Chapter 25
CATHERINE EDDOWES GOT TO HER FEET, steadying herself against the cell wall as PC Henry Hutt opened the door to let her out. Five hours earlier, she had been picked up on Aldgate High Street for drunk and disorderly behaviour and taken to Bishopsgate police station to sober up. She had slept most of the time but by 12.30 had been loudly demanding her release. PC Hutt, the duty gaoler, had cleared her release with the Sergeant Atwill, the custody sergeant. ‘Aye, let her go,’ Atwill had said, ‘the noisy b***h’ll only kick up a rumpus all night else.’
‘What’s the time anyhow?’ Catherine, known as Kate, asked.
‘Just about one.’ answered Hutt.
‘I shall get a damned fine hiding an’ no mistake when I get home.’
‘And serve you right. You’ve no right to get so drunk.’
‘A body has to
