Only in the Rippersphere

[Herlock Sholmes]

I don’t have an issue with the canonical five because I see more reason to connect those 5 than any of the other murders. Tabram - a frenzied stabbing. Nichols was something different; something new. Throat cutting and abdominal mutilation. Then they saw it taken even further with Chapman, Eddowes and Kelly. Stride being assumed to have been killed by the same man who was interrupted. Then we have a killer making scratches on Mackenzies abdomen (after Kelly and Eddowes etc). So I agree of course that we shouldn’t just assume the 5 (I personally doubt Stride) but I can see why we have a ‘5.’

[Abby Normal]

Batty street lodger
Squibby
Jolly bonnet
carrotty mustache
high rip gang (still dont know what it means)
"codding"
char woman

[Pcdunn]

I've seen "Occam's Razor" used many times outside of the Rippersphere.

A word that I've never seen used outside of Ripper circles is "marginalia".

"Marginalia" isn't uncommon in library or academic book circles. I've even come across a book on the history of margin notes added by readers-- as well as a few donated books containing reader comments in the margins of the printed pages.
It's used frequently in Ripper circles, certainly.

[PaulB]

Batty street lodger
Squibby
Jolly bonnet
carrotty mustache
high rip gang (still dont know what it means)
"codding"
char woman

The High Rip Gang was (allegedly) a Liverpool street gang noted for its extreme violence. The name appears to have gained currency, at least in London, denoting such a violent gang. I'd guess the barbarous treatment of Emma Smith suggested the idea/name, unless there are equally terrible assaults in the area.

[PaulB]

That's interesting. Paul B, I take it that you're Paul Begg? If so, it's good to see you posting in this forum. Even if you aren't, welcome! (Though I see that you posted here long before I did.)

I'm sorry, I didn't register the comma in "Even if you aren't, welcome" and was accordingly left wondering what I'd done to give offence! Thanks for the welcome, although I have posted before. Albeit years can go past without a peep out of me.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Hello Paul, it’s good to see you posting. It’s been a while.

It’s possible that no one will agree with me but I’ve often thought it the case that we appear to be more open to believing that certain high ranking police officers were liars (or just told a lie or lies) and yet we are resistant to the suggestion that a lower ranking officer (like a Constable on the beat) might also have lied. And when I say ‘we’ I of course just mean a percentage of ripperologists.

[PaulB]

Hello Paul, it’s good to see you posting. It’s been a while.

It’s possible that no one will agree with me but I’ve often thought it the case that we appear to be more open to believing that certain high ranking police officers were liars (or just told a lie or lies) and yet we are resistant to the suggestion that a lower ranking officer (like a Constable on the beat) might also have lied. And when I say ‘we’ I of course just mean a percentage of ripperologists.

Yes, I noticed that. I suppose the higher ranks wrote books, and the lower ranks didn't. It is supposed that the former made claims in pursuit of kudos, whereas the latter, who I assume were in court or talking to journalists, would have lied to hide some misbehaviour. This would be hard to prove, whereas seeking kudos need only be suggested. These days, there's a lot of argument, some of which has been ongoing for years and has got nowhere, but there is very little new research. Or so it has appeared to me.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Yes, I noticed that. I suppose the higher ranks wrote books, and the lower ranks didn't. It is supposed that the former made claims in pursuit of kudos, whereas the latter, who I assume were in court or talking to journalists, would have lied to hide some misbehaviour. This would be hard to prove, whereas seeking kudos need only be suggested. These days, there's a lot of argument, some of which has been ongoing for years and has got nowhere, but there is very little new research. Or so it has appeared to me.

I think that has much to do with it Paul and I do think the topic tends, perhaps, to have a slightly political background to it. An upper vs lower class sort of thing. We all know about the Old Boy Network and the undoubted value of the old school tie to an individuals career advancement but I do think that assumption tends to be made on that basis. If someone got a position because “Bob’s your uncle,” it doesn’t necessarily follow that the person couldn’t have been both competent and honest (he could have been a dishonest dimwit too of course) An obvious case in point would be Macnaghten of course. Many have no problem at all in simply assuming that he plucked Druitt’s name out of a hat instead of considering that he might indeed have received ‘private information’ about him (whether that info was accurate or valid is another question of course) On the other side we have PC Harvey saying that he went to the bottom of Church Passage at 1.40 but saw nothing. And yet a hideously mutilated body was found around 5 minutes or so later. So either he had the worst bullseye lamp ever, he had remarkable poor eyesight, Eddowes was killed elsewhere or he never bothered walking down that dark passage. I know which one I tend to favour.

[Lewis C]

Maybe part of the reason for a different reaction to upper and lower level police is that lower level tend to report on specific things that they observed, while upper level are the ones that draw conclusions about the killer's identity. People may take a policeman's word for it that he saw or did what he said he saw or did, but if a policeman theorizes about a suspect, people want to see the evidence for his conclusion.

[Filby]

Whilst reading these boards I've come across a few words, phrases or mentions of things that I have only found in relation to Jack The Ripper. I've a few but will start off with -

'Graffito' - I've only every heard this mentioned in relation to the Goulston Street scribbles and always used/read the the other term 'graffiti.' I'm sure during the 70s if I'd shouted on the bus going home look at that amazing Punk Graffito I'd have had my head kicked in...

Anyone have any other examples?

I always regarded it as a form of graffiti, sans the artistic touch.

[Scott Nelson]

On the other side we have PC Harvey saying that he went to the bottom of Church Passage at 1.40 but saw nothing. And yet a hideously mutilated body was found around 5 minutes or so later. So either he had the worst bullseye lamp ever, he had remarkable poor eyesight, Eddowes was killed elsewhere or he never bothered walking down that dark passage. I know which one I tend to favour.

Maybe Harvey just didn't see anything in the darkness.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Maybe Harvey just didn't see anything in the darkness.

I’d say that it has to be a possibility Scott. Maybe he didn’t bother using his lamp?

[Doctored Whatsit]

I’d say that it has to be a possibility Scott. Maybe he didn’t bother using his lamp?

In view of the fact that the doctors were quite happy that the Ripper had enough light to complete his mutilations, I think that Eddowes must have been clearly visible even without a lamp. I think Harvey just wasn't there when he said he was.