Alarm Bells

[Geddy2112]

We are often told X would have been a suspect in modern policing because of Y or Z. However this is or could be irrelevant due to in 1888 they did not have some of the tools we have nowadays.

So my question is when addressing these crimes what kind of things would have set alarm bells ringing for the police of the time. What would they have looked out for what coincidences would have alerted them to a potential suspect?

[Herlock Sholmes]

We are often told X would have been a suspect in modern policing because of Y or Z. However this is or could be irrelevant due to in 1888 they did not have some of the tools we have nowadays.

So my question is when addressing these crimes what kind of things would have set alarm bells ringing for the police of the time. What would they have looked out for what coincidences would have alerted them to a potential suspect?

A man turning up at an inquest in his work clothes?

[Geddy2112]

A man turning up at an inquest in his work clothes?

Sorry I meant apart from the obvious ones...

[c.d.]

Yeah, that is a tough one, Geddy. Unfortunately, I don't think the police had a lot to go on. Certainly individuals like Leather Apron or any reports of violence toward women would get their attention. I hope they were smart enough to have some undercover PCs in some of the major pubs keeping track of anybody running their mouth saying yeah, those dumb sluts deserved what they got. Or at the least, check in with pubs now and then and slip some of the bartenders and regulars a little money to report anything suspicious.

Maybe reports of religious fanaticism and inherent misogany. Maybe any group trying to profit politically from what was going on. Maybe contact medical schools and ask those in charge if any students seem to have a preoccupation with the murders. Things like that.

But all in all, anything suspicious whatever form that might take. They were pretty much grasping at straws.

c.d.

[Fiver]

Based on ones we know the police investigated there seem to be the following categories.

* People who claimed to be the Ripper, often while drunk. There are several examples.

* Men with a reputation of violence towards prostitutes, such as Leather Apron.

* Men with a history of mental illness, such as Oswald Puckridge.

In all of these cases, the suspect was cleared due to an alibi.