The "REAL" Article

[Dan Norder]

Anyhoo, Juwes is how the masons old book or how they spell it right?

Nope -- or at least there's been no reliable evidence found that supports this idea. The only sources making that claim have been Stephen Knight, specifically trying to find a way to connect Freemasons to the story and some books taking Knight's claims at face value. So far there's never been any reference to "Juwes" found in any reference involving Freemasons predating the Royal Conspiracy claims, and I've looked through several that almost certainly would have had the term if it had been a real word used in Freemasonry.

[Sam Flynn]

The only people that I know of that would have carried chalk with them during that time, were butchers. Butchers always wrote on their chalk boards for their customers...

Hi BK,

Chalk was practically the only multi-purpose writing medium of its day and many people - no matter their age, sex or occupation - would have had easy access to it. Its use certainly wasn't confined to butchers, or to any particular profession, including the irregularly employed darts-player coming home from his local pub.

[Blackkat]

The only people that I know of that would have carried chalk with them during that time, were butchers. Butchers always wrote on their chalk boards for their customers. It's be theorized that Jack could have been a butcher, and thus he would have had chalk, and it's the one profession you could walk the streets without anyone thinking too much about you having blood on your clothing.

Anyhoo, Juwes is how the masons old book or how they spell it right? It didn't have anything to do with the Jewish race/ religion. You have to wonder if whomever wrote this, was trying to make it seem as though a freemason was responsible. (That's leaning towards the writing NOT being done by Jack)

If he did write it, maybe he was trying to place a link. Chalk, Apron - and maybe the writing was something that was A) already there, B) something that made no connection what so ever and would have been written on purpose to throw off the police. C) written after the murder for the intention of telling the police or SOMEONE a message that maybe only they would understand. Doophis did have it erased.

[paul emmett]

So if he did write this message, which seemed to be important to him, to take the time to write, with a major man hunt going on for him, and a bloody apron behind him, why not just send another letter to the newspapers, with that message on it? The circulation would have been better.

The apron provides credibility for the message, which, in turn, ties in with the other Jewish "associations" of the night. With hindsight, we can see that he got pretty good circulation after all.

[NOV9]

It has been suggested (although I cannot remember were) that it may have been a dress maker.

These people would have been familiar with sharp objects, carried chalk etc.

Were any of the suspects a dress maker?

[NOV9]

I think the simplest answer to why the person who wrote that message had chalk on him at the time is that he wanted to write a message. I doubt that the person was idly going through his pockets, realized he had chalk, and then just up and decided to write something on a wall on a whim.

That goes for whether it was written by the killer or not.

You said "That goes for whether it was written by the killer or not."

I agree with that, because he never did that before.

So if he did used the chalk that he uses in his business, to print the message, but he wrote the letters?

From my experiences writing and printing is a spontaneous thing, when you want to leave a quick message, it is a reflex you do not think of.

So if he did write this message, which seemed to be important to him, to take the time to write, with a major man hunt going on for him, and a bloody apron behind him, why not just send another letter to the newspapers, with that message on it? The circulation would have been better.

[johnnyerwin]

Is there any sources to indicate how common this form (or any form) of Graffiti was at the time?

[NOV9]

I think any number of people may have had a piece of chalk in their pocket.

Looking at the contents of the victim's pockets, it appears the residents of the east end were pack-rats who would collect all manner of bric-a-brac in the course of their daily lives.

True any number of people may have had a piece of chalk in their pocket.

So did any of the suspects have a reason to carry chalk?

[Dan Norder]

I think the simplest answer to why the person who wrote that message had chalk on him at the time is that he wanted to write a message. I doubt that the person was idly going through his pockets, realized he had chalk, and then just up and decided to write something on a wall on a whim.

That goes for whether it was written by the killer or not.

[The Grave Maurice]

school teacher? race course bookie? pavement artist? quarry worker?

tailor? carpenter? Olympic gymnast?

[steje73]

To draw round the bodies, of course!

[Monty]

The REAL article? Pull my...

This is the only correspondence from the Ripper you can be sure is truly from the Ripper in my mind.

Seeing as there is no eveidence to verify this 'fact' (therefore leaving a possibility not certainty), the question shouldnt be why did Jack have a piece of chalk but rather why would your Eastender have chalk?

Watch the various scenarios flood in.

Monty

[Magpie]

I think any number of people may have had a piece of chalk in their pocket.

Looking at the contents of the victim's pockets, it appears the residents of the east end were pack-rats who would collect all manner of bric-a-brac in the course of their daily lives.

[mariag]

If the killer did write the message(and I'm one of those whothinks he didn't) then--so what??

Since we don't kow exactly what it says or what it means, what's the point?

[Mike Covell]

It has been suggested (although I cannot remember were) that it may have been a dress maker.

These people would have been familiar with sharp objects, carried chalk etc.