Local Knowledge

[Herlock Sholmes]

Cheers Gazza,

I’d considered the idea of the apron being used on an injury sustained during the murder (although the suggestion didn’t originate with me) but I hadn’t considered George’s suggestion that the killer might have did from an infection causing the cessation of the murders. I’ll through in another suggestion for thoughts…could an infection have led to an amputation? The loss of a hand would have put paid to the killers career.

Have we come up with to new ‘possibles’ as to why the murders appeared to stop?

[GBinOz]

Cheers Gazza,

I’d considered the idea of the apron being used on an injury sustained during the murder (although the suggestion didn’t originate with me) but I hadn’t considered George’s suggestion that the killer might have did from an infection causing the cessation of the murders. I’ll through in another suggestion for thoughts…could an infection have led to an amputation? The loss of a hand would have put paid to the killers career.

Have we come up with to new ‘possibles’ as to why the murders appeared to stop?

Hi Herlock,

There are always possibles, it's the probables that count. Loss of a limb is a possible.

Cheers, George

[The Rookie Detective]

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

[Losmandris]

Hi Tristan,

Maybe he checked out the area beforehand to familiarise himself?

It would certainly make sense! And is not beyond the bounds of possibility.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Good suggestion RD. For me, the biggest objection to Mackenzie as a ripper victim are those abdominal cuts. I’ve previously thought that she might have been killed by someone that she knew or had a connection to in a fit of temper and, in panic, he decided to make some ripper-like cuts to make her appear a ripper victim but he just couldn’t go through with full on mutilations. Your suggestion that an injury might have been the reason is plausible (probably more likely than my own suggestion)

[Losmandris]

I know it is veering off topic a little but chances of the murderer cutting himself in the pitch black, with all that clothing to get through and under some serious time pressure are pretty high I would imagine.

[Geddy2112]

I know it is veering off topic a little but chances of the murderer cutting himself in the pitch black, with all that clothing to get through and under some serious time pressure are pretty high I would imagine.

Well in my humble opinion we must be talking about a really sharp knife here, like a razor. I injury myself just looking at a pair of scissors so I think it's highly possible. As an aside you know the heavily doctored photo of Charles Cross, the coloured version shows what looks like a scar on his left cheek, defensive wound innit...

[Fiver]

Hi HIB,

It was actually a piece of her apron. I also put forward this theory some time ago, and supported it with the following:

The Star, 12 October, 1888

"A Suspicious Infirmary Patient.
A report was current late last night that the police suspect a man who is at present a patient in an East-end infirmary. He has been admitted since the commission of the last murder. Owing to his suspicious behavior their attention was directed to him. Detectives are making inquiries, and he is kept under surveillance."

Sheffield Evening Telegraph 12 October, 1888

"... The police now have under close observation in connection with the Whitechapel murder a man now inmate of the East End infirmary who was admitted since the murder under suspicious circumstances."

Hampshire Advertiser, 13 October, 1888

"A report was current late last night that the police have good reasons to suspect a man who is at present a patient in an East End Infirmary. He was admitted since the commission of the last murder, and owing to his suspicious behaviour and other circumstances the attention of the authorities was directed to him. Detectives are making inquiries relative to his actions before being admitted to the infirmary, and he is kept under constant and close surveillance."

There is the possibility that he died from an infection and that the murders after that were by other hands.

Cheers, George

I have also considered that the Ripper may have injured himself during the Eddowes murder. And with the fecal matter on the apron piece, there likely would have been infection. Recovering could explain the gap between the Double Event and the Kelly Murder, though that could also be due to increased police presence or lack of opportunity. Likewise, if McKenzie was a Ripper victim, failing health could explain that gap as well.

So the Ripper might have died of infection. Or he might have recovered, but was scared to risk another infection. Or after being able to fully indulge himself in the Kelly murder, the thrill might have been gone.

Being injured, but escaping, further increases the chance that the victim was local and went to ground at home. I have favored the idea that the Ripper knew the area well - possibly a posty or a carman.

[Fiver]

Until the development of penicillin, any infection had potentially fatal consequences. There are instances of patients who died from what were seemingly minor injuries such as being scratched by a rose bush.

In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge's son Calvin, Jr got a blister on his foot from playing tennis without wearing socks. It became infected and he died of blood poisoning in less than a week/