Two things that don't make sense!

[Fisherman]

Ben writes:
"The fact that he spurned this availability of shelter, despite its close proximity, suggests very strongly that he wasn't actively seeking a roof over his head"

It is a tempting conclusion, Ben, no doubt about it!

The best,
Fisherman

[Tom_Wescott]

It's hard to imagine walking all that distance, like Hutch claims, and still being in the mood for sweet lovin' down by the fire...a very, very hot fire, at that! But if he thought he had a good shot at a bed at Kelly's pad, that would CERTAINLY be preferable to a group home.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Supe]

Robert,

Interesting observations, all, but if I felt as you I wouldn't have written what I did.

As to a few specifics, I'm sure that Mccarthy wasn't thinking with total ludicity at the moment, but he knew that an immoral earnings conviction would bring him at least two months at hard labor whereas the possibility of being implicated in the murder did not accur to him until after his entrance.

As far as Kelly being out, as I suggested, front and back it was easy to keep tabs on Kelly's exits and entrances and if McCarthy truly expected some money that day he and the family probably kept a close watch. Which makes the stories of sightings that morning more improbable.

Bowyer's testimony was that he only knocked on the door and did not try to open it, Perhaps, when he looked inside, had he not seen anyone, he might have tried to opern it or used a key--but we'll never know,

Finally, having seen what Bowyer saw, my guess is that were McCarthy in the process of being knighted by Queen Victoria he would have interrupted the proceedings and made him follow him back to Kelly's room.

Stephen,

Worthwhile aside, but the world (or most of it) knows it a Stones' song. Besides I've already been taken to rask for mentioning Matins, so I wouldn't have wanted to get too pedantic now would I?

Don.

[Salome]

I agree with you Tom, I reckon George thought he might have had a chance with Mary after the previous punter left but after 45 mins in the cold November air he thought better of it. Although, if he'd really spent all his money going down to Romford, how would he pay her?

[Robert]

Maybe I'm not romantic, but I'd have stayed put in Romford. Who wants to get wet?

[Salome]

Maybe he'd been through a dry spell!

[Robert]

Hi Don

The Times Nov 10th has Bowyer trying the door and even looking through the keyhole. Not inquest testimony, I know...

If McCarthy went into that room under those circumstances, then all I can say is he must have had very strong nerves. Why, he might almost have been - but no, no.

[Steve F]

If only.....

....the 2 witnesses who claimed they heard cries of 'murder' had bothered to investigate!It's been said many times that cries of that nature were common but you would've thought one of them would've been a little concerned about MJK welfare or maybe they were afraid they would get attacked also
Steve

[Ben]

Hi Salome,

I reckon George thought he might have had a chance with Mary after the previous punter left but after 45 mins in the cold November air he thought better of it.

The problem here is that, by his own admission, Hutchinson remained in the cold November rain (where it's hard to hold a candle!) even after he claimed to leave the vicinity of Miller's Court; just "walking about all night" we're told. Surely if he wanted to crash at Kelly's pad, he'd check in again periodically to see if the previous client had departed. If the truth entailed so innocent and explanation, there was nothing preventing him from admitting as much to the police.

Best regards,
Ben

[Salome]

Oh I don't know! Maybe he was just an attention seeker and that's why he turned up to give evidence after the inquest.

[Steve F]

Hutchinson was hiding something!

Yep!The more I think about it the more I become convinced he had more to do with MJK end than he is letting on.Was he a look out?? Was he JTR?? Was he a jealous lover who used JTR as an excuse to kill her and get away with it?
Too much detail in his statement! A liar always adds to much detail if he is trying to cover his tracks!
Thats it!I've finally cracked the case after all these years!!I can cease work on the time machine
Steve

[claire]

Funny, Steve. But I suspect Salome's suggestion is closer to the mark--if he was holding a bit of a candle for MJK, the fact that she'd meet her end and he wasn't around (not for heroic reasons or a desire to have rescued her, more a fantasy of having rescued her and being a hero) would have been a real stinger. Because he'd want to carry on talking about her (you know, because he probably thought he had some ownership over her, like a lot of stalkers), and the only way anyone would listen was if he had something 'useful' to say, I suspect he concocted some or all of his implausible story. If he wasn't tucked up in some flop house, either locally or in Romford, I'll eat my bonnet

[Ben]

Hi Claire,

Because he'd want to carry on talking about her (you know, because he probably thought he had some ownership over her, like a lot of stalkers

So Kelly was descended upon by both a stalker and a murderer at more or less the same time on the same date?

It just wasn't her night, I guess.

Personally, I have an easier time condensing the two (more parsimonious), and would respectfully submit that Steve's suggestions are rather more palatable than the notion of Hutchinson doing a Freddie from My Fair Lady:

"Let the time go by, with no alibi!
Standing here on the street where you live!"

Enjoy your bonnet.

Best wishes,
Ben

[Ben]

Hi Salome,

Maybe he was just an attention seeker and that's why he turned up to give evidence after the inquest.

But consider the timing.

It wasn't just any old time after the inquest - it was a few hours thereafter, or more specifically; right after the evidence of Sarah Lewis had become public knowledge. The sequence of events goes like this:

Lewis described a man loitering outside - and apparently interested in - the crime scene at 2:30am on the night of the murder.

Her evidence is published.

Hutchinson comes forward and says he loitered outside - and admittedly interested in - the crime scene at 2:30am on the night of the murder.

The logical deduction, based on that sequence of events and the congruent details therein, is that Hutchinson had learned of Lewis' evidence, realized that the man she'd seen was probably him, and delivered his account to "explain" his presence there.

I have trouble reconciling that with the antics of a mere attention-seeker.

Best regards,
Ben

[Roy Corduroy]

Hi Ben and Steve F,

OK great, if Hutchinson was so suspicious, why wasn't he arrested and tried for murder? Like Tom Sadler.

Roy