Local Knowledge

[Herlock Sholmes]

For me, the gap is no issue. Any number of things could have accounted for it..illness, incarceration, re-location, injury, no impulse etc. The glaring difference is between the horrific and extensive mutilations of Chapman, Eddowes and Kelly and the “…superficial cuts on the lower part of the body” of Mackenzie. The difference couldn’t really have been more pronounced and I don’t think that they can’t be explained away by a lack of time as we would have to ask why the killer would have wasted time making these pointless scratches in the first place so I can only see it as a choice between, a) it was a different killer, or b) it was some kind of injury. The overall effort required would have taken some strength in itself (as Tom points out) and must say that I find it hard to believe that the killer would have undertaken to kill until he was fit enough to do it or that he had a sufficiently sharp knife. I can’t help favouring a different killer although I’m not attempting to state this as a fact; it’s purely my opinion. I still tend to favour her being killed by someone with a connection to her. Someone who feared that the police might come knocking on his door at some point. So with the ripper killings still fresh in everyone’s mind, in panic, he takes his knife and makes some abdominal cuts hoping to leave the police believing that she was a ripper victim with the killer feeling safe in the knowledge that he could produce alibi’s for the other murders. IMO of course.

[The Baron]

There is another possibility that could explain the time gap...


I can feel the tingling of a new hypothesis just about to erupt.


Be warned, here it comes!


Hold on for the ride!...










The Ripper was female




She had a particular hatred for Unfortunates in their 40's stemming from a controlling and abusive mother with odd sexual kinks, and her father's penchant for sexual violence

She had slain Nichols in a random unprovoked attack, and would have done more if that odd looking Carman hadn't of interrupted her.

She had then enticed Chapman into the back garden after suggesting they have an out-of-public-view, girl on girl encounter.

She had also written Dear Boss (in a distinctly female hand)...and a few letters; because she liked to write.

She had heard that a theatrical acquaintance of hers had been bragging about knowing the identity of the killer, and so she then arranged to meet Eddowes, to silence her.
However, she then inadvertently witnessed her own male partner randomly kissing another woman in the street outside of a pub...and so she followed them to Berner St, and after seeing Stride get assaulted by BS Man, she went over to help Stride by offering her some sweet meats...

The killer then fled and headed towards the prearranged meet with Eddowes.

She had seen Eddowes walk into Mitre Square alone, after witnessing Eddowes male companion walk away after being spooked by 3 Jewish men who had noticed him talking with Eddowes.

As the Ripper stepped out of the shadows, Eddowes engaged with her, However, before Eddowes could say a word, she was dead.

But this is when the killer then got carried away, and accidentally cut herself as she was in the process of disembowelling her victim.

She then realised she needed to stop the bleeding, so took a piece of apron and just walked away towards Goulston St

The Ripper then walked away from the square and towards Goulston Street, dropping the apron after she had noticed it was covered in more than just blood.
.
She went to hospital to receive treatment for her cut, where she then was told something she wasn't expecting to hear... that she was around 4 months pregnant!

The Ripper discovered herself to be pregnant just after having her self inflicted cut treated in early October.

She then intended to stop killing, but to test her resolve; her male partner then leaves her after she tells him she is with child. But it has little impact because she already killed Stride and she never needed that cheating waste of an excuse for a man anyway.

October, and she is now focusing on being pregnant... or trying to focus on not killing.

Her attempts to abstain are successful in the short term and October is murder free.

But she then hears that her cousin has just split with her partner, but has chosen to let prostitutes into her flat.

The line between family and murder is then crossed.

She then plans to spend the night over at her cousins.

She waits for her cousin's blotchy head punter to leave and then goes to the room. He's only there 4 minutes.

MJK is happy to see her cousin for the first time in a while. They share a bed and spoon together to keep warm...but as soon as her cousin is asleep, the Ripper obliterates her.

But what compounds the tragedy; is that as she cuts into her womb, she realises MJK is also pregnant.

She has just inadvertenrly murdered an innocent child.

This has a profound effect

The Ripper then chooses to stop killing after MJK, in order to deal with her mistake, properly recoup from her previous self inflicted knife injury, and to also finish her own pregnancy.

She finally gives birth in the spring of 89

But the child doesn't survive infancy.

After a fews months of physical and emotional recovery, her bloodlust is overwhelming and she recommences operations again in the July of 89.

So who was the Ripper?

Well, she was an actress who worked as a male impersonator in the theatre and the cousin who MJK had mentioned in a passing comment to Barnett.

A woman with a dark secret.


And in the end?


Well, she was randomly ran over and killed by some moronic carman.

A crime for which the driver escaped prosecution.


Yes...Charles Cross killed the Ripper.






And that, as they say...is that!







OR...


There was just a natural time gap between murders and my hypothesis is a little off.



Hehe!

Appreciate your post, your approach to the topic is both creative and insightful. It’s great to see such original thinking.



The Baron

[The Rookie Detective]

There is another possibility that could explain the time gap...


I can feel the tingling of a new hypothesis just about to erupt.


Be warned, here it comes!


Hold on for the ride!...










The Ripper was female




She had a particular hatred for Unfortunates in their 40's stemming from a controlling and abusive mother with odd sexual kinks, and her father's penchant for sexual violence

She had slain Nichols in a random unprovoked attack, and would have done more if that odd looking Carman hadn't of interrupted her.

She had then enticed Chapman into the back garden after suggesting they have an out-of-public-view, girl on girl encounter.

She had also written Dear Boss (in a distinctly female hand)...and a few letters; because she liked to write.

She had heard that a theatrical acquaintance of hers had been bragging about knowing the identity of the killer, and so she then arranged to meet Eddowes, to silence her.
However, she then inadvertently witnessed her own male partner randomly kissing another woman in the street outside of a pub...and so she followed them to Berner St, and after seeing Stride get assaulted by BS Man, she went over to help Stride by offering her some sweet meats...

The killer then fled and headed towards the prearranged meet with Eddowes.

She had seen Eddowes walk into Mitre Square alone, after witnessing Eddowes male companion walk away after being spooked by 3 Jewish men who had noticed him talking with Eddowes.

As the Ripper stepped out of the shadows, Eddowes engaged with her, However, before Eddowes could say a word, she was dead.

But this is when the killer then got carried away, and accidentally cut herself as she was in the process of disembowelling her victim.

She then realised she needed to stop the bleeding, so took a piece of apron and just walked away towards Goulston St

The Ripper then walked away from the square and towards Goulston Street, dropping the apron after she had noticed it was covered in more than just blood.
.
She went to hospital to receive treatment for her cut, where she then was told something she wasn't expecting to hear... that she was around 4 months pregnant!

The Ripper discovered herself to be pregnant just after having her self inflicted cut treated in early October.

She then intended to stop killing, but to test her resolve; her male partner then leaves her after she tells him she is with child. But it has little impact because she already killed Stride and she never needed that cheating waste of an excuse for a man anyway.

October, and she is now focusing on being pregnant... or trying to focus on not killing.

Her attempts to abstain are successful in the short term and October is murder free.

But she then hears that her cousin has just split with her partner, but has chosen to let prostitutes into her flat.

The line between family and murder is then crossed.

She then plans to spend the night over at her cousins.

She waits for her cousin's blotchy head punter to leave and then goes to the room. He's only there 4 minutes.

MJK is happy to see her cousin for the first time in a while. They share a bed and spoon together to keep warm...but as soon as her cousin is asleep, the Ripper obliterates her.

But what compounds the tragedy; is that as she cuts into her womb, she realises MJK is also pregnant.

She has just inadvertenrly murdered an innocent child.

This has a profound effect

The Ripper then chooses to stop killing after MJK, in order to deal with her mistake, properly recoup from her previous self inflicted knife injury, and to also finish her own pregnancy.

She finally gives birth in the spring of 89

But the child doesn't survive infancy.

After a fews months of physical and emotional recovery, her bloodlust is overwhelming and she recommences operations again in the July of 89.

So who was the Ripper?

Well, she was an actress who worked as a male impersonator in the theatre and the cousin who MJK had mentioned in a passing comment to Barnett.

A woman with a dark secret.


And in the end?


Well, she was randomly ran over and killed by some moronic carman.

A crime for which the driver escaped prosecution.


Yes...Charles Cross killed the Ripper.






And that, as they say...is that!







OR...


There was just a natural time gap between murders and my hypothesis is a little off.



Hehe!

[John Wheat]

There is a three-month gap between the murder of Mary Kelly and the death of Ellen Bury.



The Baron

But Rose Mylett was killed between that three month period.

[John Wheat]

Yes, but McKenzie was killed in July, and the 1888 series started in August.

But aren`t you tied to a suspect ? So you have to doubt McKenzie to keep your theory afloat?

I didn't regard McKenzie as a Ripper victim before I decided Bury was the likely the Ripper.

[Geddy2112]

Okay. I stand corrected.

....said the man in the orthopaedic shoes.

[The Baron]

There is a three-month gap between the murder of Mary Kelly and the death of Ellen Bury.



The Baron

[Jon Guy]

I don't agree with this at all. 8 months is a massive gap considering how close the other murders were together. I highly doubt Mackenzie was a Ripper victim.

Yes, but McKenzie was killed in July, and the 1888 series started in August.

But aren`t you tied to a suspect ? So you have to doubt McKenzie to keep your theory afloat?

[Tom_Wescott]

I don't agree with this at all. 8 months is a massive gap considering how close the other murders were together. I highly doubt Mackenzie was a Ripper victim.

Okay. I stand corrected.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Holmes' Idiot Brother]

A potential life changing injury caused by a misplaced cut during the obliteration of MJK, may not only explain the reason why there was a distinct 8 month gap before McKenzie was murdered, but it may also explain why McKenzie's injuries were not even close to the severity inflicted on MJK and Eddowes.

There is a scenario whereby the killer cut himself, was severely ill from an infection, and then after months of recovery finally took to re-commencing operations in July 1889 with McKenzie.

Only this time he lacked the dexterity and physical capabilities required to inflict the level of injuries he had previously delivered upon his previous 2 victims.

That may explain why McKenzie's wounds, body position etc.. were very similar to that of Nichols.

Was the killer going back to basics?

Perhaps the killer had intended to cut and eviscerate McKenzie exactly like he had done with Eddowes, but simply couldn't do what he wanted because of his previous rampage on MJK that all but put an end to his career as a killer of Unfortunates.

What kind of wound could do that?

The more obvious ones i would suggest;

a cut to the tendon of the thumb
a cut to the artery running through the thumb
severance/partial severance of a finger
a cut to the wrist/ lower forearm from a broken blade snapped from the hilt of his knife that unexpectedly rebounded (this may have occurred during the process of trying to decapitate MJK)


One thing the killer almost certainly would never have admitted to; that he had made a botch job and had accidentally cut himself.

Although the idea that a psychopath like the Ripper may also have been an overzealous moron who wasn't as skilled with a knife as he thought he was, makes me chuckle

Even if the Ripper escaped contracting sepsis from the blood and feces, he might well have contracted tetanus, which I have read is not a lot of fun. As to the wounds...I owned a large boa constrictor around 30 years ago, and through an error of my fault alone, I received a nasty bite from him. He struck me between the webbing of my right thumb and forefinger and into the meaty part of my thumb. It was considerably painful and I could not make a fist for almost a month! The injury left two permanent scars on my thumb, somber reminders to not be that stupid again. My point is, even a "minor" injury, if it affects the right muscle/tendon, can take you out of the game and seriously affect you. I opine that this injury, coupled with the heat of the investigation, drove the Ripper to ground for over a month, until his murderous impulses became too much to bear.

[John Wheat]

It's worth noting that 8 months is not a terribly long interval. It only appears so because the earliest murders were so close together. But Kelly followed more than a month from the double event, so a widening of intervals between the murders was already becoming a pattern. Just as likely as an injury would be if the suspect felt a little heat somehow after the Kelly murder.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

I don't agree with this at all. 8 months is a massive gap considering how close the other murders were together. I highly doubt Mackenzie was a Ripper victim.

[The Baron]

It's worth noting that 8 months is not a terribly long interval. It only appears so because the earliest murders were so close together. But Kelly followed more than a month from the double event, so a widening of intervals between the murders was already becoming a pattern. Just as likely as an injury would be if the suspect felt a little heat somehow after the Kelly murder.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

Nice to see logic making an entrance, though it was getting a bit crowded in here with all the wild theories..

Not all patterns need to be as close knit as a sweater on a cold day right..


The Baron

[Tom_Wescott]

More and more I believe that AM was a victim of JtR. This idea of an injury certainly adds a new dimension and could certain explain one or two things i.e. the interval and the type of injuries inflicted.

It's worth noting that 8 months is not a terribly long interval. It only appears so because the earliest murders were so close together. But Kelly followed more than a month from the double event, so a widening of intervals between the murders was already becoming a pattern. Just as likely as an injury would be if the suspect felt a little heat somehow after the Kelly murder.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Tom_Wescott]

Hello, again Tom.

They didn't run into each other because Andrews was already in the alley (at the body in fact) by the time Isaac Jacobs left his house heading to McCarthy's.

Times (London)
Thursday, 18 July 1889

Isaac Lewis Jacobs said - I live at 12 Newcastle place, and am a boot maker. About ten minutes to 1 this morning I left home to buy some supper in M'Carthy's, in Dorset street. I had occasion to pass Newcastle place into Old Castle street. When I got to Cocoanut place a constable ran up to me; I stopped. He said, "Where have you been?" I replied, "I have been nowhere, I am just going on an errand and have just left my home." The constable then said, "Come with me; there has been a murder committed."

EDIT: I wanted to correct a slight error in a previous post by calling Isaac Jacobs' residence on Newcastle Street. It should be Newcastle Place as stated in this news clip.

I wrote that Andrews ran up to Isaac which is precisely what Isaac said in your excerpt, so I don't see any discrepancy here. And two people encountering each other in the street qualifies as 'running into each other', at least on my side of the pond.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Losmandris]

More and more I believe that AM was a victim of JtR. This idea of an injury certainly adds a new dimension and could certain explain one or two things i.e. the interval and the type of injuries inflicted.