The **** are the men.

[Harry D]

What's more plausible? That the killer hung around somewhere for an hour before depositing the apron... or that PC Long simply missed/ignored it last time around? As Bridewell said, we shouldn't take PC Long's testimony automatically as gospel... particularly as he was proven to be a man of questionable conduct.

[Michael W Richards]

Hi Wickerman
thanks for clarifying. so it seems the apron brought his attention to the immediate area, which led him to examine the apron, find blood on it and then look around where he found the graffiti.

Why would a discarded apron cause such attention to a police officer-so much so that he would examine it enough to find blood?

Since he discovered it after more than 1 hour after the murder, his awareness of such objects and feelings about their potential importance might have been elevated.

[Bridewell]

Quite possible. We know that he was sacked from the force the following year for drinking on duty, so there are question marks about his professionalism.

There certainly are. Seconded from 'A' Division to 'H' Division. If you were the Divisional Commander on 'A' Division in receipt of such a request, would you send your best men to work on another Division - or those whose services you wouldn't miss too much?

Quite controversial actually, this. There are some posters who consider Long's testimony to be sacrosanct, despite his shambolic performance at the inquest.

[Harry D]

(2) P.c. Long was holed up somewhere and missed a circuit, then rushed out and found something which had been there to be found for an hour or so.

Quite possible. We know that he was sacked from the force the following year for drinking on duty, so there are question marks about his professionalism.

[Bridewell]

Where is this apron piece you speak of?

Who knows? Destroyed long ago I imagine.

[Geddy2112]

Where is this apron piece you speak of?

[Bridewell]

If PC Long had already heard of the murder, as suggested above, his attention might've been drawn to the apron, as he hadn't seen it on his last patrol.

Hmm. He insisted that it wasn't there on his previous circuit. This means one of two things to my mind:

(1) The killer waited around in the area for an hour or so, with incriminating evidence, before dumping it

or

(2) P.c. Long was holed up somewhere and missed a circuit, then rushed out and found something which had been there to be found for an hour or so.

Either is possible but (2) is, IMHO, considerably more likely than (1).

[Harry D]

Why would a discarded apron cause such attention to a police officer-so much so that he would examine it enough to find blood?

If PC Long had already heard of the murder, as suggested above, his attention might've been drawn to the apron, as he hadn't seen it on his last patrol.

[Bridewell]

Why would a discarded apron cause such attention to a police officer-so much so that he would examine it enough to find blood?

A good question.

[Abby Normal]

It was the apron he noticed first, and only found the small graffiti because he had his lamp aimed at the wall looking for blood spots.

Hi Wickerman
thanks for clarifying. so it seems the apron brought his attention to the immediate area, which led him to examine the apron, find blood on it and then look around where he found the graffiti.

Why would a discarded apron cause such attention to a police officer-so much so that he would examine it enough to find blood?

[Joshua Rogan]

Sadly, he doesn't seem to have given any more details (unless anyone knows of some?). Other PCs, passers-by, supposition from hearing lots of whistles? I can't remember where, but I'm sure I read recently that the warehouseman in Mitre Square heard whistles from Berner Street (which must be a kilometre due East), and assumed there had been another murder.

[Bridewell]

According to Long himself, he had heard of the Mitre Square murder;

"[Coroner] Before going did you hear that a murder had been committed? - Yes. It is common knowledge that two murders have been perpetrated.
[Coroner] Which did you hear of? - I heard of the murder in the City. There were rumours of another, but not certain. "

From whom did he hear of the Eddowes murder and the "rumours" (plural) of another I wonder?

[Joshua Rogan]

According to Long himself, he had heard of the Mitre Square murder;

"[Coroner] Before going did you hear that a murder had been committed? - Yes. It is common knowledge that two murders have been perpetrated.
[Coroner] Which did you hear of? - I heard of the murder in the City. There were rumours of another, but not certain. "

[Rosella]

Probably the light from PC Long's lamp caught the bloodstains on the apron. I agree it was probably extremely grimy and wouldn't have been lying there like material in an advert for washing powder. Long was probably extra alert to anything and everything at the time because of the ongoing investigation of Stride's murder.

It's interesting that he hadn't yet heard of the Mitre Square happenings at the time of the discovery and thought that the apron might have come from another victim. It must have been delicious conveying that piece of apron back to the station, by the way!

[GUT]

It was the apron he noticed first, and only found the small graffiti because he had his lamp aimed at the wall looking for blood spots.

That was his evidence and I see no reason to doubt it's accuracy.