Why weren't there any killings in October 1888?

[Uncle Jack]

Hi Fisherman,

there is a gap of one week between Nichols' murder and Chapman's, and 3 weeks between the latter and the double event.

I have to disagree there based on one possible scenario: the fact that Susan Ward was attacked one week after Chapman (if you accept that she could have been an intended victim of Jack) If so, it would certainly start some form of pattern. Chapman a week after Nichols, and Ward a week after Chapman. The gap between Ward's attack and the double event could be due to fear, because of the possibility of capture when the Ward attack whent wrong and her screams drew attention. And also if you believe Jack murdered both Stride and Eddowes, it could be suggested that he killed twice to make up for failing to murder Ward (personally I don't think he killed Stride though)

[Scott Nelson]

"Jack" had made his point.

Which makes me wonder what Millers Court was really about.

Jack didn't really keep up with or necessarily care about past events at this point. Miller's Court was Miller's Court to Jack. Nothing more.

[Sam Flynn]

As Robert Anderson observed, the "Jack" scare was in full swing by October. Thanks to the police plastering London with "Dear Boss/Saucy Jacky" posters—a tactical blunder which prompted every nutbag in the country to write "Jack" letters—there was no need for another murder.

Seems a rather extreme way to go about winding up the police or getting your name in print, Simon.

[Simon Wood]

Hi All,

As Robert Anderson observed, the "Jack" scare was in full swing by October. Thanks to the police plastering London with "Dear Boss/Saucy Jacky" posters—a tactical blunder which prompted every nutbag in the country to write "Jack" letters—there was no need for another murder.

"Jack" had made his point.

Which makes me wonder what Millers Court was really about.

Regards,

Simon

[DVV]

Wether he lost his shoes when escaping...

[Stephen]

Broken knife

Perhaps Jack broke his knife at Mitre Square. He could not buy a new one so close to the time of his last murder, it could raise suspicion. So he waited before getting a new one.

[Nicola]

Hello,all.

I've always been partial to the rather macabre theory that Jack had good nights and he had bad nights.


Police presence was increased in the area and the ladies of the night had to be scared to death.Add the local vigilantes prowling about and October made for a rough month for JTR. His preferred victims probably caused the most trouble.They were on their guard and none too partial to sneaking off to deserted places. Maybe Jack experienced a drought of sorts or he did indeed try. He might have encountered some particularly tough ladies who gave him hell and he was unable to do what he wanted. Possibly there were failed JTR attacks that were never reported. Jack was a wee bit pissed off,I think.

Maybe that reason accounts for why he attacked MK so ferociously. A whole month of pent up rage and having been denied his fun came together on that poor lady.

[Sam Flynn]

Hi Eileen,

I have been convinced all along that the victims inadvertently chose the time and place of their death

Whether that was the case or not, Jack also had to be out and about at those times, so the sorts of questions asked here remain valid.

[Mrsperfect]

This was not Jack's Itinerary!

I seem to be out of step here.............

Most of the posts I have read appear to suggest that Jack chose the time and the place. Even if he was on the prowl nightly, he couldn't guarantee that a lone victim would be in the right place, at the right time, without any witnesses nearby.

I have been convinced all along that the victims inadvertently chose the time and place of their death, simply by being on the street, at the right time and out of view of witnesses that could identify Jack to the police.

I feel that their customers worked long hours during the week and it was only at the week-ends,that the majority would be looking for a bit of fun. There were more punters on the week-ends, so there were more girls, so there were more opportunities.

Regards

Eileen

[FrankO]

Indeed so, Caz. To extend your "ceased trading" analogy, I'd add that he might well have experienced periods of "slow trade", too.

Or periods of little need for trade, Gareth.

[FrankO]

To my eye though, he has filled his Sept/Oct quotient with two kills on Sept 30th...making it two kills within the same 10 day period two months running. He just spaced them differently within that 10 days.

Why not on Oct 30 or 31st....who knows, but I really wouldnt have expected one until then anyway. I think the only kill missing, judging by the fact that he is a day late with Mary Kelly.... in terms of his usual 10 days, end of previous/before the 9th of the next......is one in very late Oct or perhaps the first or second day of November.

Hi Michael,

I have my doubts about the Ripper working according to any schedule like the one you’re suggesting. Although he took some precautions not to get caught, he strikes me as an opportunist rather than a planner. As far as I’m concerned, I’d rather believe that the gaps between the murders were caused by the Ripper getting more and more ‘cautious’ rather than more and more bold, and that the mutilations only got more severe each time because he needed to restrain himself longer each time.

Maybe because he was disturbed in Nichols’ case and therefore couldn’t take any organs, he was very eager to strike again and didn’t wait too long before he actually did. And maybe he did that in near daylight because he wanted to see what he was doing. After all, there’s little doubt that his driving force were the mutilations. Maybe after Chapman he realised he had been very lucky that he wasn’t caught, so he switched back to the darkness of night and was able to wait for 3 weeks. Maybe after Eddowes things got too hot for him out in the streets, so he was able to wait for nearly 6 weeks this time until the circumstances in the streets had become more favourable again, or until he’d found a victim he could kill indoors. Killing indoors would also mean he would have more time with a victim as well as being able to focus more on what drove him, instead of needing to pay constant attention to his surroundings as well.

Obviously, this is pure speculation, but I prefer this view to the one involving whatever schedule of his own making.

All the best,
Frank

[CraigInTwinCities]

None of the murders took place in October, and what I want to know is why?

Wait, I know this one...

To get to the other side! (ba-dum-dum!)

[Sam Flynn]

Hi Jukka,

Do you find the following pattern plausible;

Since the murders had made the ladies of the streets more cautious, Jack couldn't use his MO anymore.

It's quite plausible that this may have had a part to play in his "gap month" - but I bet it wasn't the only factor, and I bet it wasn't for want of trying.

[j.r-ahde]

Hello Sam!

Do you find the following pattern plausible;

Since the murders had made the ladies of the streets more cautious, Jack couldn't use his MO anymore. Or he thought so...

Thus, he was wondering, how to continue. Til early Nobember...?!

All the best
Jukka

[Sam Flynn]

'Unlucky' would equal 'unable' in the context of my observation to Fisherman that something made it anything but 'business as usual' during October. As I said, for whatever reasons Jack ceased trading, so any plausible explanation can be considered.

Indeed so, Caz. To extend your "ceased trading" analogy, I'd add that he might well have experienced periods of "slow trade", too.