What remained consistent through the C5?

[perrymason]

Morning Sam,

Although it is difficult to assess if there was a "monthly dates" pattern with only 5 victims as you say, there is that 20 day or more gap where he doesn't kill anyone that we know of,...during the months he does kill.

In essence, there are only 1 or 2 days within the same 10 or 11 days of each month, that he killed people on.

Nichols- 31st
Chapman - 8th
Stride/Eddowes - 30th
Kelly - 9th

Add to that the fact that all kill dates occur either on a weekend, or the day of, before, or after a holiday, then the only other alleged or potential Ripper victim that meets that criteria is;

Tabram, Bank Holiday Monday, the 7th.

I think this could be addressed by something that requires his departure from the area mid-month. That could be a myriad of things, Job on cargo ships, traveling salesman, rail worker, circus performer, snake oil salesman posing as a doctor....but the dates and gaps don't make sense if its a local man with a local job. Or even an unemployed one.

Why wouldn't there be a killing on say the 15th of the month, if he lived and worked there? Are we to believe he justs puts the knife in the drawer for the same 20 or so days each month, until the month end arrives?

My best regards Sam as always.

[anna]

This is just a thought folks,...what about the guy who inspects the doss houses...can't remember if this takes place weekly or monthly,but I was thinking that if the same guy visited,they might know him enough to not fear instantly,even have a short conversation with, he may overhear their first name,or where they are heading off to,so know the general area of where they solicit.Not only that he may be a familiar face in the area,and with Kelly could have seen her around and about while he was in Dorset Street.

[Sam Flynn]

Are we to believe he justs puts the knife in the drawer for the same 20 or so days each month, until the month end arrives?

The "same" 20 days each month, Mike? (Again "or so" creeps in... beware of woolly criteria!)

He might simply not have found an easy victim and/or the right circumstances as readily in September/October as he had between Aug 31st/Sept 8th. It's not as if women were queuing up to put themselves in ideal positions to be murdered, and I have little doubt that Jack endured some abortive missions during his brief reign of terror. He may even have been snubbed on more than one occasion.

[perrymason]

The "same" 20 days each month, Mike? (Again "or so" creeps in... beware of woolly criteria!)

He might simply not have found an easy victim and/or the right circumstances as readily in September/October as he had between Aug 31st/Sept 8th. It's not as if women were queuing up to put themselves in ideal positions to be murdered, and I have little doubt that Jack endured some abortive missions during his brief reign of terror. He may even have been snubbed on more than one occasion.

Hi Sam,

Really the only reason I added "or so" is to account for the different values for those 4 months due to their actual length, 30 or 31 days in these cases.

I don't doubt that there may have been foiled or aborted attempts either, I think many Ripperologist's money is on that bet when it comes to Liz Stride, and perhaps Polly... but he doesn't have any that aroused police suspicions... even in retrospect, unless they are among the "non-canonicals".

To be precise, Canonicals are not killed after the 10th,... until the month is at end. So my question is why do they think he only killed these 5 women...where are the suspected foiled attempts, why have they slipped into relative obscurity,...and what might explain the absence of something Jack-ish happening from the 10th to the end of that same month? Or his absence in general in October?

Best regards Sam.

[sdreid]

Yes, to put it another way, 5 were slain in the aforementioned 10 day period and 0 were killed in the 20 days following, a time double the length. By odds, 1 or 2 should have been killed in the first bracket and 3 or 4 should have been murdered in the second. That might mean something or it might mean nothing but I think it should be noted.

[perrymason]

Hi Stan,

Thanks for putting that in an easily understandable framework....I dont think I get in trouble for what I say as much as how I say it.

And your point is well taken, it could just be coincidence that he was actually successful with only those 5 victims, and missed or foiled attempts might have changed that pattern dramatically if included in his nights of terror...but what interests me here is that we do have 2 perhaps foiled attempts on record as his kills, Liz and Polly. Both situations involved laymen finding the bodies first, and it is possible both were incomplete kills...if these were Jacks victims. Both still within the "10 days rule" though.

Of course that would depend on whether the abdominal mutilations on Polly were a precursor to organ extractions, and his time was cut short...pardon the pun...and if Diemshutz did in fact interrupt the killer from further mutilations.

Best regards Stan.

[sdreid]

Looking at it in 10 day time frames, there wasn't really an "October lull".

[Sam Flynn]

Hi Stan,

Looking at it in 10 day time frames, there wasn't really an "October lull".

...which just goes to show that an interpretation can depend heavily on where, and how, one decides to "slice" the data.

[sdreid]

Yes Sam, I have no argument with that.

[anna]

Hi all , another thing that remains consistent is that they don't arm themselves,despite all the warnings,even with a bit of broken mirror.Nothing.Surely even this basic bit of protection would be taken instead of a "drop to drink" given the atmosphere of the area,and the fact that they knew their profession was in the firing line.And why don't they bite Jack's hand when it goes over their mouth. They don't seem to be reacting in the right way.

[perrymason]

Hi all , another thing that remains consistent is that they don't arm themselves,despite all the warnings,even with a bit of broken mirror.Nothing.Surely even this basic bit of protection would be taken instead of a "drop to drink" given the atmosphere of the area,and the fact that they knew their profession was in the firing line.And why don't they bite Jack's hand when it goes over their mouth. They don't seem to be reacting in the right way.

That really is a key question Anna. Kate did have a table knife on her, but she also had almost everything under the sun on her so who knows if it was for protection.

I think the consistency would be that his victims apparently go down quietly, without much fuss.

Of course that need not apply in Marys case, but in the 4 others, there is that puzzling element....how did he keep Kate quiet for example, after the "spree" had begun? Wouldn't any have "spidey senses"..and balk at the last moment, or as you say, take a bite of his hand? Maybe they did. Who knows with all the blood at some sites, maybe some is his.

But he does, consistently, lure or follow street whore victims to their deaths... apparently quietly, during a madmans killing spree of street whores. Quite a talent.

Likely the most publicized search for a killer in history....everyone in the world knew about him while he was killing...so how does he get anyone alone after the first one or two? Really speaks to the desperate times I think.

Best regards Anna.

[Sam Flynn]

Hi Anna,

And why don't they bite Jack's hand when it goes over their mouth. They don't seem to be reacting in the right way.

We don't know whether they bit Jack's hand or not, or that he consistently clamped his hand over their mouths for that matter.

[anna]

Hi Michael,after Annie,there really is no reason for me that they wouldn't have armed themselves. Seems strange the Vigilantee Committee or Rev Barnett & wife wouldn't have given them a piece of mirror or some other cheap item to look after themselves with,if they thought the women wouldn't get something for themselves. I agree that it is the last three that don't add up,they're not shrinking violets and I would think have had to deal with the occassional dissatisfied customer!

[mariag]

Let's not forget that there's a long history of prostitute murders in various cities in which the women did not go to extraordinary lenghts to protect themselves, even when it was known that a killer was preying on prostitutes.

Life and business must go on. And think how much more desperate a woman in Whitechapel in 1888 would be than her counterpart today.

[NOV9]

Paul,

I'm sorry, but I don't understand a lot of the questions you ask, so it's difficult for me to answer them.

NOV9,

Why do you have such a low opinion of Jack the Ripper?

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

Tom,

Whom do you know, that would have a high opinion of Jack the knife?