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Jack the Ripper: Auction of police items nets £18,000 | Jack the Ripper: Auction of police items nets £18,000 |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Items belonging to a police officer involved in the Jack the Ripper murders case in 1888 have sold at auction for more than five times their estimate. | Items belonging to a police officer involved in the Jack the Ripper murders case in 1888 have sold at auction for more than five times their estimate. |
PC Edward Watkins was carrying the handcuffs, truncheon, whistle and a notebook on the night he found one of the five murder victims in London. | PC Edward Watkins was carrying the handcuffs, truncheon, whistle and a notebook on the night he found one of the five murder victims in London. |
Each lot was expected to fetch up to £800 at JP Humbert Auctioneers in Northamptonshire. | Each lot was expected to fetch up to £800 at JP Humbert Auctioneers in Northamptonshire. |
The items were bought for a total of £17,700 by a private collector. | The items were bought for a total of £17,700 by a private collector. |
The serial killer, dubbed "Jack the Ripper", murdered and mutilated five women who worked as prostitutes in the Whitechapel area of London in 1888. | The serial killer, dubbed "Jack the Ripper", murdered and mutilated five women who worked as prostitutes in the Whitechapel area of London in 1888. |
He was never caught but debate about his identity continues to fascinate case enthusiasts. | He was never caught but debate about his identity continues to fascinate case enthusiasts. |
'Huge historical interest' | 'Huge historical interest' |
The items were each estimated to fetch between £500 and £800. | The items were each estimated to fetch between £500 and £800. |
The handcuffs have been sold for £6,420, the truncheon for £3,950, the leather notebook cover for £4,450, the whistle for £2,600 and a collection of press cuttings for £280. | The handcuffs have been sold for £6,420, the truncheon for £3,950, the leather notebook cover for £4,450, the whistle for £2,600 and a collection of press cuttings for £280. |
Jonathan Humbert, from the Towcester-based auction house, said: "It was a sensible estimate for each item, but we didn't have anything to compare it to and the results exceeded our expectations. | Jonathan Humbert, from the Towcester-based auction house, said: "It was a sensible estimate for each item, but we didn't have anything to compare it to and the results exceeded our expectations. |
"Five women died and you have to be sensitive, but these items are undoubtedly of huge historical interest. | "Five women died and you have to be sensitive, but these items are undoubtedly of huge historical interest. |
"Sometimes these unusual items just re-write the rule book." | "Sometimes these unusual items just re-write the rule book." |
Jack the Ripper murders, Whitechapel 1888 | |
Martha Tabram, stabbed to death on 6 August 1888, is considered by some historians to be the first victim. | |
Source: BBC History - Jack the Ripper | |
The auction house said PC Watkins was walking the beat when he found the body of Catherine Eddowes on Mitre Square on Sunday, 30 September, 1888. | The auction house said PC Watkins was walking the beat when he found the body of Catherine Eddowes on Mitre Square on Sunday, 30 September, 1888. |
She was the killer's fourth victim. | She was the killer's fourth victim. |
PC Watkins's personal effects were bought from his widow by a private collector in 1914 and it is the first time they have been auctioned. | PC Watkins's personal effects were bought from his widow by a private collector in 1914 and it is the first time they have been auctioned. |
The buyer wanted to remain anonymous and was going to put the items in a private museum in the UK, the auction house said. | The buyer wanted to remain anonymous and was going to put the items in a private museum in the UK, the auction house said. |
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