The Maul and the Pear Tree by P.D. James and English Tea Biscuits
Recipe: click here
To be truthful, I did not really want to spend a lot of time cooking today. It was hot and humid with a real feel temp of over 100 degrees! I was trying to find a recipe that was traditional around 1811. I thought about King George III favorites but found nothing I would want to cook. Then, I thought about Jane Austen, who died just a few years after this crime happened in London’s East End. But read my first sentence…I didn’t feel like cooking. I did, however, come across this recipe. It was a very easy recipe to make. I did not have malt extract so used real vanilla extract (not imitation). I think next time, however, I will increase the extract to two teaspoons instead of one. My girls did not like these. They said they tasted “doughy.” I liked them and will probably make them again.
Now for the book…
This is not a book you will probably want to read. I actually started skimming through it, not because it wasn’t good but the font was microscopic! A small book with tiny font…um, no! If you ever decide to read this book, see if there is an online version so you can increase the font. I am fascinated with the story, though. I first heard about the Ratcliffe Highway murders while watching Whitechapel series on Hulu. I LOVED this series and was sad when I realized there were no more seasons when it ended. In Season 1, a person is on a crime spree, mimicking Jack the Ripper’s murders. You do not find out who is behind the murders until the end of the season. I can’t remember which season it was but there was a person who copied the Ratcliffe Highway murders. That is how I learned about this crime spree that occurred about 80 years before Jack the Ripper. I came across this book while researching the murders.
This book would be great for someone who is into criminal justice or the history of criminal investigations. This is a very detailed book that goes into the murders, the evidence, and the investigation (or lack of). Towards the end of the book, there is a discussion on who the actual killer was and how the entire investigation and accusation was completely mishandled, possibly falsely accusing someone who would later die without ever having vindicated his name (records show suicide but some believe he was murdered).
So what were the Ratcliffe Highway murders? In 1811, a family and servant (dad, mom, 6 month old and servant/shop boy) were brutally murdered in London’s East End. Around two weeks later, another man, his wife, and their servant were brutally murdered the exact same way (a maul and knife). Pear Tree is the place where the accused killer was staying but later would become questionable. What transpired was a very ineffective investigation. There was no cohesive police unit to solve crimes and murders during this time. Imagine a city divided into north, south, east, and west. Each section had overseers (different groups of people to oversee everything but not going into that). If a crime happened in the north section but suspect fled to south section, south section overseers would not share information with north section. I know this is a terrible analogy but the point I am trying to make is the lack of unity in sharing information for the sake of proper investigations. Everything was very disjointed. No one communicated with each other nor shared proper information. After these murders and the terrible accusations placed on a guy who would, no doubt, not be charged today due to lack of evidence, there was a push to create a better police force. Citizens did have fears that a stronger police force would mimic the “tyrannical” style of police force in Paris. France had a very strong and well organized police unit; however, think about what was going on in France and why many people feared having a strong police force? Napoleon was in power during 1811! Napoleonic Wars were in full force! And just a side note…Napoleon would not be finally defeated until 1815. Anyway, the British feared that a strong police force would take away their rights. On the other hand, the lack of a strong police force was allowing criminals to go undetected and major crimes to go unsolved. Much debate raged; however, the Metropolitan Police force was finally created and organized in 1829. In the book, the author mentioned Peel but nothing else. I googled his name and learned his full name was Sir Robert Peel. Policemen were called “Peelers” or “Bobbies” after him. I thought that was fascinating! I never knew the history of “bobbies.” He organized the first police unit and created a set of standards for the police force.
You will probably not read this book. However, if you are into crime shows, watch Whitechapel! You will be introduced to this unsolved murder spree along with other several others you may not have heard about.
episode on Secret City (synopsis of murders)
