The signature of Jack

[Natalie Severn]

Simon,
When the killer was living his ordinary life he probably felt powerless -possibly something from childhood made him feel that way---having little or no control over things that happened to him then.He can make that different now.When he killed Polly he had absolute and total control over herin a life/death situation-and he took her life.Thats what I meant by power being the driving force for the murders.[-me bright? thats just nonsense Simon-----loads of equally bright ---and brighter, sparks on here-but thanks for the compliment!]

Doc,
I agree Mary"s killing was differently experienced-in a room and with no one apparently to disturb him.....so he concentrated on removing her identity,her womanhood,probably by doing this he removed any power she might have had over him viz sexual attraction/attractive personality etc
Natalie

[Simon Wood]

Hi Doctor X,

Many thanks for the link.

May I commend for your delectation William Strunk's 1918 volume "The Elements of Style". This simple treatise will tell you how to construct a sentence. Or, if you aspire to loftier ambitions, a paragraph.

Regards,

Simon

[Doctor X]

The way I see it . . . is its all about power----the power. . . .

I can buy that. It probably requires one to speculate on his motivations. For example, if you take Mary Kelly, why did he commit such extensive mutilations? Curiosity? Rage? Progression? The answer will color the conclusions.

--J.D.

[Simon Wood]

Hi Natalie,

What's all about what power?

Lifeless prey, the uproar he has caused; the power he feels when he gets away with it; they are what gives him his high?

Please forgive me. You are without doubt one of the brightest bulbs on Casebook, but here you are in serious danger of becoming romantic about the murder in Millers Court.

Regards,

Simon

[Doctor X]

A translation into coherent English of your last post would be appreciated.

www.dictionary.com

--J.D.

[Natalie Severn]

The way I see it Simon,is its all about power----the power the murderer has when he takes life, the power he feels at the sight of his lifeless prey,the power he feels when he thinks about the uproar he has caused...and the power he feels when he gets away with it.They are what give him his high.
History has shown him to have succeeded in not getting caught too------and there is,as they say,nothing like the sweet smell of success!

[Simon Wood]

Hi Natalie,

I think you're giving too much credit to the murderer.

Regards,

Simon

[Natalie Severn]

There is something a bit theatrical and Damien Hurst like about his dead remains.Like he enjoyed the prospect of alarmed horror that leaving his prey disembowelled in the open air would create--- the police stumbling across his murder victims,lots of whistles being blown and harrassed policemen running around in circles, a flock of police officials arriving in hansom cabs -that kind of thing may have turned him onand given him a huge power kick.

[Simon Wood]

Hi Doctor X,

A translation into coherent English of your last post would be appreciated.

Regards,

Simon

[Doctor X]

Jack was too good to be true.

Can't take our eyes off of [Right, stop that!--Ed.]

Take away the timing and there's no mystery—just five dead bodies.

Well . . . you know . . . throat cuts . . . mutilations, but I am sure you have been around and around on those. Certainly the timing--killing a bunch in a particular time period--drove the story.

--J.D.

[Doctor X]

I do not know. If a "method" works a killer is likely to stick to it. He may vary that based on new opportunities, experience, et cetera. In the case of the Night Stalker, the Brain-Damaged Mayor publicly revealed what the police knew so he altered his methods. This is for those who consider "signature" to denote things the killer always or nearly always does.

Anyways, it seems most define "signature" more with regards a meaning it has for the killer--something he must do. The problem with that with Jack is it requires surmising his motivations. This can get quite circular if you know the answer.

--J.D.

[Simon Wood]

Hi Doctor X,

I don't know if Jack had rhythm, music, starlight, or daisies in green pastures. But in the words of George Gershwin "who could ask for anything more?"

Jack was too good to be true. He was the Victorian phantom menace, similar to a scenario we are going through today. The only thing he had was timing. Even the cops agreed on that. Take away the timing and there's no mystery—just five dead bodies.

Regards,

Simon

[bolo]

Are signatures obligatory in serial killer cases?

And, do rituals like things the killer has to say before he slays his victim really count as signature or part thereof? I always thought a signature is something the killer wants us to see or for which he is infamous for, like mutilated bodies of women lying in public places or rumours about his alleged invincibility.

[Natalie Severn]

......and the command

[Doctor X]

Rhythm . . . you forgot rhythm.

--J.D.