Why the Gap?

[Michael W Richards]

I am sure this has been raised before but I will ask again. Why were there no murders in October 1888?

How do we explain this hiatus?

What do people think happened?

Hi Tristan,

Although its been explained away by comments like he was away, or perhaps incarcerated?... I also think its possible that Jack, whoever that was, was finished before Nov 88. Marys murder in many ways is unlike any prior, in scale, location and actions taken. It might be that Oct was a dividing line.

[Bridewell]

Wouldn't it be far more likely that Blotchy's face was down to being an alcoholic?

More likely than septicaemia I would have thought.

[Aethelwulf]

One of my favorite pet theories is the idea that Blotchy's face blotchiness was a symptom of septicemia from cutting himself on Eddowes. I won't post any pics but you can google image search "sepsis skin blotchy" and see what it does to the skin.

Septicemia, or sepsis, is the clinical name for blood poisoning by bacteria. It is the body's most extreme response to an infection. Sepsis that progresses to septic shock has a death rate as high as 50%, depending on the type of organism involved. Sepsis is a medical emergency and needs urgent medical treatment.

Blotchy would almost certainly have been long dead by then.

[John Wheat]

One of my favorite pet theories is the idea that Blotchy's face blotchiness was a symptom of septicemia from cutting himself on Eddowes. I won't post any pics but you can google image search "sepsis skin blotchy" and see what it does to the skin.

Wouldn't it be far more likely that Blotchy's face was down to being an alcoholic?

[Losmandris]

As time passes I am more inclined to believe that Alice McKenzie was a victim of the same murderer. The way I see it is the culprit trying to get back into 'it' after a long gap. GAp possibly explained by lack of opportunity, too much police presence or down to weather related factors. Considering how before 1888 how rare this type of crime was, I am at a loss to see what the motive for killing Alice would have been? Not robbery, not sign of sexual relations being carried out first or rape. To simply cut someone's throat for seemingly no reason is surely indication that this person was serious disturbed. When you add in the fact that at least an attempt was made at mutilation (and as mentioned above the lack of this could be explained by the type of knife used or being interrupted by someone) the chances of this being the original perpetrator increase at least in my mind.

As mentioned it is the gap that explains this!

[Damaso Marte]

One of my favorite pet theories is the idea that Blotchy's face blotchiness was a symptom of septicemia from cutting himself on Eddowes. I won't post any pics but you can google image search "sepsis skin blotchy" and see what it does to the skin.

[JeffHamm]

August 14 1889: Testimony at inquest by Dr. George Bagster Phillips (recalled):
There were five marks on the abdomen, and, with the exception of one, were on the left side of the abdomen. The largest one was the lowest, and the smallest one was the exceptional one mentioned, and was typical of a finger-nail mark. They were coloured, and in my opinion were caused by the finger-nails and thumb nail of a hand. I have on a subsequent examination assured myself of the correctness of this conclusion.
[Coroner] Are the injuries to the abdomen similar to those you have seen in the other cases? - No, Sir. I may volunteer the statement that the injuries to the throat are not similar to those in the other cases.

Best regards, George

Thanks George! Nice to see that I can, at times, recall some things. Although, as mentioned by jerryd, there was a knife wound to the abdomen as well, but not as deep as in the 1888 cases. Of course, that could be explained by having a different knife at the time, but it's a difference worth noting given the apparent escalation that had been occurring. On the other hand, the mutilations in the C5 may only appear to be escalating if, as is possible, the extent reflects time available. What I mean is, if JtR was interrupted by the arrival of Cross/Lechmere, then the mutilations of Nichols may be less than he intended and had he more time her attack may have more closely resembled that of Chapman, which makes the escalation rate much less pronounced. That would still mean that Alice's injury is much less than the others, and would require addressing (it might be as simple as he thought he heard someone coming? another interruption perhaps?).

- Jeff

[jerryd]

Hi jerryd,

I was providing the testimony from Phillips to show that Jeff's memory wasn't failing him. The report of the inquest was by the Times and didn't mention the wounds that you detail. What is your source for that information please?

As far as the opinions of Bond and Munro as to whether she was a JtR victim are concerned, I am inclined toward their opinions rather than that of Phillips.

Cheers, George

Hi George.

The source is the Ultimate Jack the Ripper Sourcebook. Skinner and Evans

MEPO 3/140 (Metropolitan Police File)

[GBinOz]

Hi George.

Are you suggesting these are the only wounds to the abdomen? The hand print? There were about 15 knife wounds or scoring.

There was a major wound downward on the right side of the abdomen below the right breast, about 7 inches in length. Off of that cut (inner border) were 7 dermal marks or scoring ascending above the significant wound and 7 dermal marks or scoring descending lower than the major wound. One of the lower wounds was deepest at the pubic area. Phillips used the term "major" although he admits it did not open the abdominal cavity or divide the muscular covering.

As far as who thought it was a Ripper murder. Dr. Bond and Commissioner Munro are two off the top of my head.

Hi jerryd,

I was providing the testimony from Phillips to show that Jeff's memory wasn't failing him. The report of the inquest was by the Times and didn't mention the wounds that you detail. What is your source for that information please?

As far as the opinions of Bond and Munro as to whether she was a JtR victim are concerned, I am inclined toward their opinions rather than that of Phillips.

Cheers, George

[FISHY1118]

Well maybe the killer thought the job had been completed with Eddowes....not realising they had killed the wrong person at the time.
just saying!

Not Entirely out of the question spyglass, based on what we know .

[jerryd]

Hi George.

Are you suggesting these are the only wounds to the abdomen? The hand print? There were about 15 knife wounds or scoring.

There was a major wound downward on the right side of the abdomen below the right breast, about 7 inches in length. Off of that cut (inner border) were 7 dermal marks or scoring ascending above the significant wound and 7 dermal marks or scoring descending lower than the major wound. One of the lower wounds was deepest at the pubic area. Phillips used the term "major" although he admits it did not open the abdominal cavity or divide the muscular covering.

As far as who thought it was a Ripper murder. Dr. Bond and Commissioner Munro are two off the top of my head.

[GBinOz]

Hi Losmandris,

It is certainly not out of the question, and although the police at the time had decided Alice was killed by a different person than JtR, and I believe the wounds to her abdomen were described as being due to fingernails rather than a knife (I hope I've not misremembered which case that description was used in! I'm sure I'll be corrected if wrong), which would also lessen the similarities with the JtR murders. But, if my memory is playing tricks on me (it does that), then it is possible that the police dismissed Alice only because her injuries were less severe. That isn't a great reason in my opinion.

- Jeff

August 14 1889: Testimony at inquest by Dr. George Bagster Phillips (recalled):
There were five marks on the abdomen, and, with the exception of one, were on the left side of the abdomen. The largest one was the lowest, and the smallest one was the exceptional one mentioned, and was typical of a finger-nail mark. They were coloured, and in my opinion were caused by the finger-nails and thumb nail of a hand. I have on a subsequent examination assured myself of the correctness of this conclusion.
[Coroner] Are the injuries to the abdomen similar to those you have seen in the other cases? - No, Sir. I may volunteer the statement that the injuries to the throat are not similar to those in the other cases.

Best regards, George

[JeffHamm]

I wonder if the longest gap came after Kelly? The fact that winter was setting in could well have made a difference, less people out on the streets. And maybe, following the murder, prostitutes with rooms becoming more reluctant to invite clients back. Is there any evidence to suggest that soliciting decreased during the winter months? Be interesting to find out.

Could the murderer have returned to his old habits or at least tried to with Alice McKenzie once summer had returned? He tries but Possibly ends up not being able to gain the same satisfaction after Kelly so ending up doing a 'half hearted' job? Hence the lack of mutilations? Maybe just picking at straws but possible? Maybe?

Hi Losmandris,

It is certainly not out of the question, and although the police at the time had decided Alice was killed by a different person than JtR, and I believe the wounds to her abdomen were described as being due to fingernails rather than a knife (I hope I've not misremembered which case that description was used in! I'm sure I'll be corrected if wrong), which would also lessen the similarities with the JtR murders. But, if my memory is playing tricks on me (it does that), then it is possible that the police dismissed Alice only because her injuries were less severe. That isn't a great reason in my opinion.

- Jeff

[jerryd]

Well maybe the killer thought the job had been completed with Eddowes....not realising they had killed the wrong person at the time.
just saying!

Not so far fetched, Spyglass. In summary of the following two news clips, we have another woman with T.C. inked on her arm living in Dorset Street that was thought to be the victim in Mitre Square but was subsequently found alive. I often wonder if the wounds to the left arm of Mary Kelly may have been an attempt to hide a mark of some sort (such as a tattoo) to obscure identification?

Scotsman
1 October, 1888.

"Up to a late hour in the evening the woman had not been identified, although several people had gone to the Bishopsgate Street Police Station and had seen the clothing. Two women who inspected this, and also saw the corpse, were certain that it was the body of a woman named Jane Kelly, but subsequently, on inquiries being made, it was found that this individual was still alive."

and this:

Echo
October 2, 1888

[spyglass]

Well maybe the killer thought the job had been completed with Eddowes....not realising they had killed the wrong person at the time.
just saying!