Faecal matter on apron piece

[Errata]

We don't know any of these things, RipperNoob, (Hi by the way,) though they have been discussed on many threads. People have wondered whether he was in the horse slaughtering or butchering or meat handling trades. Plenty of blood and gore there and no work uniform as such to protect workers' everyday clothing.

I'll just say this. In the 20th and 21st centuries anyone walking around a modern city in a blood spattered condition would attract notice. In Britain's slum districts in the 19th century, not so much. In poor districts men would be lucky to have a Sunday suit (and that was often in the pawn shop!) Men and women wore the same clothing day after day during a working week. If a man got blood splashed clothing through a fight, accident, or following his trade, there was no rushing back home for a fresh pair of trousers or fresh shirt for him or for many of his fellows.

I think that is the reason Jack probably got away with it, because it wasn't unusual for clothing to be stained. In rooming houses there was no bathroom, communal or otherwise, just a bowl that others used. The darkness in these places after nightfall was often intense.

Did Jack's wife wash his clothes? I don't think he was married, but others think that perhaps she did wash them and was suspicious and said nothing. Perhaps she did say something to him but stayed silent as far as the authorities were concerned because of fear. Perhaps she just didn't notice or didn't want to. We just don't know.

And a black wool coat covers a multitude of sins.

[Rosella]

We don't know any of these things, RipperNoob, (Hi by the way,) though they have been discussed on many threads. People have wondered whether he was in the horse slaughtering or butchering or meat handling trades. Plenty of blood and gore there and no work uniform as such to protect workers' everyday clothing.

I'll just say this. In the 20th and 21st centuries anyone walking around a modern city in a blood spattered condition would attract notice. In Britain's slum districts in the 19th century, not so much. In poor districts men would be lucky to have a Sunday suit (and that was often in the pawn shop!) Men and women wore the same clothing day after day during a working week. If a man got blood splashed clothing through a fight, accident, or following his trade, there was no rushing back home for a fresh pair of trousers or fresh shirt for him or for many of his fellows.

I think that is the reason Jack probably got away with it, because it wasn't unusual for clothing to be stained. In rooming houses there was no bathroom, communal or otherwise, just a bowl that others used. The darkness in these places after nightfall was often intense.

Did Jack's wife wash his clothes? I don't think he was married, but others think that perhaps she did wash them and was suspicious and said nothing. Perhaps she did say something to him but stayed silent as far as the authorities were concerned because of fear. Perhaps she just didn't notice or didn't want to. We just don't know.

[RipperNoob]

I just wanted to ask...
How was this blood and sh-t soaked killer never spotted? How did he manage to escape police and eyewitnesses so easily? I always had the image in my mind of a "clean" Jack - maybe slight blood on the hands that could be cleansed with a napkin of some sort, a Victorian gentleman killer wiping his hands off and then blending into the night - I never realized that, at least in one case, he was probably covered in muck, and in all cases, probably covered in blood and gore.

How did he manage to escape people's notice? Was Whitechapel that much of a living hell that a man covered in blood, or in this case, covered in blood and fecal matter, wouldn't have been noticed?

If Jack was married, how did he explain off coming home at odd hours covered in blood without his wife suspecting? Even if he wasn't married, but shared a rooming house?

If he discarded this blood and in this case, feces soaked clothes on the way "home" - wherever home was - why was it never discovering?

Was Jack a cop? How did he know the police beats so well as to avoid detection given the above factors?

[Harry D]

Hello all,
Been a while since I've visited the boards. Husband and I have been watching the (seemingly endless) documentaries on JtR.
When Walt asked a question, I hadn't thought of , previous.
The night of the double event, after the second murder, the police found a basin on one street with swirling water with blood in it and the piece of apron from the victim (used to wipe the weapon).
The question is; Why didn't the killer wash the knife in the basin, as well? or wipe his hands on the apron piece first? IF this is a matter of "habit" then why were no other "basins with bloody water in them" found near the other crime scenes?
Anyone want to hazard a quess on this one?
Thanks,
Gypsyohara

As I understand it, the story about the basin is an apocryphal one that only appears in Chief Supt Henry Smith's memoirs.

[Gypsyohara]

apron piece and basin of water

Hello all,
Been a while since I've visited the boards. Husband and I have been watching the (seemingly endless) documentaries on JtR.
When Walt asked a question, I hadn't thought of , previous.
The night of the double event, after the second murder, the police found a basin on one street with swirling water with blood in it and the piece of apron from the victim (used to wipe the weapon).
The question is; Why didn't the killer wash the knife in the basin, as well? or wipe his hands on the apron piece first? IF this is a matter of "habit" then why were no other "basins with bloody water in them" found near the other crime scenes?
Anyone want to hazard a quess on this one?
Thanks,
Gypsyohara

[Cogidubnus]

"Les vécés étaient fermés de l'intérieur"

What, bombed in the bog? No thanks mate, we had enough of that back in 1940...

Dave

[DVV]

Here is a clue

"Les vécés étaient fermés de l'intérieur" (remarkable French movie)

[lynn cates]

spending money

Hello Dave. Thanks. And it all sounds free. (heh-heh)

Cheers.
LC

[Cogidubnus]

Thanks. McGregor? At what part of the table do you sit to eat? (heh-heh)

$175? No, I just found some corn pads so now I have a different purchase to make.

Hi Lynn

Next time you're in the UK do come visit...we keep an extensive cheeseboard for our guests...

Dave

[Michael W Richards]

Hi Paul,

Historians usually insist on a fairly bullet-proof set of reasons for giving a higher priority to one source over another.

But in the matter of JtR those bullet-proof reasons remain elusive.

Regards,

Simon

Absolutely Correct Simon, The Fat Lady has most definitely not warbled her aria to bring finality to this monstrous goose chase.

Sorry....I miss AP's eloquence.

My best regards,

Mike R

[lynn cates]

food

Hello Maria. Thanks. Feed you on neeps and tatties. (heh-heh)

Cheers.
LC

[lynn cates]

head of the table

Hello Dave. Thanks. McGregor? At what part of the table do you sit to eat? (heh-heh)

$175? No, I just found some corn pads so now I have a different purchase to make.

Cheers.
LC

[mariab]

As a matter of interest, Scottish ancestry or not, would YOU have paid $175 for that particular book, or rather adopted maria's solution?

Lynn, adopt Maria's solution. Or better yet, adopt Maria, and be covering for ALL my expenses from now on. Looking around for a sugar daddy.

[Cogidubnus]

Hello Dave. Thanks. Given your pecuniary remarks, do I understand another Scots lad? (heh-heh)

Hi Lynn

Family legend on my fathers side says there's some McGregor in there somewhere, but I've gone back on that side to 1770 or thereabouts and there's no trace whatsoever of anything except Sussex yeomen (We wunt be druv!)...On t'other side it's 100% all London/London Irish as far back as I can go so far (gertcha!)...

As a matter of interest, Scottish ancestry or not, would YOU have paid $175 for that particular book, or rather adopted maria's solution?

Dave

[Phil Carter]

Hello Maria,

Go to 'Books' 'Non-fiction' 'book collection for sale' thread

best wishes

Phil