies they have discovered, 3 female bodies had similar wounds to those inflected by another famous case of 1888, that of Jack the Ripper.

     As not to panic the public, we were told, at this time, this information is to be kept secret.

     10 detective inspectors who had worked on the ripper investigation, of which 7 are retired, have been brought in to work on this case.  I guess once a Scotland Yard detective, always a Scotland Yard detective.

     To my way of thinking, this would not likely be the ripper but possibly Titanic’s large propellers, sharp objects on the ship, or even from living ocean creatures, such as sharks.

     As far as the French bank robberies, which      

 they said could total as high as a million francs,  this would have to be placed on the back burner as Titanic has to take preference, besides they were French bank robberies so let the French take care of their own.   

     I think it is an amazing thing I could help with what may be one of the highest profile cases in British history.  I am now glad I went against my father’s wishes to become a police officer.

     My uncle, the late Deputy Commissioner of the London police force, James McCutchen, may he now rest in God’s hands, was the one who in 1902, and on my eighteen birthday, talked me out of being an accountant as my eldest brother John Jr. is, into what I feel is a noble field of endeavor.

     My father wanted me to follow him into the carpentry field, as he also wanted for my two older brothers, but it was not to be father, for John, your namesake is doing well as an accountant, and Albert a telegraph operator whose job is most secure.

     Father, this is a noble field, as you say, with a finished product.

   

Post to my sister Mary McCutchen

April 26^th, 1912

My dearest sister, Mary,

     Once more, the Yard has called me into duty and, at this time, I am on my way to America, to New York.  I will write to tell you all I can as I know you have always dreamed to travel there.

     I know you are to be married on May 25^th, which is the last Saturday of the month. 

     Sister, I pray and hope I may be there, but if not, you and Edward will be in my prayers and thoughts that day.

     My gift to both of you will be, “Handle with care,” as I will purchase it from New York.

     I know you will be a gracious bride, a wonderful wife, and soon a wonderful mother as our own.

     Your loving older brother, Thomas

     As I feel it is right and proper of me, I will send a telegraph post to my mother and father.

April 27^th, Telegraph post To:  John and Mary McCutchen; Ipswhich, England

My dearest mother and father,

     I felt it only proper and right that I send this telegraph to you to let you know I am on my way to New York, in America, the Yard you know.   

     I am most proud that I have been chosen to help investigate in that tragic event of the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic.

     I should arrive in New York on the 5^th of May.

     I have already written a post to my dear sister, Mary.  Please, not a word as I would like her to read what I have written, as I may not be able to attend her very special day.

     I hope you will understand that I will try to bring honor, not only to our country, but to our family.

     Your dearest son, Thomas McCutchen Detective Inspector, Scotland Yard     

April 28^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     This is our first day at sea on the R.M.S. Laconia, which sails from Liverpool to New York, in America.

     It has not been a gracious day.  I could see the people are both anxious and scared as Titanic is still in the thoughts of those who sail. It is as if they feel we will meet the same fate.

     My point was proven when the captain ordered a life boat drill; women fainted and men fought each other for a spot on the life boats.  It was only the professional attitudes and quick action of the crew that separated us from the throws of all out hell.  All turned out well as the next drill went as smooth as a finely repaired watch.    

     As William and I are in third class steerage, I too am worried as I know most in third class steerage on the Titanic did not survive, but being from Scotland Yard I will keep a smiling face and a right attitude.

     I overheard a very peculiar conversation between two French fellows.  One was telling the other that he had been swindled by his French bastard friend who had stolen his portion of a very large sum of money, boarded the Titanic, and is one of the survivors now in New York.  He is sailing because he plans to go and retrieve his portion, even if that means he has to shoot that bastard.

     Thank you Miss Lefevre for being so hard on us to learn the French language you taught us in school.

     I will obtain this fellow’s identity and send a telegraph post off to the Yard.

     One day down and seven more to go. 

Telegraph post April 29^th, 1912 To:  Scotland Yard, Identity Department

From Detective Inspector, Thomas McCutchen, on board the R.M.S. Laconia

     Please check on the identity of a Mr. Alain Herbert from Reims, France.

     Also, please check the identities on all French and non-French citizens who embarked on R.M.S. Titanic in Cherbourg, France.

     Please send full report to me no later than May 4^th, 1912.

Thank you,

Detective Inspector, Thomas McCutchen 

April 29^th 1912 Titanic PJ

    

     It was not more than an hour later that I received a telegraph post from the Yard, which turned my face red, but in which I have no one to blame but myself.

Telegraph post April 29^th, 1912 from Scotland Yard to R.M.S. Laconia

Detective Inspector, Thomas McCutchen

Forwarding telegraph post from Miss Emily Collins

My dear Thomas,

     I know how dear the Yard, and the work you do, is to yourself and your soul.  I imagine the same holds true with an alcoholic and his bottle.

     Thomas, I can no longer go on wishing we were married for I am already twenty five and, at this point in my life, should have already been wed and raising children.  I should think at least two children already.  It has been six years of my youth wasted.

     Thomas, the time has come for not only me but for you to progress forward.

     As I write this, I realize I do not even know of your location.

     Thomas, I am so sad that you must consider this my last communication to you.

     Your friend and only your friend,

Emily L Collins

     My final thought to you; the Yard is a fine mistress for you.

     Bloody hell, but Emily is right, spot on.

I was so dumb not to let her know of my location, now all at the Yard will have a laugh on me.  At least I’m at sea, far from the Yard.

Damn, spot on Emily, the Yard is a fine mistress too.

     Yes, six years Emily but, upon my return from America, I would have asked for your hand in marriage.

     Go ahead Emily, marry a bastard Barrister, or Banker, or even the King of England.  The war is over, your rebellion is finished, and there is now peace with your father.

     I, Thomas McCutchen, am proud to have brokered a peace treaty now and forever.

    This hurts; I wonder when I am old and reading this I will have been married?  Have a wife?  Have children?  Have grandchildren?  Or will I be like Ebenezer Scrooge, alone in a cold and damp house?

     Funny, I wonder the same as old Ebenezer wondered.  Is this how it will be or can I change the things to come?

     Enough detective work; time to live, to drink, and to have fun.

     As I write this, it is 6 a.m. and I am sitting upon a deck chair, the sun starting to rise.

     What the hell did I do last night?  A gentleman of Scotland Yard I was not.  For I found myself drinking, gambling, playing poker; in which I was most fortunate, smoking one very large cigar and, later, not sure I should write this but, getting it on with an Irish lass named Regan.  We were so loud, her cabin mate told her she should wait till she docked in New York before getting it on with a gentleman, and left the cabin.

     Not sure what this Regan looks like, as I am just starting to become sober, but I know she was not a small woman, but a rather large woman, and her cabin was at the bottom of the ship.

     No matter what, I will be a perfect gentleman for the rest of the voyage.

     Should I run into this woman, named Regan, I will be the perfect gentleman, even if she looks like Helen, the floor washing woman.

     I will be a man and fess up to my partner, William, on all matters of Emily and the Irish mystery woman, Regan. 

April 30^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     Today the sea was rough and the weather turned cool as all passengers found it to be more comfortable to wear a coat once on deck.

     William and I sat upon deck chairs as we were served afternoon tea.  It was at this time I did my confessing about Emily’s telegraph post and my less than gentleman’s actions of last night.  He took it rather well and said he knew something must be afoot as he awoke at about three bells and noticed I was not present in my bed.  William said that if he were single he may have done the same thing, but it always helps him when traveling to remember his wife Millie and their three children, Ruby, Beatrix and William III.

     We laid our plan about the French man Hebert and how we will take him into custody without a great hullabaloo, if he should prove to be wanted.

     As it turns out, William does have a bit of a sense of humor, as he said he would track down this mysterious Irish woman, named Regan, and report all facts back to me.

May 1^st 1912 Titanic PJ

     As we sail, the ship does have news of the world.  It posts the world news at several locations to keep passengers updated so as we do not feel isolated in the North Atlantic.

     The favorite spot for all the gentlemen to gather, smoke, drink, and talk about what was posted is the third class smoking room.

NEWS of the world R.M.S. Laconia

May 1^st 1912

     American inquiry into the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic is under way.  It will last for several months.     Ongoing body recovery in the North Atlantic.

     Marconi’s wireless called into question.

     British inquiry to start on May 2^nd 1912.

     Lord Chancellor, Robert Earl Loreburn, appoints Judge Charles Bigham, Lord Mersey of Toxteth, president of probate, divorce, & Admiralty division of the high court.

     Attorney General, the Right, Honorable, Sir Rufus Isaacs, K.C. M.P.

     Counsel on behalf of the White Star line, the Right, Honorable, Sir Robert Finlay, K.C. M.P.

     Yank, Harriet Quimby, first woman to fly across the English Channel to be honored at a dinner held by the Royal Aero Flight Academy.

     Lots of talk and anger towards those of the White Star line.

     If it is found that Marconi fellow is the culprit, I say to the gallows.

     Now, with England and Lord Chancellor Robert Loreburn moving, it should not be long until all those who perished receive their justice.

     

     Why did they place such a frivolous news story of some damn yank woman flying across our channel, there should be no space for things like that at a time like this.

     I dare sure say the way women are moving they will soon be running everything.

     I would like to see them investigate the crimes of Scotland Yard.  I would venture to say there would be no crimes solved.           

   

May 2^nd 1912 Titanic P J

     Much better weather and calmer seas,

actually, quite pleasant now.

     I have met the mysterious Miss Regan, a large woman, yes, maybe only twenty years of age but rather a pleasant soul.

     Red faced I was but a gentleman also.

     She is on her way to America, Boston, to meet her boy friend, Killian McLoughlin, they are to be wed soon.

     He a carpenter for a wealthy family named Banks.  She took employment with this family as a downstairs maid.

     She confesses to me that after she had a half of flask of whiskey, supplied by her cabin mate, she was feeling quite good and was like a wild pony.

     I felt sorry for her, and if by some kind of magic could return in time, would have done the gentlemanly thing and escorted her to her cabin, without so much a kiss.

     She begged me never to speak of this, and as she could tell, I was a gentleman who would stand by my word, as I said I would.

     She also let it be known, even though I was a gentleman, if Killian ever found out what had transpired, and the fact I was a Brit, he would probably do her in, then myself.  She said he is an Irishman, Irish through and through, and hated any and all Brits.

     When I questioned her about her cabin mate, and would she talk and tell; her reply was she did not even know Anna, as it was for monetary and convenience, that they came to share a cabin.

     Seems Anna is traveling on to Philadelphia to stay with her sister.  

     I have made a mental note; if I ever travel to Boston, in America, be very careful.  

May 3^rd 1912 Scotland Yard report, R.M.S. Titanic, Identity Department

     As of now, no showing for a Mr. Alain

Herbert, of Reims, France.  All clear-will continue the search for this man.

     Following is a list of all 281 passengers embarking on the R.M.S. Titanic in the Port of Cherbourg, France.    

     Good luck in America

     Inspector Detective, Robert Turpin, of the Identity Department   

May 3^rd 1912 Titanic PJ

     

     281 souls embarking on that doomed ship.

26 different nationalities, 21 French nationals;

I wonder how many survived.

     My, a lot of rich and powerful men embarked at Cherbourg.

     Colonel John Jacob Astor, I venture to say, a right good and godly man, well at least they recovered his body.

     I do believe at this point in time a special investigation should be brought forth as to those men who took space in the life boats and survived, while women and children perished.

May God rest their souls.

May 5th 1912 Titanic PJ

     As I write this last entry at sea, my excitement grows as early tomorrow we will be docking in New York Harbor, America.

     For the rest of this voyage, I have been a gentleman and, from time to time, when I have met up with Miss Regan Gallagher and, as civilized humans, we have exchanged pleasantries.

     William seems distant as I believe he is homesick for wife, children and home.   

May 6^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     

     A very memorable day; as I write this, William and I are on a train from New York to Washington, in the District of Columbia.

     As we entered New York Harbor, we passed the Statue of Liberty, and as we did, many gave out with a yell of excitement.  I felt not the same; I guess if this was my new country, I would have felt the same.  I just cannot imagine giving up on my England and leaving, no, I really cannot imagine that.    

     After docking at pier twelve, in the Battery, which, if my history serves me well, was the place from where the British Army left, after our war with the colonies, we were summed to the top deck by Chief Officer Watts, who informed us that since we were on official Scotland Yard business, we may disembark with the first and second class passengers, which is much easier to enter America than from third class.

     After a health exam and some questions, we were told we could go through customs.

     As I stood on the deck waiting to disembark, I saw Miss Regan Gallagher, and many more, being herded on to a barge like cattle, where they would be taken to an island called Ellis to be properly processed.  Farewell Miss Gallagher, and the best of luck to you.        

     The reason for us to travel to Washington, in the District of Columbia; the American inquiry has changed locations from the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, in New York, to America’s capital.  This, I felt, was both right and queer as the Astoria Hotel was owned by Colonel John Jacob Astor.  We were informed of these events at customs by a New York City Police Captain by the name of James O’Malley, an Irishman, but very courteous and very helpful.

     I do not think the American Irish are as resentful as those who live in Ireland; in fact, I was pleasantly surprised and relieved to know so far that the Americans do not look down upon us Brits.  

May 7^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     Yesterday, William and I arrived in the capital of America.

     We have decided not to answer questions. Our cloak will be that we are teachers studying and traveling how America is today.

     Not knowing where to stay, we were pointed to Miss Branna Devlin’s boarding house, as she was a teacher herself.

     Seems, after coming to America from Ireland, Miss Devlin knew monetarily it was to her advantage to change fields of endeavor so, from school teacher to boarding house owner, she became quite successful.

     It is amazing; of all of the success stories of penniless immigrants coming to a foreign country and not only making a go of it but, becoming quite well to do, I also imagine how many now wish that they had stayed in their own countries.

     As Miss Devlin has informed us, the Titanic inquiry is already into the fifteenth day, which will resume on Thursday April 9^th so we have missed a fair amount of the inquiry, but went on to tell us that one of her tenants, a Mr. Moss, who is a newspaper reporter for the St. Louis Globe – Democrat, and knowing we are teachers studying America, he would probably be generous enough to let us read his Titanic inquiry notes.          

     Being this is Tuesday, and we are teachers here to study and travel in America, Miss Devlin says Washington, the Capital of America, would be the perfect place for us to start.  Yes, a very pleasant, perfect day it was.

     After sending a telegraph post off to the Yard to inform them of our location, we saw the cherry blossoms, which were a gift from the Japanese to the Americans.

     The trees, this time of the year, are special as there were many tea parties being held over the entire city by those of most importance.

     We moved on to the National Geographic Museum, of which I am very familiar with their magazine, and heard a lecture from a Yale professor by the name of Hiram Bingham who, just last July, had made the great discovery of an ancient Inca site of Machu Picchu, which lies in Peru.  Very good lecture, and well done with photographs; I believe this may well be the highlight of my trip to America.  Thankfully, we made this lecture as the professor was to start his return to Peru tomorrow.

     Following this very busy day, and only our second day in America, we had a most delicious supper back at Miss Devlin’s boarding house, and were most fortunate to be brought up to speed and even given notes to read on the Titanic inquiry by Mr. John Moss, the newspaper fellow.

     I would also like to note there was quite a collection of charters at Miss Devlin’s boarding house, including an older gentleman by the name of Mr. Frank Middleton, of the Pinkerton Detective Agency, who was telling tales of pursuing the likes of outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.  It made for a very entertaining evening for all.              

May 8^th 1912 Titanic PJ

Telegraph post from the Yard

May 7^th 1912 to Thomas McCuthen/Miss Devlin’s boarding house, Washington, in the District of Columbia, United States of America

     

     Continue your work/British inquiry started as of May 2^nd 1912

C.I. Norman Shaw

     Looks like William and I will not be present at the Yard when inquiry goes forward.

     My hope is that very soon we will be able to leave to go home; I have several reasons to be home and not abroad at this present time.

     My dear sister is to be married very soon, and I truly want to be involved with the investigation, which will take place as the inquiry unfolds.  

     A very nice leisure Wednesday; William and I took in the sights and people of America’s capital.  The most surprising thing about America’s capital was the fact it had no strong industrial smell.  It must be the fact that this is where their leader, President William Taft, a very large, rotund man lives.

     We then sat on the front porch at Miss Devlin’s boarding house and watched the world go by.

     As all boarders were present, we had an early supper.  I would think it was not more than two p.m., I guess a Yank thing.  It was good with the likes of ham, which had a sweet flavor to it, along with sweet yams, the likes of which rival Miss Devlin’s pies, and three kinds of vegetables, and two kinds of pies; cherry of course, and apple.  These pies are the best I have ever had, and no doubt will ever have till the day I die.

     The day passed and the evening brought a much relieved cool wind.

     It was sandwiches and coffee, then brandy and smokes in the parlor, with more intriguing tales of the old Wild West by Mr. Frank Middleton.   

     When William and I stepped outside to breathe a breath of fresh air, Mr. Middleton joined us and asked why we were really here, and knew we were not school teachers.  His guess was spot on as being with the Yard. Thankfully, I think our secret is safe with him.

     Mr. Middleton told us that he will be investigating some insurance claims brought forth against the White Star Line.

     After showing us his Pinkerton identification and proper paper work from the White Star Line, it did relieve me that our secret of being teachers would truly be safe with him.

     Mr. Middleton suggested we should work together as he was also attending the inquiries.

     With the help of the newspaper fellow, Mr. Moss, there should not be much that we should miss.  We may even come up with some different evidence, which may even shed a new light on the inquiry.  Looks like William and I have a new partner.

May 9^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     This is the first day of America’s inquiry, which William and I have attended.

     The witness and evidence does not match up.  The main witness of the day was a Mr. Farrell, who is the managing news editor of the Dow, Jones & Co.  He read several telegraph posts, which he had received not only from White Star but from other sources.  The following are those telegraph posts, the time and information of those telegraph posts are like saying one plus one, equals three.

Telegraph post:  Dispatch from Navel Post Halifax, Canada-Reports that all passengers had left the Titanic in boats shortly after 3:30 this morning.

Telegraph Post:  White Star Line-Officers of the White Star Line-R.M.S. Titanic at 8 o’clock this morning; passengers are being taken off in boats, and there is no danger of loss of life.  The Baltic and Virginian are standing by to assist in the rescue work.

Telegraph Post:  White Star official report-

Olympic was in communication with Titanic at 8:24 this morning, and Titanic was still afloat.

Telegraph Post:  The Montreal Star unofficial dispatch from Halifax-Word has been received there that the Titanic was still afloat and was making her way slowly toward Halifax.

(Bulletin will stand)

Cp-aa-ck- 9:43 A.M.

     A rather queer thing is when Farrell reported, at the end of his testimony, the fact that even with the tragic loss of Titanic, International Mercantile Marine will still make a profit of about one million dollars.

     Inquiry lasts until about six p.m.  Inquiry is convened until May 16^th.  Definitely will not be going home soon; sorry Mary, I will be missing your special day.

     A very long and trying day and William has informed me that he would like me to put in for his immediate return to London, which I will do.  

May 10^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     With the trial adjourned until Thursday, the 16^th, most of my days will be spent either sending off telegraph post to the Yard, my family, or traveling and seeing this city, which is America’s capital, as William and I did today. Not only did we sit in a session of America’s congress, but also of America’s senate, which is very different from our parliamentary rule type of government.  I should say I prefer parliamentary to this form of government because America’s operating procedure is rather boring and will place you to sleep.  In parliamentary rule, there is always action, with this knob head, calling another knob head a tart or a clueless tea bag.

     I do hope the Yard will let William return as his mind or heart is not into this investigation.

May 10^th 1912-To Mr. Thomas McCutchen in care of Miss Devlin’s boarding house, Washington, in the District of Columbia, America. 

To my dearest brother,

     It will just not be that special of a day without you being here in Ipswich, when Edward and I wed.

     Not sure that I let it be known to you that Edward is the new owner of Boxer’s Meat Shop, here in Ipswich.  I will soon be the butcher’s wife.

     I am so proud of my Edward and, of course, you, my dear brother.

     As the whole family misses you so, and yes even father, who just the other day not realizing you were not in England, said to mother, “When is our boy, Thomas, coming home for dinner from London.”

     It is rather sad you are away, but also exciting of the telegraph post that we received from you.  I do read them several times.

     Please Thomas; you must have Mr. Frank Middleton tell you more of his adventures of the Wild West.

     With my love, your sister, Mary

May 11^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     To Miss Devlin’s boarding house, Washington, in the District of Columbia, America

     Deliver only into the hands of Mr. Thomas McCuthen:  Travel to New York to meet French Detective Inspector Andre DePaul / Must be in New York on May 13^th 1912 / Meet him at customs AM / Help him with an investigation of Mr. Arnaud Herriot, aka Mr. Alain Hebert/ While there, please deposit Mr. William Winston on an outbound ship to England.  Please advise if you will need help? / Please keep in contact with newspaper fellow, Mr. Moss, as you may miss inquiry/ Please keep telegraph post coming.

Chief Inspector Shaw

     Damn, the chief still has a bit of humor; deposit William on an outbound ship to England.

     As I write this, William, who is most elated now as Mr. Middleton and I are traveling by train back to New York to deposit William on an outbound ship back to England, and to meet with French detective, DePaul, about an investigation into Mr. Arnaud Herriot, aka Mr. Alain Hebert, who I was suspicious of, who was right there in our grips on board the R.M.S. Laconia.

     When I asked Mr. Middleton why he wanted to travel with us, he replied as a Pinkerton, it is good policy and publicity to whenever possible bring in the bad guys.

     I have sent off a telegraph post informing the yard that I will go it alone until I deem it time to send for help.

     I am whole heartily glad William is heading back home, and in a way I wish I was too.

     I have spoken to Mr. Middleton, who insists I call him Frank, about my sister’s love for his tales of the old Wild West.  He has so graciously said he will copy notes he kept of that time in his life and send them by post to Mary; he even will include some Tin Types photographs, a very nice and fitting wedding gift from Mr. Frank Middleton.  Now I must make haste and purchase a gift, which to my good fortune, William will deliver himself.     

     May 12^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     With a day to spare, we have reached New York City, a very large city, quite larger than London, but with an industrial smell quite like that of Belfast.

     If you do not watch or be aware of your surroundings, you could easily get run over by a motor car or even have your pocket being picked by a band of clever thieves, which William was almost a victim of, which Mr. Frank Middleton put a stop to.  A band of Romanian thieves, who were very fast and clever, but I should say not as fast as Frank Middleton, who stopped all four thieves.  He pulled out a six shot pistol from under his coat and told them if they did not want to die they should place their hands up into the air, which they smartly did.  Frank, as he likes to be called, detained them until police arrived, and as they were being taken away, a wild cheer went out from the crowd.  A newspaper man was on the scene before the police and took a photograph of Frank holding these Romanian thieves at bay. William and I were most fortunate to have been standing beside Frank.  Indeed I shall purchase about a dozen copies of the newspaper as a momentum of this very wild and exciting event.

     Reminds me of the time when I was involved in the investigation of the notorious Campbell family who was robbing The Royal mail trains out of London in 1909.  One of the few times I carried a weapon in my service to Scotland Yard.  Yes, I am proud to say the Yard did apprehend the whole lot of them, caught them all trying to rob the Royal mail train from London to Southampton.  Not one man of Scotland Yard had to discharge his weapon when we subdued the whole lot of them.

     The rest of the day was much less eventful; making sure William had his passage on the first ship returning to England, which is the same ship Detective Inspector DePaul will be arriving on, the S / S Rochambeau, C.G.T., which will be docking at pier 9 tomorrow at eight in the morning, but unfortunate for William because it will not be leaving until the 14^th of May.  With good weather, William’s ship will steam into the Port of Plymouth, on the 20^th of May, before heading to its final destination of Cherbourg, France.

     I have chosen my wedding gift, an eight piece setting of Tiffany and Company, heart shaped silver tea caddy spoons.  I feel this will be a classic and an heirloom for the Tully family; I do hope Mary and Edward like them. 

May 13^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     I met Detective Inspector Andre De Paul, an older gentleman, like Frank, at customs.  I believe he may be just a little crazy, but aren’t all French men?

     He tells me I should lighten up and not go by the book so often because if I continuously go by the book then one day the book may fly right back, knocking into my head and rendering me unconscious.

     Frank puts it into a much more sensible phrase, “Sometimes a good detective, like taking a crap, you must relax to come to a suitable solution.  As far as going by the book, it should only be used to throw at the bad guys.” He went on to say, “If he had gone by the book all of the time, most likely, he would not be here speaking with me as he would most likely be six feet under.”  

     After his speech, Frank pulled out a two shot Philadelphia Derringer, which is named after the inventor, Mr. Henry Derringer, or what is known as a Palm Pistol and says in his American western accent, “You’d better take this partner, being this is America and most don’t play by the Queen’s rule.”  

     Reluctantly, I take the small pistol, knowing I shall not have a need for it.

     DePaul says he is to meet with a French, small time criminal by the name of Michael, tomorrow, which may have some information on Mr. Arnaud Herriot, aka Alain Hebert, who is the leader of the Bonnot gang, which had traveled across France robbing banks of more than a million Francs, with motor cars and repeating rifles, and even killing police officers.

     DePaul says he is ready for this man, and shows his own personal arsenal of six palm pistols, four in his suit coat, one under his stocking, and one up the sleeve of his shirt.         

     DePaul is glad that I am now armed as this man Mr. Arnaud Herriot is very dangerous and would not think about killing another police officer.

     Still, I believe if we catch up with this deadly scoundrel, he will give up without so much a shot being fired.    

May 14^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     Today was a very busy day, and I now think Detective DePaul is short of brain.

     It started out to be a pleasant day.  I met William on the dock before he embarked on his ship for his return home.  I gave him my sister’s wedding gift, which he promised me he would, at almost all cost, make sure that it found its way safely into Mary’s hands on her special day.

     Then the day went from being rather pleasant to down right, well, almost criminal.  DePaul met with this Michael fellow who gave DePaul some leads and names.  After interviewing the first two leads, it seems no one was willing to speak to DePaul, for they dislike anyone in the business of law enforcement.

     When it was time to interview the third lead, they also would not speak.  DePaul asked that Frank and I leave the room, which we did.  Not more than thirty seconds later, it sounded as if DePaul was giving this lead, this person, the thrashing of his life.  When Frank and I try to re-enter the room, we found ourselves locked out.   

     Some of this French I do understand, which I translate and relay to Frank.  Seems DePaul is telling this lead that he either talk or let him know the where about of Mr. Herriot, or Mr. Hebert, or that he would become a missing person.

     At this point, I am anxious, and ask Frank if it is indeed the time to intervene, to which he replies, “Let’s hang in there partner.  I don’t feel this DePaul fellow would kill this man just yet.”

     We hear a gunshot and a scream and that is when Frank thinks it is time to intervene.  Frank tells me to step aside and, with one mighty smack of his boot against the door, we enter.

     The lead, this man, is holding his ear; there is more than a bit of blood.  DePaul has the gun pointed at this man’s head saying the next shot will be a bullet to his brain.

     As Frank calmly speaks to DePaul, urging him to lower his gun, I notice Frank has drawn a gun and now has it pointing at DePaul.  At that moment, I felt it would end very badly, with possibly all in the room perishing.  The lead starts to babble in French, giving DePaul names and places.

     DePaul places his Palm pistol away as Frank does the same.

     As we move onto the next location, the conversation becomes very queer, with DePaul asking if Frank would he have shot him, and Frank asking were you truly going to shoot that lead, at which time DePaul replies, “No, but I would have liked to.”  

     To which Frank replies, “Then I guess this whole thing is a wash.”

     Then the two men act like nothing had ever happened, like they had just spent time having tea together.

     We follow up several more leads and DePaul says we are really close but this matter must wait until morning.  When I question him why not close in now, DePaul says it is getting dark, and now the secret is out that I am here.

     I would like to catch this man but I cannot do that if I am dead.

     We rent a room, which we are sharing with some rats and roaches, plenty of them.

     No, we will not sleep, and we will keep watch.  DePaul says Mr. Eduard Joubert is just one floor above; he will lead us to Arnaud Herriot.  So we watch to make sure he does not leave the building. 

      

May 15^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     This has been a very trying day, with much anxiety, and even death.

     The sun was just coming up when, on the floor above us, this man, who we had been watching, seemed to be arguing in French with someone else.

     DePaul said, “Quick we go, this is the man I want, it is Herriot, that bastard is here.”

     For an older man, DePaul was up at that room before Frank and I had made it to the next level.

     When we entered the room, there were those wanted men, Joubert and Herriot, who were holding a gun upon him, and now DePaul was holding his gun on Herriot.

     In French, Joubert was confessing that he lost the million Francs, along with their partner, Gustove Mathieu, of the famous Bonnot gang, when the Titanic sank.

     Joubert said Mathieu had all one million Francs in a large black waterproof bag, and when it came time to either save him or the money, Mathieu decided on the money, while Joubert decided to save himself.  With the end of his sentence, Herriot pulled the trigger and killed Mathieu.  DePaul, fired his Palm pistol, which missed its mark, and Herriot fired his six shot pistol hitting DePaul, but for an angel, only wounded him in his shoulder.  Turning the gun on me, thinking surely I was dead, which was not to be, as Frank had drawn his six shooter with a speed of the likes I have never witnessed, which after this near death experience, brought visions of what was known as a quick draw in the American Wild West.  Deadly fast, Frank was a head shot, which rendered Herriot, leader of the famous Bonnot gang, dead.

     After a police investigation and a trip to a doctor for the shoulder wound of DePaul,

DePaul treated us to a dinner at one of New York’s finest French restaurants.

     Over cigars and brandy, we spoke about the missing money and the fact it may still be floating on the currents of the North Atlantic Ocean.

     We even thought of hiring a boat for a week looking for the money, but I think this was nothing more than the brandy speaking.

     So the money either lies near the Titanic at the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean or, maybe someday, some lucky soul will find all of their dreams in a waterproof black bag.         

May 17^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     As I write this, Frank and I are on board a train headed back to Washington, in the District of Columbia.  Mr. DePaul is on his way back to France.

     I must say, for a Frenchman, he is not all that bad.  Remove his insaneness and I rather like him.  I guess if I ever have detective work in France, I will look him up.

     Yesterday was a very pleasant day.  We all took in the sights of New York City and at the urging of Frank had a rather large steak at a restaurant called Cattlemen’s Cut.  I say, the darn piece of meat was so large it could have fed two of me, and was tender and very beefy.

     The thing I shall say for America, they have the best food and plenty of it.  

May 18^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     Now I know that today was to be the last day I could start my journey back to dear old England, if I had any chance to be there for my dear sister Mary’s wedding.  

     I have thoughts of just quitting the force and following one of my brother’s endeavors.  No, as Emily wrote to me, the Yard is my mistress.  I must resign myself that this is my true love, and I will probably die as Ebenezer did, that of being alone.  I do take comfort in knowing at least I have found something in which I truly love doing, and how many people can say that?  Not many, I would be willing to wager, not many.  Well at least I am not a scrooge, damn proud I am making sure I give at least twenty percent of my pay to good causes and the Church of England.

     After another very fine dinner by Miss Devlin, Mr. Moss, Frank and I take in some much needed fresh air on the front porch to talk about what had just transpired at today’s inquiry, and to have Mr. Moss give us the information we missed from the May 16^th inquiry. 

     We all agree it was rather boring at today’s inquiry, with most of the testimony been given by Captain John J. Knapp, a United States Navy Hydrographer, which is about mapping, charting, and the currents.  I guess you may say, of all things about oceans and seas.

     His testimony was about ice reports, nearby ships, sea lanes, drifts of icebergs, and formation of icebergs.

     We all believe that this inquiry will soon end, without anyone having to take responsibility.

     To a man this seems like a white wash, but I know people will not let that happen.  There is one glaring fact, which is and should be obvious even to an infant, there were not enough lifeboats, and someone has to be responsible for that.  I should say I do not think the people, or even the Yard, will let that lay there.

     I know with the inquiry ending here soon I will return home to help bring to justice whomever was responsible for not enough lifeboats.   

May 20^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     Frank receives a telephone call from the White Star Line.  A telephone call; I have only used the telephone maybe six times in the past, not really sure whether this telephone thing will ever really catch on but, I guess, with proper use it will find its niche.

     Frank must go to Richmond, Virginia, to investigate a woman who was aboard the Titanic.  She has placed a claim to the White Star Line for her dead husband and their belongings.  When a representative of the White Star Line was helping her fill out her claim, this woman seemed to feel no emotion for her dead husband and was even to the point where he was nothing more than a lost travel trunk.

     Since Frank so graciously asked me to travel with him, I have gladly accepted.

     With my first interview of a Titanic survivor, I must be proper; I must make sure I say all of the right things. 

     It was a short train ride from Washington to Richmond, Virginia; it only took most of four hours.

     Update: since we arrived in Richmond, Virginia, in the early afternoon, Frank has decided that we should introduce ourselves to the widow Mildred Culpeper, which we did.

     The house was that which an English gentleman would own, very grand, with a butler and maids, and oil paintings throughout the house, of men in gray army uniforms charging on magnificent steeds.

     Mrs. Mildred Culpeper is very young, no more than twenty five years of age.  She is a looker, with very red cheeks and lips.  She has a very thick accent; what is called a southern drawl.

     After we leave, Frank turns and asks me a damn queer question; do I think she is guilty?

     “Guilty of what?”  I asked.

     To which Frank says, “Of possibly murdering her husband.”

     “Of course not,” I said, “This woman is very tiny, her voice very quiet, no, no way she had done her husband in.” 

     Frank says he has not given me all the facts, and does just that.  She is twenty five years old; Mr. Alfred Lucas Culpeper, III was fifty two. Mr. Culpeper was a very rich tobacco farmer; he had millions of dollars, and is now dead.  White Star Line will have to pay a couple of million more. They were just married last year.  

were returning from a year long honeymoon trip, from around the world, when they boarded the Titanic.

     The local police Captain, a Mr. John Bell, was notified by Mr. Culpeper’s sister, Audrey that her brother really did not want to marry Mildred as he had found her having an affair right before their wedding.

     There is other evidence; several people who used to work for Mr. Culpeper, who were either fired or quit when Mr. Culpeper did not return, have stated to Police Captain Bell that before their wedding and journey, there were terrible fights between Mildred and Mr. Culpeper, with Mildred smacking and even punching Mr. Culpeper in the face.  One time Mildred, in a fit of rage, took the portrait of Mr. Culpeper off the wall and slammed it right over his head, rendering Mr. Culpeper unconscious.

     Frank then added one more detail which may find Mildred guilty.  When they did recover Mr. Culpeper’s body, his head had been traumatized. As of yet, they have not told Mildred that they have recovered Mr. Culpeper’s body, as this is an official White Star investigation.

     Is it possible when Titanic started to sink, Mildred felt an opportunity was given to her, and done her husband in?  Possibly, but I would like to question her before we find this survivor of the Titanic tragedy guilty, we must be certain, well beyond just certain facts.

     Frank says he knows she is as guilty as there is a devil in hell; must be one of those sayings from the American Wild West.  

May 21^st 1912 Titanic PJ 

     Today was a good day and a sad day.  I was surely proud of myself.

     After speaking with Captain Bell, the Police Chief of the city of Richmond, Virginia, he told us there was no way that he would bring charges against Mildred Culpeper.  First, how would it look if he did?  As he put it, this would fly as easily as a large hog would.  This woman of Richmond is this city’s only survivor of the Titanic.  Even if there were some kind of evidence, there is no way to get a conviction.

He went on to tell us that he had heard the stories of the Culpeper’s relationship, but that does not mean she murdered her husband.

     After leaving the police station, I asked Frank why he did not tell Captain Bell about Mr. Culpeper’s body.

     Frank said, “Tom, when playing poker, you never show your opponent your cards.”  

     Must be another one of those Wild West sayings.

     His plan was to interview Mildred Culpeper three times, and if he still did not get a confession by the third interview, that is when he would let her know about her husband’s body and the fact of Mr. Culpeper’s head trauma.

     He told me to listen very carefully to each and every word, which being from the yard I would.

     We did not spend much time with Mrs. Mildred Culpeper and she seemed to be getting quite agitated as Frank interviewed her.  As we were leaving, I remember what happened when I was working with the detective Robert Toulson, who trained me when I first arrived at the Yard.  Even though I had police training, I had worked on cases with the London Police Force for eight years; I must say the Yard is a step above.  So as we were leaving, I did the same thing as Robert had done when we worked the Toth Brothers’ Pub robbery case.  I turned to Mrs. Culpeper and calmly said. “You know we found your husband’s body, quite a knock on his head, what did you ever hit him with?”  

     To which, and I guess without thinking, she replied, “It was a hammer, a very large hamm…...”  At that point, she realized what she had said.

     At first, she tried to bribe us and then she told us she would tell everyone we were lying. By then, several members of her staff had gathered and were listening.  After that, she went into a rant about how Alfred would abuse her and he had it coming to him.

     After Police Captain Bell had taken all statements, he thanked us.

     As we were going back to our rooms, I did apologize to Frank for possibly wrecking havoc on his case and in the future I will make sure to keep my lips sealed.

     Frank replied, “Damn nice poker play.  Even if she would not have confessed, I think it was a great play, nicely done, man from the Yard.”

     Finally, for the first time I felt I have contributed.

     As I write this, Frank and I are guests, staying with Mr. Culpeper’s sister, Audrey, at her very large estate.  It was her way of thanking us for bringing her brother’s murderer to justice.  I rather think this is how an English gentleman feels; oh to be rich.

May 23^rd 1912 Titanic PJ

     Just waiting for the inquiry to restart, which will be held on May 25^th.  It is the same day as my dear sister’s wedding.  Oh how I wish I could be there.  Every day away from home, I become a little more homesick.  Some days are better than others.  I try to keep myself busy with writing official reports to the Yard, or letters to my family.

     How I longed for this adventure but now I somehow hope and pray, with this American inquiry finally coming to a close, I will receive that much anticipated telegraph post from the Yard ordering me home again.     

May 25^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     As I awake, I know what day it is and I am more homesick than ever.

     Soon Frank and I will attend what appears to be the last day of the American inquiry, and then soon, maybe soon, I will return home.

I feel withdrawn, and dismal, just wanting to be left alone in my home sickness.

     Miss Devlin says, “Mr. McCutchen, a telegram came for you this morning.  I hope it is good news.”  

     “I am certain it is good news, Miss Devlin,” I said.

     A telegraph post came from Mary, my sister.

As I wanted to read it alone, I took my leave from the table and sat on the front porch.

   

To my dear brother, Thomas,

     Oh how I wish you could be here.  I wanted to write to you as I know you like to keep a journal of and for the family.

     Today is my wedding day to Edward, for today I will become, Mrs. Edward Tully, the butcher’s wife of Ipswich.

     I am both excited and very afraid, for I feel I am still a child.

     Mother is so excited; it is as she and not I are getting married.

     Father is, well acting like father, like this is not so much a big deal, let us proceed, and finish so I may remove all of these stiff cloths.

     John Jr. and his wife, Libby, and their two little squirrelly children, Annabel and Gwendolyn, have been here for two days.  Oh how I hope and pray they shall be good for my day.

     Albert and his girlfriend, Gracie, will arrive shortly.  I know I should not be telling you this but it seems Albert has popped the question to Gracie and they shall be married next May, which I find rather amazing, as every time I have seen them together, they are always bickering.  Mum has told me the same thing, so I would hold off on a gift.

     The house is decorated wonderfully, and father did do a good job with the back yard, although I do not know how his precious garden will fair, as Annabel and Gwendolyn have already made their mark in it.

     Well, dear, dear brother, I should think by the time you receive this, I shall be married.

I must end this now as each word costs money and Edward says I must abide by the budget he has set for me.

     God speed on your return, dear brother.

With my love, your sister, Mary Tully

   

     Not sure whether that helped my home sickness or not.

    Today was the last day of the American inquiry.  Testimony was by Herbert James Haddock, Captain of the SS Olympic, and E. J. Moore, who was the wireless operator on the SS Olympic, along with correspondences and affidavits.

     The American Senators, of this subcommittee, recommended the final report be prepared and done no later than July 30^th, 1912.

     I will send a telegraph post off first thing tomorrow morning, being Sunday; my hope is it will be sent.

May 26^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     I tried to send off a telegraph post to the Yard but, being Sunday, I could not find a telegraph office that was open.

     I will now wait, with much anticipation, for Monday, at which time I will send my post off to the Yard, and one to my sister and her new husband Edward, congratulating them on their wedding day.  

     Frank has his post ready to mail to my sister, his note book which is filled with large and small adventures of the American Wild West, very interesting reading.  I have read it once, but I find myself wanting to read it again.  Frank has also included about twenty tin type photographs, people from the Wild West, alive and even dead, who are known as the cowboys, and even Indians, proudly sitting with a full set of feathers on their heads.  What a time it must have been.

     Surely, by next week this time, I will bid Frank and all things American a fond farewell and be on my way back to my England.  I am surely very tired of living out of a traveling trunk.

May 27^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     Monday was a very busy day, and a bit of a disappointment, and some shocking news.

     I sent my telegraph post off to the Yard, and since Frank had his package of notes and tin type photographs ready, I sent them to Mary as well.

     When I returned to Miss Devlin’s boarding house, there was a letter post from the Yard.

     At first, I thought why a letter post, why not a telegraph post?  I soon found out. 

May 17^th 1912

From Scotland Yard, the office of Chief Inspector Norman Shaw

To Detective Inspector, Thomas McCutchen

     As the American inquiry into the Titanic will be coming to a close, I know you will be waiting to be reassigned back to the London office of Scotland Yard.  At this time, that would be impossible.

     This information, which you are about to read, is to be kept confidential and close to you.

     As time is of the essence, you are directed to travel to Baltimore, Maryland to start an investigation into this matter, which you are about to read.   

     

     A letter post we received at Scotland Yard, post marked on April 25^th 1912, from Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.

     To all my boys at the Yard, a riddle for you:

     Smith, Smith, you are a silly non man.  I knew who you were, where was your crown?

     I would not speak of your secret I would now keep.

     Smith, Smith, don’t worry my friend, you were too ugly a woman for even I to put down.

     To all my friends at the yard, I put down three in three hours time.

     As the hour glass ran out on this ship, me and Smith gave it the slip.

     You did not catch me then and you will not catch me now.

     J T R

     As you have read, you can see why a need for confidentially is most important.

     It is imperative that you only get the Baltimore police department involved if you deem it a last resort of your effort.

     At this time, two retired detective inspectors, William Cook and Robert Bell, both of whom worked on the Ripper case, will be arriving in Baltimore, Maryland on May 27^th 1912.  They will be staying at Mr. and Mrs. Jacob’s boarding house.  Please make contact with them as soon as you arrive in the city of Baltimore.

     Just to let you know the three female bodies we did recover from the R.M.S. Titanic do have striking wounds very similar to that of the victims of the Ripper case in White Chapel, London in 1888.

     The following is information you may need.

Three victims recovered from the R.M.S. Titanic.  Victim 1- name, Mary Green, female, age 22, from White Chapel, London.  Victim’s main artery was severed on the left side of her neck, and victim’s uterus was missing.

     Victim 2- name, Iris Powell, age 27, from Searborough, England.  Victim’s throat was severed by two cuts.  Victim’s heart was missing.

     Victim 3- Rosemary Dewhurst, age 21, from Glasgow, Scotland.  Victim’s throat had been severed down to the spine.  No organs were removed.  Victim was traveling with a female child, named Adair, age two.  At this time,

whereabouts unknown.

     Conclusion of victims:  This is either the Ripper himself or this is a copy, and one who has put much time and effort into researching the Ripper and the Ripper case.

     As I will not go into great detail on why you must keep this confidential, certain powers wish, at this time, to have Scotland Yard solve this case, as it would be better for us to bring this criminal to justice than to have this criminal walk free again.  For if this was to happen, it would surely darken, not only Scotland Yard but, the British Empire and our King; King George V.

     God speed, you must succeed, Chief Inspector, Norman Shaw.  

     Damn, today is May 27^th.  I must, at once, travel to Baltimore to meet William Cook and Robert Bell where.....Oh yes, here it is, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob’s boarding house.

     So do I tell Frank?  Yes I shall, they said only involve the police as my last resort.  Frank is not the police, besides he knows American. Yes, I feel right in telling him.

     After telling Frank and letting him read the letter post, which may have me resign from the Yard for doing so, Frank, once more hands me a palm pistol and gives me a warning. “Partner, an animal like this, if cornered, will try to kill you. Just as a rabid dog, he must be put down, and quickly, before he can bite you.”

     We are both puzzled over the indication of Captain Smith in the Ripper’s riddle.  It is either to trip us up or it means something.

     After introductions, William and Robert agree, it was proper of me to involve Frank as he may help solve this case before the Ripper or his copy strike again.

     Rather pleasant the Jacob’s boarding house, but not as pleasant as Miss Devlin’s boarding house.   

     With today, I have had no home sickness.

May 28^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     Today was another busy day, and since I was busy, there was no time for homesickness.

     After a very hearty breakfast, we all gathered into Frank’s room as we did not want to raise suspicions, and our cover story this time is we are boot makers from London who want to open and operate a factory here in, possibly, Baltimore.  A very lengthy, but protective, meeting we had.

     I should dare say if the Ripper is still present in Baltimore, we have a very good chance to catch him.

     William Cook is still as I remember him. When I first came to the Yard back in 1910, William was the one who I worked with on several cases.  He was, and I would still guess, a by the book man.  This is where I get being proper and by the book when I investigate,

maybe too much by the book, as Frank says, and William has no sense of humor.  

     If I remember correctly, William retired one year after I came to the yard.  Looks proper and still fit, still has his black hair.  I hope I am as fit when I retire from the yard.

     Robert Bell was retired from the yard by the time I came.  But his legend lives on, a bit of a practical joker.  Why he once sat a victim in the chair of newly appointed Chief Inspector Shaw.

By his looks, Robert appears very well like a military officer, with his mutton chops and the way he commands his posture.

     Could very well be in a painting of a battle, commanding his army forward; yes, that damn painting in Washington I had seen.  It was of a battle of America’s War Between the States. Rather chilling, the resemblance of the officer in the painting and Robert. 

     Glad Robert still has a sense of humor, although William does not enjoy his dirty jokes and stories.

     It is a wonder, after traveling together, trapped at sea, with all of those dirty stories and jokes that proper William did not crack like an egg and toss the old boy over the rail.

     Frank says he knows Baltimore well and has several contacts throughout the city.  We start in earnest tomorrow.

     Ripper, if you are still in this city of Baltimore you will be caught.  It shall be my payback for my youth.  As I was only six years of age when you struck and placed a great deal of fear within me, my sleepless nights, and I shall pay you back.        

May 29^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     Today we may have found the Ripper, or a

copy of him may have struck in the city of Baltimore.

     Frank had notice of a newspaper report, which has two women reported missing, both having vanished within the last week.

     Frank and I interviewed the parents of both.

Frank told the parents we are from the Pinkerton Detective Agency, investigating insurance fraud, and as we had read about the two missing women we have decided that maybe we could help in the search.  For this, the parents are very grateful as they feel their report to police for their missing daughters will possibly remain as just an unsolved missing person’s report.

     The anguish, which now grips these parents, is touching, but if this is the work of the Ripper or a copy, then no good shall come for these parents.

     The only shred of any hope at all is that this was not the normal way the Ripper took his victims.  Not the ripper, no, he wanted it known, he wanted to be able to take his victims, taunt the police and take another victim, which has me believing those women onboard the Titanic may have not been taken by the Ripper but by a copy.  My sincere hope is that whoever has done this has these women stowed away live somewhere.

     The first Baltimore woman to go missing was Doris Hall, nineteen years of age, very small, approximately 147 centimeters tall and only weighing forty kilograms.

     Doris left home on the evening of May 21^st, saying she was going to church, and never returned home.  Doris’ parents are dumbfounded and they have no idea at all where Doris could be.

     The second woman to go missing was a Margret Greenly, twenty years of age, approximately 162 centimeters and weighing 63.5 kilograms.

     Her parents may have given us a vital clue, as they told us Margret had kept repeating that through the church she was going to be able to find and marry a real gentleman.  When we questioned the parents about what church, they were not sure as they are not really church going people.

     These disappearances must have some connection with a church in Baltimore.

May 30^th 1912 Titanic P.J.

     Today Frank has found the missing piece to where the Ripper or his copy may be.  Two very important clues have come forward.  The first clue, which has been confirmed, is the fact that the missing two year old child from the Titanic, named Adair, has been found safe at a New York orphanage.  After an impressive investigation by the Pinkerton Detective Agency, which Frank had initiated, the child was located.  Clue two, which may be the most important clue, came from witnesses who were all on the last lifeboat to leave the Titanic.  A man who called himself the Reverend Jack Theodore Richards and the small child, Adair, were actually the last two people to be seated on the last lifeboat to leave Titanic.  It was after reading this sentence that it hit all in the room at the same time like bloody hell.  Plain and in full view, Jack Theodore Richards, AKA Jack the Ripper.

     Seems the Reverend claimed that the child was his and that his wife had just passed away a week ago, which was the only reason why they let this man onto a lifeboat.

     Some of the witnesses said the child seemed to be in a bit of incoherent shock.  Those on board that lifeboat thinking the dear poor child was just incoherent because of losing her mother and the widespread panic on the Titanic, now surrounded this child.  Little did any of them know this child had just witnessed the brutal slaying of her very own mum.  

     Now we know, and it has been confirmed, Adair’s father, Rosemary Dewhurst’s husband, was never on Titanic, for he was to follow his wife and young daughter to America two months later.

     As the rescue ship, Carpathia, pulled into the dock, the Reverend Jack Theodore Richards was nowhere to be found.

     My detective powers say he dressed as a crew member and just walked off the ship, where he melted into the millions who live in New York City, making his way to this city of Baltimore, and now has struck again.

     A special Pinkerton carrier has been dispatched from New York to Baltimore with sketches from the witnesses on the life boat of what the ripper may look like.

     At this time, I feel we have this animal cornered and it will be just days before we will surely bring justice upon him.

     My hope and prayer is that we shall catch him before he strikes again.

June 1^st 1912 Titanic PJ

     Bloody hell, yesterday was, bloody hell.

Yesterday started with so much hope we were sure we would catch the Ripper, or whoever you are, damn sure.

     Frank read an advertisement in a Baltimore newspaper from a Reverend Jack T. Richards; an advertisement for all young women to be trained in the finer qualities of being a lady so as to be able to meet and marry even the finest of gentlemen. 

     It gave an address; we had our man.  We wasted no time and quickly moved in.  I am not sure about anyone else’s heart but mine was racing and beating so hard I thought surely I must calm down or possibly cause harm to myself.

     When we knocked on the door, this bastard, wearing a half mask, answers the door.  He was, I surmise, thinking this was his next victim.  A total surprise; no!  It was not to be.  Before we could grab him and bring him down, the bastard slammed the door on us, but that was not stopping Frank who was as a bulldog and with his large cowboy boot, did smash the door open. We drew our guns; this rabid animal was going to be either taken to jail or put down very quickly.  Then, a sight which will haunt me till my dying breath; from the top of the stairs, I heard two shots ring out.  The first shot hit Frank.  The bloody shot hit Frank, which was luck, I think so, because I do believe Frank never knew what hit him.  A mortal wound to his head. 

     To think of all the times Frank may have faced death and this lucky shot was his demise. It is like the universe was upside down, and there really is no justice in this bloody cruel world.  The second shot hit me in my shoulder, sending me to the floor.  

     William and Robert were not armed, they took cover and when I handed my palm pistol off to Robert, he, the Ripper, was gone.

     I have a sense of guilt, I feel responsible for Frank’s death, but I know no matter what, he was in on the chase; Frank would not want it any other way.  Frank, you were a good man.  If I can, I will bring this animal to justice.

     The police are now involved, and I will have to answer for bringing Frank into what was to be just a Scotland Yard investigation.

     A net is placed over this city of Baltimore, with hopes of catching this animal.

     It is very hard for me to write this journal, not sure I will continue.

     With me being laid up for a few days, I must gather my thoughts, and I guess I will be returning to England to face an uncertain future. 

June 7^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     Six days have passed since that tragic day, that tragic event.  I still feel guilty, and guess I will, till my time on this earth is complete.

     I guess I should write something about the aftermath of that terrible day.

     The Baltimore police department threw a net about the city, and a commendable job they did.

It seems, from all indications, that Bastard, the Ripper, was able to slip the net and paid for passage onto a cargo ship bound for Venezuela. We now know where he may be and now we have a right description and sketch.

     With about a half dozen Pinkerton detectives closing in, it shall not be long before this animal is put down.

     As it was told to me, Frank had a lot of friends at Pinkerton, and a lot of friends in Baltimore and many other cities here in America, which was proven, because it seems anyone and everyone had turned out for Frank’s funeral.

     Frank’s coffin was loaded onto a westbound train headed to Cody, Wyoming, where Frank will be buried.

     Before I die, I must promise to visit your resting place Frank, surely I must do this.

     If that bastard Ripper thinks he will be able to just throw his hands up and surrender, he is quite wrong, dead wrong.

     By all indications, with the things which were found at his Baltimore home, leads many to believe this was, in fact, the ripper.

     It seems the Ripper kept a journal, as do I; a journal which he had kept since 1882.  He writes in explicit detail of when he was still a young lad of only fourteen, of his first kill and how he became bolder and angrier because the newspapers did not even mention his victims, or his sad deeds.  Back in 1882, he would just slit his victims’ throats and many times dispose of the bodies by either burying them or discarding them in the river Thames.

     He had written about his lorded tale of 51 victims; 49 of his victims were prostitutes.  So the Yard thought this was the foul play by either their pimps or their Johns.

     It was not until 1888 that he decided to become very bold and very efficient.  He was self taught about anatomy, and sat in on medical classes, watching the expert hands of doctors as they carved into the cadavers.  He would mimic, on his victims, what he had seen the doctors do to those cadavers.  Now bold and efficient, he decided to leave his victims out in the open, and to mutilate them in a way in which even the Queen herself would take notice. 

     An actor by trade, he did leave England for a bit, traveled to France, then on to Germany, and many of the Baltic countries.  Traveling Europe, killing along his way, all total he stated 443 victims in his journal.  He even thought that God himself must be helping him, so with this knowledge, he would take a woman right in front of bystanders, slit her throat and disembowel her and just walk away like he had just ended a scene in a play.

     So many times, as he stated in his journal, he was always lucky enough to just give the police the slip.

     As Frank was a very tragic event, Frank was not the first police officer he had murdered, twelve in all, from Moscow to the states.

     The sailing of the Titanic was to be his crown jewel, as he stated, for he wanted to slaughter four women on his weeklong voyage and he was going to leave each of his victims throughout the Titanic.  Such news would place Jack the Ripper as the all time master killer, to be forever placed in history along side of every King and Queen of England.  Sunday night was to be his first victim, and finding none, he was about to give up for the night when fate stepped in and handed the Ripper three victims, all within three hours time.                  

     A lot has happened since I last placed my thoughts into my journal.  I have decided not to return to England and have quit the Yard.  A bit of a shocker but I do not think I had a future with the Yard.

     It was nice of Robert and William, who were willing to stand up for me, but with all that has transpired at this moment I think it is better to do what I have done.

     I have signed on with the Pinkerton Detective Agency, rather easier than I thought it would be. 

     I start tomorrow in earnest, an insurance claim which they want me and my new partner, a man named Joseph Redman, to investigate.

     I only hope and pray Joseph Redman is half the man Frank was.

June 8^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     Today I met my new partner, a complete gentleman.

     Joseph’s story is sad and I should say a fascinating one.  Joseph is a real American Indian.  He is a Sioux Indian.  I was under the impression that all American Indians live out on America’s Great Plains, living in an Indian tent; I believe they call it a teepee, and kill wild game for their food, and skinning animals for clothes.

      Joseph is younger than I.  I believe he said he was twenty three years old.

     He has been working for Pinkerton about a year, after he graduated from Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma, which was primarily for the Cherokee and Muscogee Creek tribes. Because Joseph was from the Sioux Tribe, he would get into a bit of fist a cuffs several times during his very first year of college, which almost caused him to be expelled.

     Seems when Joseph was only about one year old, he lost his entire family at a place called Wounded Knee Creek, which is in South Dakota, a very sad and dark event.

     Joseph carries newspaper clippings on this event, and a small bag of earth from Wounded Knee Creek.  He does this to have his family close to him.

     He was sent to an orphanage, then onto foster care.

     He was proud to tell me that he attended the Sac and Fox Indian Agency School in Stroud, Oklahoma, with an All American football player named Jim Thorpe, who is also an Indian.

I must confess when Joseph mentioned football I thought he was speaking about a sport I thought I knew, but this is a very different kind of football game from the one I know and love.

     Joseph did a very fine job of trying to explain this game, which the Yanks call football, but I do not think I will ever be able to watch a game of this American football and know what may be happening on the field.

     Joseph’s story is a sad one, with both of his parents being killed by the United States military then being sent on to an orphanage, and foster care, and then boarding school.  The young man never felt the love of a mother or father.

     It is quite amazing he is right with himself and with the world of the white man.

     They even took his Sioux name of Mapiya, which means sky, and gave him a name that has no meaning for him.  That’s a bit too callous, makes me ashamed to be a white man after hearing his story.

     I asked if I may call him Mapiya, which he said he would like.  He was glad that I was willing to work with him, as so many do not, only because he was an Indian.  He said for the last three months he has been trying to do investigations by himself, only to be stopped by people’s prejudice.  He said sometimes he has become frustrated to the point that he has thought of quitting, and just taking off into the wilderness, but as he says that would mean the white man has defeated me.

     Mapiya told me the reason why Pinkerton placed him with me was because I was a Brit and probably would not mind working with an Indian.  It was his last chance, for if I would have preferred not to work with Mapiya, then Pinkerton would have let him go.  I am truly glad that Pinkerton sent Mapiya to be my new partner.

     Even though he is younger than I, he is still senior man and I will show him the respect a senior man deserves. 

June 9^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     I guess I should change the name of this journal or start a new one, but I shall keep it the same till all matters of Titanic come to a close.

     We have received a telegraph post from Pinkerton requesting we travel to Baltimore, once more, to investigate a man by the name of Jonathan Weiss, AKA Jonathan the Magnificent, a magician, who supposedly died aboard the Titanic.

     His partner, a Mr. George Heron, has placed a claim for the insurance money.

     Now it will be our job to make sure all is fitting such as the will.  We must be sure there are no other heirs to claim this insurance money. 

     One queer item I should note, it seems right now Jonathan is magnificent as he has been appearing from the dead; six nights a week, two shows every night.  Some kind of magic I would suspect, probably with his partner.

     Mapiya and I will get to the bottom of this matter.

     Today I witnessed rather bad behavior from some Yanks at Miss Devlin’s boarding house. Seems two gentlemen would rather not eat at the same table as my new partner, Mapiya, just because he was an Indian, never mind the fact he is a right good man.  They just did not want to even be in the same house as Mapiya.

     Miss Devlin is a right good soul and told those two that as long as Mapiya was a guest, he was not going anywhere and told those two to kindly remove themselves from her boarding house.

     A no nonsense woman she turned to the others seated at the table and asked if anyone else would have a problem with Mapiya staying. You could have heard a pin drop and there were no other objections.

     When we mentioned we had to travel back to Baltimore, Miss Devlin said I should make one of those telephone calls to the Jacob’s boarding house just to make sure there would be no objections with Mapiya staying.

     Everything seemed fit with Mrs. Jacob and then she must have said something to her husband.  I clearly heard Mr. Jacob say, “Not in my house.”

     Miss Devlin then made a call to a hotel on the waterfront in Baltimore, which a relative of hers operates, and that is where we will be staying.  As Miss Devlin says, “It’s a nice place, but, of course, not as nice as hers.”

A post to my parents:

June 9th 1912

Dear Mother and father,

    

     I know I should have written much sooner as to explain my reasoning for leaving my employment at Scotland Yard.  I can only say I felt it was the right thing for me to do at this time.

     My dear partner and friend, Mr. Frank Middleton, was so horribly slain when we closed in on what appeared to be non-other than thee, Jack the Ripper.

     I know it makes no sense, and no matter what the newspapers are saying; that it was most likely a copy cat, but I truly believe it was the original Ripper.

     As Mr. Middleton wanted to bring this animal to justice, I let him in on the investigation.

     The Yard had sent me classified documents about the Ripper with explicate instructions not to let these sensitive documents be known to anyone, which I did, when I let Mr. Middleton read them and help with the investigation.

     I know after the tragic event with Mr. Middleton that the Yard would either force me to resign or relegate me to the Records department deep within the basement.

     At this time, I have decided to stay on in America working for the Pinkerton Detective Agency.  I should say it does pay more than the Yard, and there is word that they may even open a London office.

     In any event, I will be home for Christmas for two whole weeks.

     As we do quite a bit of investigating, I shall write all my letters to you, do share them with the family.

     I do hope you understand.  I do like working for Pinkerton, they give you a lot of room to work and let you do your very own thinking, no politics.

     I have a partner, a right good and smart chap who is a real Sioux Indian.  His name is Mapiya, which means sky in the Sioux language. 

     I will write again very soon.

     Love, your son, Thomas   

June 10^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     We are now in Baltimore staying at the Dock Side Hotel.  It looks better than what I had imagined it would look like.

     We did have time today to question George Heron, who was Jonathan Weiss’ partner.

Seems he had all the proper papers as Mr. Weiss’ last will and testament looked very much legal, but I feel there is something just not right, something out of place and Mapiya agrees.

     Mr. Heron kept asking how soon it would be before he was to collect on Mr. Weiss’ insurance money; he must have asked ten times.

     We did question Mr. Heron about this show he was putting on and the fact that he can summon Mr. Weiss back from the dead, to which he replied, “Well gentlemen, seeing is believing so line up at the ticket booth early as all shows have been sell outs.”

     Mapiya brought forth two possibilities, which I was thinking.  One, Mr. Weiss is in fact dead and it is all trickery which, although legal in my book, would constitute an unmoral type of show, or Mr. Weiss never died on the Titanic, which would constitute fraud.  Hopefully, we will find out, as it would be an embarrassment to have the insurance money paid out only to find this whole thing is a sham.  I’m sure this would end Mapiya and my careers at Pinkerton. 

June 11^th 1912 Titanic PJ

     Mapiya proved his worth for the Pinkerton Agency tonight.  As the show was a sellout last night, we were able to purchase tickets for tonight’s performance.

     The show was the usual trick with escape from handcuffs and restraints, disappearing dogs, beautiful women being sawed in half, and a card trick, which was guessing the correct card being held by some chap who was supposedly chosen at random from the audience.  But that, I believe, was part of the show.

     Right before it was time for Mr. Heron to summon Mr. Weiss from the dead, Mapiya excuses himself and leaves.  I was thinking at the time, not well done Mapiya.  If we are to come to some kind of conclusion that this may be fraud, we must have two minds able to correctly connect the deceit.    

     With the house lights dimming, Mr. Heron has now started to summon Mr. Weiss from the dead but, as time advances, no Mr. Weiss, and you could see an uneasy feeling had come over Mr. Heron, and as hard as he tries, no Mr. Weiss.  Unknown to me, Mapiya has silently moved underneath the stage and has apprehended a real live Mr. Weiss, who as soon as he knows his trickery days are by gone, tries to make his escape, which is cut short by Mapiya who delivers justice to all who are in the audience by parading a very live Mr. Weiss for all to see.

     Mr. Heron, feeling his days of freedom may be over, confesses to all.

     With these two now in custody of the Baltimore police, the true story has emerged.

So how did Mr. Weiss, being a sound male, escape from the doomed ship?  He dressed as a crew member to be an oarsman on one of the lifeboats.

     As the Carpathia docked in New York Harbor, Mr. Weiss changed from crew member to a Mr. Quigg Baxter, who did not survive the sinking.

     It seemed to come together so easy for Mr. Weiss, his death, the handsome insurance money, and his show, which sold out night after night.  In the end, Jonathan was just not that magnificent.

     Mapiya explains that he had a feeling, sent by his grandfather, to go under the stage, which is where Mapiya discovered a living Mr. Weiss.

     He told me just in case grandfather was wrong he did not want both of us to miss the show as there may be clues, which would lead us to find fraud.

     A job well done Mapiya, now Pinkerton may just see the worth of a Sioux Indian and his English partner.