Session 0.5 — New Year’s Eve

The setting

• New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1892, into January 1, 1893
• Dr. Julia Smith’s party at the University Women’s Club, 5 Bond Street, London
• Pine boughs left from Christmas, mulled wine, piano, candles. A crowded room of progressive women and their guests

The PCs Arrive

• Amelia Meadowcroft was already in the room, drink in hand, holding court near the loudest guest. Coat over pants and boots, .41 revolver under the coat
• Dr. Kasim Polat came alone on foot from his lodgings in a fine hat. Worth had invited him; Worth wasn’t there yet
• Professor Harry Worth had arrived earlier and had to clean mud off his shoes before joining the room
• Dr. Saroch came in later and locked onto Worth almost immediately to ask about his Christological work
• George “Georgie” Banks was last in, fighting the doorman over his coat. Smith greeted him personally and pulled him into the room.

Notable guests Smith pointed out

• Beatrice and Sidney Webb, Fabians, talking up social reform
• Ida B. Wells, anti-lynching activist, visiting from the United States
• Amelia Bloomer of the Rational Dress Society
• Florence Nightingale, possibly, across the room.

Dr Smith was distracted all night

• She kept glancing at the door.
• She brought up Maria, a student. Maria was expected, but did not show.
• She raised it with Worth. Drifted back to the topic after changing the subject

Smith’s departure

• A messenger boy slipped in past the doorman during Auld Lang Syne and gave Smith a note
• She read it once, put on her coat, and left without a word
• Georgie clocked her leaving

The calling cards (~2 AM)

• The butler handed a card to the PCs
• Text: For God’s sake, come, bring a gun. 5 Durward Street, Whitechapel.
• 5 Durward Street is the address where Mary Ann Nichols was found in August 1888: the first canonical JACK THE RIPPER victim!

Unanswered questions

• Where is Smith now?
• Who is Maria? Just a student, or something more?
• Was the messenger who delivered Smith’s note the same one who delivered the calling cards two hours later?
• Who signed the card? The handwriting may or may not be Smith’s
• Why Whitechapel, and why Durward Street specifically? Is the Ripper site a signal, a coincidence, or staging?
• What was in the original note Smith received during Auld Lang Syne?
• Did the butler get a useful look at the runner who brought the calling cards? Could they describe the messenger, or recognize him again?