Time Pattern of the Killings

[Errata]

This is a random thought, but in keeping with the Jewish suspect theory-- what were the Jewish holy days in October? Anything that might have influenced the Ripper's apparent lull?

Simchat Torah is somewhere in October usually, but it's kind of a nothing holiday. Certainly the observance of it would require no more than a day off work for the devout. Just a small do where they roll the Torah back to the beginning.

Sukkot also sometimes falls in October, but its a harvest festival and also having no tradition that would last for a month, nor is a holiday that requires again, much more than a day off work for the devout.

[Paddy]

To Wickerman

It's likely a fair bet that there was a fraternity of officers, detectives and constables who, at one time or another, all claimed to have been "on the right track".
It's probably just as likely that all their suspects looked quite different.

How True !

Pat......

[Wickerman]

I have just been looking up memoires of my great uncle Henry Cox. I cant find the bit I was looking for but I am certain it would have been put on the Ripper Wiki by Chris Phillips. I know Henry mentioned that there could be a connection with the dates of the murders. He also seemed to think that the man they followed was widely thought (by him and his colleagues) to have been Jack.
What a pity he wasn't more explicit !
Pat......

It's likely a fair bet that there was a fraternity of officers, detectives and constables who, at one time or another, all claimed to have been "on the right track".
It's probably just as likely that all their suspects looked quite different.

[Pcdunn]

This is a random thought, but in keeping with the Jewish suspect theory-- what were the Jewish holy days in October? Anything that might have influenced the Ripper's apparent lull?

[Rosella]

Yes, that pattern is interesting and I've noticed it before. I've wondered whether perhaps it had to do with any relatives he was lodging with being away towards the endings of those months and the beginning of the next, giving him a clear run if he wanted to get home, deposit any souvenirs and clean up before work that morning. They might also have been away on long weekends like bank holiday times. Buying/selling outside of London perhaps?

The break in October could have had any number of reasons couldn't it? Further patrols in the wake of the double murders by police and vigilante groups, illness, the prostitutes of Whitechapel more on edge and suspicious, a lengthy foggy patch in mid month, the people at his lodgings being around all the time, anything really.

There's a page here on Casebook that gives weather and sun and moon risings etc on the dates of the murders and I don't think any of them were bright moonlit nights, not that you would get that with the amount of pollution in the London air, anyway.

[Errata]

I'm not sure if this has been brought up before in the forums, but has anyone ever thought about the pattern that seems to emerge with the murders? It seems like JTR prefers to kill at the beginning and end of each month starting in August through November. Now, granted. the dates don't match up exactly apart, but they are pretty darn close. For the sake of argument, we have to assume that Martha Tabram is a Ripper victim, but if we do, we see the pattern.

Murders occuring in the beginning of the month.

1. Martha Tabram-murdered 7 August 1888

2. Annie Chapman-murdered 8 September 1888

3. Mary Kelly-murdered 9 November 1888

Murders occuring at the end of the month

1. Mary Ann Nichols-murdered 31 August 1888

2. Elizabeth Stride (?)/Catherine Eddowes-30 September 1888

Now, I know what immediatedly everyone will notice. There are no murders in October; hence, no pattern. However, perhaps the killer was not in London at that time or decided to take a break because the heat was turned up by the press/police after the double homicide. And, in November, he just decided to pick up where he left off. It is interesting to note the killings that take place in the early times of the month follow a sequential order (7, 8, & 9) and the murders at the end of the month are practically exactly one month apart. Does this mean anything? If so, what? Also, does the pattern show us when his bloodlust was heightened and cooled (beginning and end of each month) Even if there is no pattern, it is still pretty interesting.

He might double up in September to make up for not being in town or something in October. And then come back to a beginning of the month schedule in November to make up for the long absence.

[harry]

I doubt the the nights of the killing were bright moonlit nights.

[Paddy]

I have just been looking up memoires of my great uncle Henry Cox. I cant find the bit I was looking for but I am certain it would have been put on the Ripper Wiki by Chris Phillips. I know Henry mentioned that there could be a connection with the dates of the murders. He also seemed to think that the man they followed was widely thought (by him and his colleagues) to have been Jack.
What a pity he wasn't more explicit !
Pat......

[Aldebaran]

I posted my theory [sort of] about a pattern in the thread "Ripper the Mama's Boy?", so that seems to have been on our minds today.

[MrE]

Welcome, MrE.



Not so strange.....there was speculation at the time (and since) that the killer arrived on a regularly scheduled cattle-boat or similar.



Interesting....how do you know what knife was used for killing Stride, and how was it different to the one(s) used on the others?

Thanks for the welcome

I thought I read on here somewhere that the autopsy revealed that cuts were different and the knife was different (round tip knife) to the one used on Eddowes (long sharp pointed blade the same as the rest of the accepted victims)

[MrE]

Well, however the pattern is interpreted, the pattern was noticed and the point was well made in the original post to this thread.

I suppose we can all agree that whatever the pattern was only 'Jack' knows for sure why it was significant to him. I.e. Your choice of a certain combination would be different to mine and for different reasons. None of us are in a position to say one particular way doesn't matter.

[Joshua Rogan]

Welcome, MrE.

Also the pattern in dates appear to follow a 'two week on, two week off' pattern. Kind of like some strange shift-work going on maybe?

Not so strange.....there was speculation at the time (and since) that the killer arrived on a regularly scheduled cattle-boat or similar.

Could be that Nichols was done with his new knife which subsequently became his weapon of choice (a reason I'm not sure Stride was a Ripper kill - different knife was used)

Interesting....how do you know what knife was used for killing Stride, and how was it different to the one(s) used on the others?

[Pierre]

I'm not sure if this has been brought up before in the forums, but has anyone ever thought about the pattern that seems to emerge with the murders? It seems like JTR prefers to kill at the beginning and end of each month starting in August through November. Now, granted. the dates don't match up exactly apart, but they are pretty darn close. For the sake of argument, we have to assume that Martha Tabram is a Ripper victim, but if we do, we see the pattern.

Murders occuring in the beginning of the month.

1. Martha Tabram-murdered 7 August 1888

2. Annie Chapman-murdered 8 September 1888

3. Mary Kelly-murdered 9 November 1888

Murders occuring at the end of the month

1. Mary Ann Nichols-murdered 31 August 1888

2. Elizabeth Stride (?)/Catherine Eddowes-30 September 1888

Now, I know what immediatedly everyone will notice. There are no murders in October; hence, no pattern. However, perhaps the killer was not in London at that time or decided to take a break because the heat was turned up by the press/police after the double homicide. And, in November, he just decided to pick up where he left off. It is interesting to note the killings that take place in the early times of the month follow a sequential order (7, 8, & 9) and the murders at the end of the month are practically exactly one month apart. Does this mean anything? If so, what? Also, does the pattern show us when his bloodlust was heightened and cooled (beginning and end of each month) Even if there is no pattern, it is still pretty interesting.

Hi,

the time pattern for the C-5 is close to three critical points in time:

Critical point 1. The beginning of September: Nichols, Chapman
Critical point 2. The beginning of October: Stride, Eddowes
Critical point 3. The beginning of November: Kelly

It does not matter if a murder is committed in the end of August or in the end of September, since those dates are connected to expected events in the beginning of the next month. So the pattern is:

31 August - beginning September - 8 September
30 September - beginning October
9 November - beginning November

Regards, Pierre

[MrE]

I'm not sure if this has been brought up before in the forums, but has anyone ever thought about the pattern that seems to emerge with the murders? It seems like JTR prefers to kill at the beginning and end of each month starting in August through November. Now, granted. the dates don't match up exactly apart, but they are pretty darn close. For the sake of argument, we have to assume that Martha Tabram is a Ripper victim, but if we do, we see the pattern.

Murders occuring in the beginning of the month.

1. Martha Tabram-murdered 7 August 1888

2. Annie Chapman-murdered 8 September 1888

3. Mary Kelly-murdered 9 November 1888

Murders occuring at the end of the month

1. Mary Ann Nichols-murdered 31 August 1888

2. Elizabeth Stride (?)/Catherine Eddowes-30 September 1888

Now, I know what immediatedly everyone will notice. There are no murders in October; hence, no pattern. However, perhaps the killer was not in London at that time or decided to take a break because the heat was turned up by the press/police after the double homicide. And, in November, he just decided to pick up where he left off. It is interesting to note the killings that take place in the early times of the month follow a sequential order (7, 8, & 9) and the murders at the end of the month are practically exactly one month apart. Does this mean anything? If so, what? Also, does the pattern show us when his bloodlust was heightened and cooled (beginning and end of each month) Even if there is no pattern, it is still pretty interesting.

Hello all (my first post so please be gentle)

I noticed and wondered exactly the same thing about the dates (and Tabram).
Had the murders continued, should there have been further victims on 30th November, 10th December, 31st December etc?

Also the pattern in dates appear to follow a 'two week on, two week off' pattern. Kind of like some strange shift-work going on maybe?

As for the absence of atrocities during October, maybe he was on holiday (heck even serial killers must need a rest). I'm not sure what type of vacation a serial killer might decide to take though. Perhaps he wondered if a visit to Dr Kellog and partake of his wondrous flakes of corn would alleviate his strange addictions.

Maybe he didn't get delivery of corn flakes in time to save MJK, but they came thru in time to cure him by the time the next date with a loose woman came around.

Who knew a cereal could kill a serial killer?

But anyhow, I agree with the date pattern etc. killers of this ilk do attribute special significance to certain things and there is sometimes order to their madness.

I tend to agree with Tabram being an early victim, it wasn't exactly the same, but maybe he hadn't perfected his 'skills' hence E.J.H. Post could also be true. Could be that Nichols was done with his new knife which subsequently became his weapon of choice (a reason I'm not sure Stride was a Ripper kill - different knife was used)

Great forum btw.

[E.J.H.]

It is interesting to note the killings that take place in the early times of the month follow a sequential order (7, 8, & 9) and the murders at the end of the month are practically exactly one month apart.

Maybe there were number 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 that were unnoticed ?