Does Playing Cricket Make You Immune From Being A Serial Killer?

[Johnr]

Over on the other Druitt thread, I was drifting onto this subject .

I even have a letter from a member of the Druitt family, who was quite taken with Donald McCormick's JTR book ( 'The Identity Of Jack the Ripper'), which argues that because Montague Druitt took regular exercise, he doubted he was JTR.
The Druitt family letter writer more validly, suggested, (without apparent special knowledge) that MJD may have become terminally depressed by the realisation that his worsening diabetes would begin to interfere with his chances of playing so much cricket.
(The Druitt family had a persistent strain of diabetes, which was largely untreatable in those days).
On the other thread I also observed I thought cricket greats, like Dr W.G.Grace, and Douglas Jardine, were so morally imperfect, they could have well been capable of- at least theoretically- justifying murder to themselves!.
A bit over the top I know, but my question is:
Have there ever been serial/ solo murderers who played cricket? Or even other regular sports?

JOHN RUFFELS.

[Steven Russell]

Jardine morally imperfect? How dare you sir! OJ Simpson anyone?
Best wishes,
Steve.

[joelhall]

Can't imagine David Gower going mad and beating someone to death with a cricket stump, but I'm no expert.

Perhaps they adhered to the old belief that sports helped to control aggression and built character.

[Robert]

I would imagine that opening batsmen kill one every, oh, ten years. Nice and steady. Middle order batsmen kill several in a very short space of time and soon get caught. Late order batsmen may kill one or two, but only by a fluke.

I don't see why a cricketer shouldn't be a serial killer. However, it must be remembered that it rained on the night of 8th-9th November, and this would have prevented any homicidal activities.

[Steven Russell]

According to his Wikipedia entry, John Christie was sentenced to six months' hard labour in May 1929 after he had assaulted a prostitute with whom he was living in Battersea. The judge called it a "murderous attack". Christie had hit the woman over the head with a cricket bat.

If the bat was in the house, it could indicate that Christie enjoyed the odd game but somehow his personality does not seem to indicate this - to me at least.

For those unfamiliar with cricket bats, they are substantial bits of wood and you could easily kill someone by using one to whack them over the head. This would, of course, be in contravention of Law 42 which deals with "Fair and Unfair Play".

Best wishes,
Steve.

[m_w_r]

...it must be remembered that it rained on the night of 8th-9th November, and this would have prevented any homicidal activities.

If I could travel in a time machine, I could think of a few times and places I might go to, but the meeting where someone invented cricket has to be up there with the best:

"A bat and ball game, you say?"

"Yes, and the people with the bats hit the ball away and then they run up and down, and the people without the bats try to throw the ball back again."

"Sounds intriguing, but it needs a USP, or it'll never catch on."

"... I know, we'll only play it when it's not raining!"

"Perfect, that will suit the English climate very well indeed. A game we can play when it's not raining. Just what we've been looking for!"

"Um, but..."

"Quiet, Monty! A game which can't be played in the rain. What could be more suitable than that? Now, anyone fancy another pint?"

Regards,

Mark

[Steven Russell]

Excellent points, Robert but the killer may have repaired to the pavilion (Miller's Court) at the onset of rain and only felt able to emerge once it had stopped.

A cricketing Ripper would also explain why no murders were committed in the fog. I wonder if it had started to drizzle a bit after he cut Liz Stride's throat causing him to saunter off without doing any mutilating. And by the time he reached Mitre Sq., conditions had improved.

Steve.

[The Grave Maurice]

Does Playing Cricket Make You Immune From Being A Serial Killer?

Definitely. By the time you understood the rules, you'd be too old to do anything but sit and watch the games.

[claire]

A cricketing Ripper would also explain why no murders were committed in the fog. I wonder if it had started to drizzle a bit after he cut Liz Stride's throat causing him to saunter off without doing any mutilating. And by the time he reached Mitre Sq., conditions had improved.

Nup. Tea was called. (What?? You thought they yelled 'Lipski'?? Don't be daft, man--it was: 'It's tea!')

and, very funny, GM

[Rubyretro]

A bit over the top I know, but my question is:
Have there ever been serial/ solo murderers who played cricket? Or even other regular sports?

I think OJ was quite 'sporty'.

[Monty]

As a diabetic and a cricketer, this does not bode well for me. Are you trying to kill me off socially John?

Diabetes, which incidently was citied as the cause of death for Lusks wife, was difficult to control in those days. However Druitt seems to have led an active life which is the right way to go and really aids the control.

As for Jardine, theres a huge myth that this man was, as the Aussies called him, a callous b*stard. He was even labelled the 'most evil Englishman since Jack the Ripper'. The fact is he merely used a tactic which had been around for 30 odd years, which had been established, and which the Australian team simply werent capable of handling. Apart from McCabe who adopted the best counter which seemed a tad too brave for his colleagues.

As for Jardine, his shyness and awkwardness infront of people was often mistaken for aloofness. Granted, he was a single minded bugger but not callous. His daughter recalls a kind and true man who would do anything for his 'Princess'.

Douglas Jardine was great Englishman (Born in India, lived mostly in Scotland) and one of my heros.

Be prepared to feel my wrath should you state otherwise.

Monty

[Bob Hinton]

Oh really...

Absolute nonsense - I mean that wouldn't be cricket would it?

[MrTwibbs]

Where does the diabeties reference come from? i hadn't heard that before

I managed to get hold of a list from oxford which shows that Druitt only studied the classics. No mention of law or medicine.
His brother Arthur also attended new college and got a degree in history.

[Bob Hinton]

Possible answer

Where does the diabeties reference come from? i hadn't heard that before

I managed to get hold of a list from oxford which shows that Druitt only studied the classics. No mention of law or medicine.
His brother Arthur also attended new college and got a degree in history.

I believe the only qualification to study for the bar is a degree, it doesn't matter what in.

[Robert]

I suspect that Eddowes asked for the light in Mitre Square, but to no avail.