Historical Enquiry Using Sources, Information, and Evidence

This section explains historical enquiries using sources, information, and evidence. Historians learn about the past by examining sources—documents, artefacts, and other types of evidence from the time period they are studying. By analysing these sources, historians can build a view of historical events, people, and practices. These sources can be both primary and secondary and may come in many forms, such as written records, visual materials, oral testimonies, and more.

When studying a specific historical event, such as the Whitechapel murders and the investigative methods of the Metropolitan Police, historians must assess various types of evidence. This might include photographs, sketches, witness statements, police observation notes, and Punch cartoons. These sources can provide valuable insights into how the police worked, the challenges they faced, and how the public perceived the events.

Each type of source has its strengths and weaknesses, depending on the context in which it is used. The historian’s task is to critically evaluate these sources to form a comprehensive understanding of the past. Below is an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of key sources used to understand the investigative methods of H Division and the Metropolitan Police during the Whitechapel murders investigation.

Photographs

Strengths:

• Visual evidence: Photographs can provide direct visual evidence of the crime scene, the victims, and the surrounding areas. This is especially useful in crime investigations as it allows historians to see the condition of the body, the location of the murder, and how it might have been handled by the police.
• Documentation of evidence: Photographs were used by the City of London Police during the Whitechapel investigation to preserve crime scenes, such as at Mitre Square after the murder of Catherine Eddowes. These photographs are valuable for studying how evidence was recorded, especially when photography was still a relatively new practice.

Weaknesses:

• Limited coverage: In the late 19th century, photography was not as advanced as it is today, and the quality of images could be poor. For example, early crime scene photos often lacked clarity and detail, which may limit their usefulness.
• Missing context: While photographs show the scene of a crime, they do not always capture the wider context, such as the police investigation’s progress, the social environment of Whitechapel, or the investigative methods being used. These elements are crucial for understanding the effectiveness of police work.

Sketches

Strengths:

• Detailed visual record: Sketches were often made by police officers or other witnesses when photography was not available. They could capture specific details of a crime scene or the victim’s injuries, which might not have been evident in a photograph. For instance, the sketches of Mitre Square after Catherine Eddowes' murder helped convey important details about the area that photography at the time could not capture.
• Quick documentation: Sketches could be drawn quickly at a crime scene, allowing immediate evidence recording before the situation changed. This was particularly useful in areas like Whitechapel, where the scene could be altered quickly by onlookers or the environment.

Weaknesses:

• Subjectivity: Sketches depend on the artist’s perception and could be influenced by personal biases. For example, the way a sketch artist depicted the positioning of the body or the condition of the crime scene might differ from another artist’s interpretation.
• Lack of consistency: The quality of sketches varied widely, as not all police officers were skilled in drawing. This inconsistency means that the sketches may not always provide a fully accurate or reliable record of a crime scene.

Witness Statements

Strengths:

• Firsthand accounts: Witness statements provide direct evidence from people who were at or near the crime scene, offering personal insights into what happened. For example, during the investigation, the police collected statements from people who had seen or heard something relevant, such as descriptions of potential suspects.
• Critical for tracing suspects: Witness statements were often used to identify suspects and to build a timeline of events, making them crucial for investigative work.

Weaknesses:

• Unreliable testimony: Witness statements are not always accurate. The stress and fear surrounding a crime can distort memories, leading to inconsistencies or exaggerations in what witnesses report. In the case of the Whitechapel murders, witness statements often varied significantly, and many proved to be misleading.
• Potential for false claims: Given the publicity of the murders, some people may have fabricated stories or given false testimony in an attempt to gain attention or to mislead the police.
• Limited by literacy: Many of the witnesses in Whitechapel were from working-class backgrounds, and their literacy rates were often low. This could lead to misunderstandings or inaccurate written accounts of what had happened, as well as difficulties in properly recording their testimonies.

Police Observation Notes

Strengths:

• Direct evidence of police methods: The notes written by police officers, including those detailing their observations of crime scenes, were a crucial part of the official investigation. These notes provide insights into the police’s working methods, how they assessed crime scenes, and what they believed were the most significant pieces of evidence.
• Documentation of procedural steps: Police notes offer a record of the steps the officers took during the investigation, such as interviews, searches, and follow-up actions. This is important for understanding the professionalism of the police and the obstacles they faced during the investigation.

Weaknesses:

• Bias and subjectivity: Like witness statements, police officers’ notes may reflect personal biases. Officers could have been influenced by their own experiences or preconceptions, especially in a case as highly publicised as the Whitechapel murders.
• Limited perspective: Police notes often focus on the facts, but they may not provide a broader context or offer insight into the emotional or social impact of the events. They might also omit certain details that the officer deemed unimportant at the time.
• Inconsistent recording: The quality of police notes varied between officers. Some may have been detailed and thorough, while others may have been more rushed or incomplete, affecting the overall reliability of the evidence.

Punch Cartoons

Strengths:

• Insight into public opinion: Punch cartoons, as satirical illustrations, provide an invaluable glimpse into the public's view of the police and their handling of the Whitechapel murders. They often criticised the police for their perceived incompetence and failure to capture the murderer. These cartoons reflect the widespread public dissatisfaction with the police’s inability to solve the case.
• Cultural context: Cartoons in publications like Punch offer historians an insight into the social climate of the time, including fear, racial tensions, and political discontent. They can reveal how ordinary people viewed the police and the investigation.

Weaknesses:

• Exaggeration and bias: As satirical works, Punch cartoons often exaggerated the incompetence of the police or caricatured individuals involved in the investigation. This means that while they offer insight into public opinion, they are not reliable historical documents for understanding the precise details of the investigation.
• Limited to public sentiment: Cartoons reflect the popular view, but they do not provide factual information about the events themselves. They focus on criticism and satire, rather than presenting a balanced or accurate account of the investigation or the police’s efforts.

Conclusion

Historians must carefully evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of various sources when reconstructing the past. Each source—whether it’s a photograph, sketch, witness statement, police note, or Punch cartoon—offers a different perspective on the investigative methods of H Division and the Metropolitan Police during the Whitechapel murders investigation. By considering the limitations and advantages of each source, historians can piece together a more nuanced understanding of both the police’s efforts and the public’s response to the case. Ultimately, a combination of sources provides the most balanced view of historical events.