Conditions in London in 1888

[Abby Normal]

It’s one of the reasons that I’ve always been wary of any assumption that he must have been a local. Someone who actually lived within that fairly small area would surely have been aware of the risk, however small maybe, of being recognised. There’s a huge difference after all of someone like Long or Lawende saying ‘I saw a man who was average build, dark hair, moustache etc,’ and the same witness saying ‘I saw a man who looked just like Fred …….. who works at the market.” Would that deter a killer? I’m unsure but it might be worth asking how many serial killers killed within such a small area whilst living in the middle somewhere? I know of geoprofiling of course but does it usually encompass such a small area? Local knowledge might have given the killer some advantage of course but that doesn’t mean that he had to have lived in Whitechapel/Spitalfields. Bury is an obvious example.

but didnt burys work as a saw dust salesman and other evidence point to he was in whitchapel area on almost a daily basis?

[Herlock Sholmes]

It’s one of the reasons that I’ve always been wary of any assumption that he must have been a local. Someone who actually lived within that fairly small area would surely have been aware of the risk, however small maybe, of being recognised. There’s a huge difference after all of someone like Long or Lawende saying ‘I saw a man who was average build, dark hair, moustache etc,’ and the same witness saying ‘I saw a man who looked just like Fred …….. who works at the market.” Would that deter a killer? I’m unsure but it might be worth asking how many serial killers killed within such a small area whilst living in the middle somewhere? I know of geoprofiling of course but does it usually encompass such a small area? Local knowledge might have given the killer some advantage of course but that doesn’t mean that he had to have lived in Whitechapel/Spitalfields. Bury is an obvious example.

[harry]

There is a difference between being seen and being recognised.It was quite easy to move around in such conditions as has been spoken of,and providing one kept a reasonable distance from passers by,be seen ,but keep their identity unknown.

[Abby Normal]

Hello Sid, Welcome.

Rather than envision a character who was not seen by anyone - highly unlikely given the busy streets. I think he was seen by several, it's just that they didn't know they had seen him. In those days you only need to make it to the end of the street, once you turned the corner, you were effectively someone else. Just stop, and walk slowly like every body else. Don't draw attention to yourself.
It doesn't appear he would be covered in blood, but even butchers, slaughter-house workers & midwives, with blood on their clothes could walk the darkened streets without drawing attention to themselves.
It's more likely he 'hid in plain sight'.

agree. he was probably an average local joe, who could blend into tje crowd.

[Wickerman]

Hello Sid, Welcome.

Rather than envision a character who was not seen by anyone - highly unlikely given the busy streets. I think he was seen by several, it's just that they didn't know they had seen him. In those days you only need to make it to the end of the street, once you turned the corner, you were effectively someone else. Just stop, and walk slowly like every body else. Don't draw attention to yourself.
It doesn't appear he would be covered in blood, but even butchers, slaughter-house workers & midwives, with blood on their clothes could walk the darkened streets without drawing attention to themselves.
It's more likely he 'hid in plain sight'.

[Abby Normal]

The streets were mostly very poorly lit Sid and gas lamps didn’t throw out that much light compared to modern day lighting. Especially the backstreets. There was a call for better lighting which, if I remember correctly, Queen Victoria supported. Today we have open windows throwing out light, neon shop signs and powerful lamps every few yards which would have seemed like Blackpool illuminations to a Victorian.

Its also true to say that we can’t know that no one saw him. It’s just the case that no one saw anyone that they had reason at the time to think was connected to a murder. We have sightings by Lawende, Schwartz, Long and Hutchinson to name four. We can’t say for certain that they saw the killer but it’s certainly possible. As you say though, it was the perfect location for a serial killer. He couldn’t really have designed it better himself.

hi herlock and sid
I think Lawende, long, marshall, smith and schwartz all saw the ripper. i dont think he was seen at nichols and kelly murders (just possibly cox here). while conditions like lighting and maze of alley ways helped, I think it has more to do with a combination of the ripper knowing the area like the back of his hand and being incredibly perceptive and crafty. and lucky of course.
but he did seem to have an incredible knack for knowing just when to skidaddle.

[Herlock Sholmes]

The streets were mostly very poorly lit Sid and gas lamps didn’t throw out that much light compared to modern day lighting. Especially the backstreets. There was a call for better lighting which, if I remember correctly, Queen Victoria supported. Today we have open windows throwing out light, neon shop signs and powerful lamps every few yards which would have seemed like Blackpool illuminations to a Victorian.

Its also true to say that we can’t know that no one saw him. It’s just the case that no one saw anyone that they had reason at the time to think was connected to a murder. We have sightings by Lawende, Schwartz, Long and Hutchinson to name four. We can’t say for certain that they saw the killer but it’s certainly possible. As you say though, it was the perfect location for a serial killer. He couldn’t really have designed it better himself.

[sidbolt123]

From what I've read/watched about JTR I find it amazing how not one person was able to see him walking the streets, or how some victims seem to have been cloaked in the darkness of nighttime unless someone with a lantern was nearby and saw the body (Mary Ann Nichols, Elizabeth Stride). My question is just how easy was it to roam the streets unnoticed? Its impossible for me imagine such darkness with how artificial lighting is present in our every day lives these days I was wondering if someone more knowledgeable could explain to me how London in 1888 seemed like the perfect playground for a serial killer.