Time Pattern of the Killings

[Michael W Richards]

Well, Mary was killed and mutilated after all. Liz is an entirely different matter - she died a death whose characteristics bear close comparison with several other victims in LVP Whitechapel, none of whom are now seriously ascribed to Jack the Ripper.

If there is a common pattern, it's that all the victims - whether Jack's or not - seem to have been relatively "soft targets". Of course, this tells us a lot about the victims, and precious little about the murderers themselves.

I repeat Sam, what we need to look for are possible Motives, and the ladies I mentioned seem to have fallen prey to someone who picked ripe targets...alone, depleted physically, on the streets, looking to get strangers into dark corners.

In no other Canonical murders do we have that so obviously demonstrated.

[Abby Normal]

the only real time pattern that I see is they occurred on weekends/holidays at night and interestingly either in the beginning or end of the month. which IMHO would beg the question, what line of work would prevent murders in the middle of the week?

[Fantomas]

This alone surely strikes Tumblety and Kosminski from suspicion. Men to whom "working week" hours of business meant nothing?

[Sam Flynn]

We need to be a little careful with time patterns. We have to bear in mind that the "canonical" dates might only reflect those nights on which the killer was successful, not necessarily the only nights on which he was out and about. For all we know, he might have gone prowling most nights, but only "got lucky" once every few weeks, striking only when the conditions suited his purposes.

[Pierre]

We need to be a little careful with time patterns. We have to bear in mind that the "canonical" dates might only reflect those nights on which the killer was successful, not necessarily the only nights on which he was out and about. For all we know, he might have gone prowling most nights, but only "got lucky" once every few weeks, striking only when the conditions suited his purposes.

But on the other hand, not knowing what specific triggers were active at what specific dates in the reality of the killer makes it meaningless to hypothesize either about non successfull dates or patterns connected to unknown factors.

Pierre

[Sam Flynn]

But on the other hand, not knowing what specific triggers were active at what specific dates in the reality of the killer makes it meaningless to hypothesize either about non successfull dates or patterns connected to unknown factors.

It's not meaningless at all, unless one wants to believe that he was 100% successful each time his "triggers" kicked in, or that a sure-fire victim just happened to cross his path every time one of his "patterns" demanded it. Hugely unlikely, I'd suggest.

[Pierre]

[QUOTE=Sam Flynn;413126]

It's not meaningless at all, unless one wants to believe that he was 100% successful each time his "triggers" kicked in,

Stride is the example for the opposite.

or that a sure-fire victim just happened to cross his path every time one of his "patterns" demanded it. Hugely unlikely, I'd suggest.

Of course, since it was he who crossed their path.

[c.d.]

Could pay day possibly be a factor? Money for drinks (a little French courage if he needed it) and money to buy drinks for women. Also money to show prostitutes if they demanded it up front.

c.d.

[Sam Flynn]

Could pay day possibly be a factor? Money for drinks (a little French courage if he needed it) and money to buy drinks for women. Also money to show prostitutes if they demanded it up front.

I think that's a real possibility, CD, although the concept of "pay day" was a bit of a moveable feast for many of the slum-dwellers.

[c.d.]

Hello Sam,

Wasn't it generally on Saturday?

c.d.

[Joshua Rogan]

Smith - Monday night - Bank holiday
Tabram - Monday night - Bank holiday
Nichols - Thursday night
Chapman - Friday night
Double event - Saturday night
Kelly - Thursday night / Friday morning - unofficial holiday
MacKenzie - Tuesday night
Coles - Thursday night

[Michael W Richards]

I personally believe that the person who killed both Polly then Annie was out a lot at night before he ever tried anything. Sizing up what he would need to do or bring, where he would likely find his prey, and around what times were the streets least observed by the general public and night workers. Might have been one himself, and went right on to finish work after Polly.

I believe Opportunity dictated when Polly and Annie would be killed.

[harry]

Where was he on Wednesdays'?

[Pierre]

Could pay day possibly be a factor? Money for drinks (a little French courage if he needed it) and money to buy drinks for women. Also money to show prostitutes if they demanded it up front.

c.d.

As cheaply bought as they were, no.

Pierre

[Abby Normal]

Where was he on Wednesdays'?

Ive often asked-where was he in the middle of the month? other than the weekends and holidays, I think this is the next most pertinent question, and may again, have to do with what type of work he did.