New to the forum but where's the knife?

[Parisi North Humber]

You are perfectly correct regarding "neglected" (and that is my bad again) I believe anything that was not mentioned (if there was anything) was not due to negligence but was due to police witholding information for a reason. However that does bag the question if anything was indeed witheld.

Helen x

[Scott Nelson]

No knife is known to have been recovered from any of the Ripper's crime scenes, except possibly the so-called "Coram Knife", found on the sidewalk of Whitechapel Road on October 1, 1888. But again, this location wasn't close to any murder location, the nearest being Polly Nichols in Bucks Row. The doctors examining the bodies of Stride and Eddowes didn't rule out the knife as a possible murder weapon, but thought it unlikely to have been.

Thinking this may have been the knife given to Donald Rumbelow, I ask Paul Begg if he thought it was possible Rumbelow had the Coram Knife, but he said it was unlikely. Rumbelow may have been given one of the pair of knives used in the Phoenix Park Murders, according to Paul.

[Joshua Rogan]

Hey Helen, welcome from the Belgae.

The Times at least does state positively that no knife was found in the room, but I take this as meaning (probably) one used by the murderer, rather than, say, household cutlery. What do you think?

Times 10 Nov "There was no appearance of a struggle having taken place, and, although a careful search of the room was made, no knife or instrument of any kind was found. "

[Joshua Rogan]

No knife is known to have been recovered from any of the Ripper's crime scenes, except possibly the so-called "Coram Knife", found on the sidewalk of Whitechapel Road on October 1, 1888.

Not forgetting the "white handled table knife" listed in Kate's possessions.

[Enigma]

Hi Parisi North Humber
Welcome to the boards. If Mary Jane Kelly did own a knife then maybe Jack the Ripper took it.

Cheers John

My thoughts exactly. We know he may have taken trophies, victims' organs and Annie Chapman's brass rings being another possible example. As someone handy with a knife he could very well have snaffled one if there was one.

[Parisi North Humber]

Hi Joshua and thank you.

I simply have a nagging feeling that Mary would have access to something sharper than say a butter knife. She was in a domestic setting where a sharp knife would be needed for basic everyday housekeeping I.e cutting bread, peeling potatoes, chopping vegetables, paring fruit etc.

I thought there was mention of a partly used loaf of bread on a plate on the open shelves. I could be wrong and probably misremembering a newspaper report. As I said, I'm just a fledgling and it is good to get feedback from more seasoned members.

Helen x

[DJA]

Mary Kelly's bedside table seems to have a knife handle amongst her body parts.

[Scott Nelson]

No, that was supposed to be an axe handle.

[DJA]

I

[Parisi North Humber]

Hi DJA.

Depending on the resolution and other enhancements like contrast etc you can see what looks like a complete knife......however I err on the side of my eyes seeing what they want to see. Although it would explain the awkward camera angle of the other MJK photograph as if showing something of importance/relevance, however that is for another thread.

Helen x

[Mark J D]

Still looks to me like the image of the face has been censored by obliteration, the photographic emulsion attacked with some sort of stylus to prevent the disfigurements being visible...

M.

[Parisi North Humber]

Sorry DJA I was talking about the other photograph.

Helen x

[DJA]

Hi DJA.

Depending on the resolution and other enhancements like contrast etc you can see what looks like a complete knife......however I err on the side of my eyes seeing what they want to see. Although it would explain the awkward camera angle of the other MJK photograph as if showing something of importance/relevance, however that is for another thread.

Helen x

There are better copies,however the handle is the right size and perfectly placed.

[DJA]

Reckon Blotchy slipped Mary a drug in the beer and Hutchinson was a look out for when Jack turned up.

[Parisi North Humber]

Hi Mark, sorry I missed your post.
I have to concur that the photographs of MJK taken in situ seem to display more than the obvious if you look beyond the superficial.
Yes, her facial features seem deliberately obliterated post or during photographic development. I believe there is also a description of her open eyes being the only recognisable facial feature and that sight added to the horror (this is not verbatum but I think it was a member of the police force) of course I stand to be corrected.
Even beyond that though I think the extant photographs show more than just the nuts and bolts of body position and described injuries. But as I said that is for another thread.

Helen x