Joseph Barnett, Mary Kelly, and the other victims

[richardnunweek]

Hi
We will never know if a red silk handkerchief was found in the room . Hutchinson made a point that she took the item when the man handed it to her, Its unlikely that after all the rampage in room 13, the killer would have retrieved it upon leaving.
Regards Richard.

[rjpalmer]

This vague statement is the sole evidence that Anderson suspected Joe Barnett for over twenty years.

Clearly, it is a non-sequitur. Barnett admitted to having left a pipe in Mary Kelly's room, and he had recently visited her, so this would hardly have "secured proof" that he was the assassin.

Most people accept that the story of the smashed pipe refers, not to Miller's Court, but to the McKenzie murder.

As for the implications of Anderson's story, it is an enigma. Evidently Scotland Yard didn't have Krazy Glue in 1889.

[Pcdunn]

I think it is likely they at least ran the names of the other victims past Joe, but we don't know what he answered, thanks to missing police files (I assume?).

The main thing I recall is Joe not liking the other woman who sometimes stayed overnight with Mary Kelly. And, he disliked her being a prostitute.

[seanr]

However, my question still stands, being questioned for four hours tells me that at least for a short time he was considered a suspect. I would still like to know if the other victims knew him, hung out with him, etc or was he just a friend/partner or Kelly?

When a woman is found murdered, the boyfriend/ husband or partner are always questioned. All too often the woman's partner is the killer. It would have been standard procedure to question him.

In answer to the question, did he know any of the other women? it's possible he did, but I don't think it can be proved conclusively. Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman and Elizabeth Stride all lived in Dorset Street shortly before their deaths. So, it's possible he knew them.

[rjpalmer]

I'm not too sure about this. What did Sir Robert say?

In the September 1, 1908 Daily Chronicle interview, Anderson mentions a clay pipe found at a murder scene, but it was smashed in a fireplace by a careless doctor.

Barnett theorists use this statement to suggest that Anderson suspected Barnett, because he smoked a clay pipe.

Which seems like a heck of a stretch.

[Wickerman]

I'm not too sure about this. What did Sir Robert say?

You echoed my thoughts.

[MrBarnett]

It is speculated that Flemming was the other "Joe", we actually dont know that for sure. What we can say is that it would seem that Mary was seeing 2 Joes simultaneously which can often result in a violent end for someone in that sort of triangle. Im sure the "other" Joe is a more interesting potential suspect, maybe moreso if it was Flemming.

Joe could be short for Johannes, of course.

[Scott Nelson]

In 1908, 20 years after the murders Robert Anderson did an interview in which he implicated Barnett as the Ripper before switching to Kosminski in 1910.

I'm not too sure about this. What did Sir Robert say?

[Michael W Richards]

Hi
About twenty years ago on here, I started a thread 'Joseph Barnett Number one suspect.' It was well received . He still is a possible , along with Joe Fleming. The main doubt is Motive, for Mary maybe, the others No,
Regards Richard.

It is speculated that Flemming was the other "Joe", we actually dont know that for sure. What we can say is that it would seem that Mary was seeing 2 Joes simultaneously which can often result in a violent end for someone in that sort of triangle. Im sure the "other" Joe is a more interesting potential suspect, maybe moreso if it was Flemming.

[richardnunweek]

Hi
About twenty years ago on here, I started a thread 'Joseph Barnett Number one suspect.' It was well received . He still is a possible , along with Joe Fleming. The main doubt is Motive, for Mary maybe, the others No,
Regards Richard.

[Al Bundy's Eyes]

However, my question still stands, being questioned for four hours tells me that at least for a short time he was considered a suspect. I would still like to know if the other victims knew him, hung out with him, etc or was he just a friend/partner or Kelly?

Likely he was, if the police were doing their job. Then dismissed.

Did he know the other victims? Maybe. If he did there's nothing in the historical register that even remotely suggests that, so it's a non starter.

[Astatine211]

However, my question still stands, being questioned for four hours tells me that at least for a short time he was considered a suspect. I would still like to know if the other victims knew him, hung out with him, etc or was he just a friend/partner or Kelly?

He was definitely considered a serious suspect. In 1908, 20 years after the murders Robert Anderson did an interview in which he implicated Barnett as the Ripper before switching to Kosminski in 1910. This shows he was on the police radar as a suspect until many of their deaths and he was never fully dismissed even if it seemed like it.

I would guess that Barnett and Eddowes almost certainly knew each other, even if just as acquaintances. Due to it being almost guaranteed they were regulars at the same pub. However, I also feel this is one of the biggest issues with Barnett's candidacy as the Ripper as he was most likely very well known to many locals, so surely one of the witnesses would be able to easily identify him. There are some interesting theories about his brother being the true culprit but there isn't much evidence at all to support this.

[c.d.]

I would probably change "suspect" to "person of interest" although the two are very close terms. I am not aware of any interaction that he had with the other victims.

c.d.

[clark2710]

However, my question still stands, being questioned for four hours tells me that at least for a short time he was considered a suspect. I would still like to know if the other victims knew him, hung out with him, etc or was he just a friend/partner or Kelly?

[clark2710]

When he was questioned by the police for four hours his clothes were examined for blood but non was found on them.

ah I misread it says "his clothes were examined for bloodstains," I totally misread that; my apologies