JtR FINAL Victim Body to be exhumed

[Barnaby]

Nope Jack was his right name, as was Ripper, it was the middle name that threw them.

I'm furiously checking the 1890 census. Hello, best-seller.

[GUT]

Porn stars don't use their real names???

Next you all will argue that the Whitechapel murderer's name wasn't really Jack the Ripper. That this somehow was a "stage name" he used when communicating with the press.

Nope Jack was his right name, as was Ripper, it was the middle name that threw them.

[Pcdunn]

Porn stars don't use their real names???

Next you all will argue that the Whitechapel murderer's name wasn't really Jack the Ripper. That this somehow was a "stage name" he used when communicating with the press.

Then again, perhaps Jack the Ripper WAS one of the press. (Cue "Twilight Zone" music)

[Barnaby]

G'day cd

You seem to know an awful lot about the habits if Porn Stars

But I do agree about the possible reason for a change of name.

Porn stars don't use their real names???

Next you all will argue that the Whitechapel murderer's name wasn't really Jack the Ripper. That this somehow was a "stage name" he used when communicating with the press.

[GUT]

To Gut

No but how many others have sold books on the stunt of trying to get someone exhumed?

Not many.

Cheers John

Agreed.

If he can ID her great, but I continue to say he is putting the cart before the horse.

AND even if she is his Great Aunt does that prove his Great Uncle killed her, and even if it does, does that prove he killed the others?

To me the answers are NO - and NO.

[John Wheat]

Nothing unusual in that though.

To Gut

No but how many others have sold books on the stunt of trying to get someone exhumed?

Not many.

Cheers John

[GUT]

I believe his primary focus is making money from selling his book.

Nothing unusual in that though.

[John Wheat]

Well, strictly speaking it doesn't concern us since it is WWD's putative ancestor and he would be financing the exhumation. I believe his primary focus is his own family history, with the identity of JTR very much second.

I believe his primary focus is making money from selling his book.

[GUT]

Hello Sam,

Far from being the key that unlocks the case it could simply be that Mary chose to change her name so that no family member became aware that she was a prostitute. Similar to a porn star not using their real name.

c.d.

G'day cd

You seem to know an awful lot about the habits if Porn Stars

But I do agree about the possible reason for a change of name.

[Sam Flynn]

Far from being the key that unlocks the case it could simply be that Mary chose to change her name so that no family member became aware that she was a prostitute.

Indeed, CD, and perhaps having her DNA might one day allow us to find out who her family was. It should at least provide a means by which "pretenders" can be ruled out empirically.

[c.d.]

Hello Sam,

Far from being the key that unlocks the case it could simply be that Mary chose to change her name so that no family member became aware that she was a prostitute. Similar to a porn star not using their real name.

c.d.

[Sam Flynn]

But if as a result of the exhumation it did turn out to be possible to identify MJK or gain other info about her, then that would be of huge interest to us. We study everything - the Ripper, the victims, the police, the lodging-house keepers.....all part of the subject.

If nothing else, it would put a stop to the wacky speculation surrounding her identity, and the even wackier theorising that tends to arise from it.

[Robert]

Well, strictly speaking it doesn't concern us since it is WWD's putative ancestor and he would be financing the exhumation. I believe his primary focus is his own family history, with the identity of JTR very much second.

But if as a result of the exhumation it did turn out to be possible to identify MJK or gain other info about her, then that would be of huge interest to us. We study everything - the Ripper, the victims, the police, the lodging-house keepers.....all part of the subject.

[John Wheat]

Would the Exhumation be worth it though? I understand DNA may lead to a break through in who Mary Kelly was but so what? I'm 50/50 on wether she should be exhumed or not.

[Sally]

We'd know more than that, Sally, because we - or rather, WWD - would have MJK's DNA profile (always providing that her bones do still exist and can be verified by means of notches etc). This would furnish a touchstone for anyone else who thinks they might be related. Also they would hopefully provide some evidence as to her probable origins (Limerick or Wales). Maybe stuff about her appearance too.

All true. And if she is exhumed, I'm sure facial reconstruction as per Richard III will be on the cards too - maybe a fight to the death between rival T.V. companies? If MJK does turn out to have been EWD, presumably any such venture would be subject to permission from her descendants.

But yes, DNA could prove very helpful in the search for MJK. Maybe science can answer what the records apparently can not.