Tweet
Over on the " General Discussion" line, under the " Where Jack got his Start? "
thread, I broached the possibility of Montague Druitt having indulged in animal cruelty as a child.
Hastily I should add, I have absolutely no evidence that he had done so.
But earlier posters had mentioned a potential " Jack the Ripper" would not have suddenly and so expertly, begun devastating street women by mutilating their tortured bodies.
Others pointed to Professor McDonald's theory that early indicators for potential serial killers -called the "McDonald trio" - are: bed wetting; animal torture; and childhood fire-starting.
Yet another poster pointed out that since pigs were the closest animal to humans ( anatomically ), then perhaps "Jack" started out torturing and mutilating pigs.
All these points, rang alarm bells in my mind.
A close family connection with the Druitts of Wimborne were the Homer family. Also of Dorset. These people (married into the Druitt family I think) were big landholders, and very successful pig breeders in Dorset.
Could, I asked out loud, Montague have spent his school holidays on the Homer pig farm? Might he have been allowed to try his hand with a knife?
And found this process very much to his liking?
Of course, what would be required is a wholesale look for " animal mutilations" and unusual animal torture cases in the Dorset of MJD's childhood.
Gareth and Fisherman have pointed out such a search would be difficult, because 19th century humans in Dorset were not so kind to their animals. The norm of cruelty amongst Edwardian farmers and their workers, makes the chance of finding special press mentions unlikely.
I say, O.K. But just keep this theory in mind during your Dorset researches in the future. JOHN RUFFELS.
thread, I broached the possibility of Montague Druitt having indulged in animal cruelty as a child.
Hastily I should add, I have absolutely no evidence that he had done so.
But earlier posters had mentioned a potential " Jack the Ripper" would not have suddenly and so expertly, begun devastating street women by mutilating their tortured bodies.
Others pointed to Professor McDonald's theory that early indicators for potential serial killers -called the "McDonald trio" - are: bed wetting; animal torture; and childhood fire-starting.
Yet another poster pointed out that since pigs were the closest animal to humans ( anatomically ), then perhaps "Jack" started out torturing and mutilating pigs.
All these points, rang alarm bells in my mind.
A close family connection with the Druitts of Wimborne were the Homer family. Also of Dorset. These people (married into the Druitt family I think) were big landholders, and very successful pig breeders in Dorset.
Could, I asked out loud, Montague have spent his school holidays on the Homer pig farm? Might he have been allowed to try his hand with a knife?
And found this process very much to his liking?
Of course, what would be required is a wholesale look for " animal mutilations" and unusual animal torture cases in the Dorset of MJD's childhood.
Gareth and Fisherman have pointed out such a search would be difficult, because 19th century humans in Dorset were not so kind to their animals. The norm of cruelty amongst Edwardian farmers and their workers, makes the chance of finding special press mentions unlikely.
I say, O.K. But just keep this theory in mind during your Dorset researches in the future. JOHN RUFFELS.
Comment