Ripper Facts

[Rosella]

If he was a butcher I'm sure there would have been running water (if not hot water) and a sink on the premises somewhere.

[CommercialRoadWanderer]

Since is really likely that the murderer had to somehow carry on himself his grisly "thropies" while running from the scenes, we can easily assume that he had the means to at least wipe his hands. Moreover, he could have had some kind of hideout (a warehouse? a shop? a barn?) to use for his murderous activity, separated from his home and any possible family member.

[Rosella]

People did 'midnight flits' as they were called, (leaving their lodgings, rooms, houses) all over the East End at that time and later. Couldn't pay the rent, uncomfortable about their neighbours/fellow lodgers, no problem, just move a few streets away, especially young single males, no furniture or bits and pieces to convey.

Even if we knew every single lodger in every house in every street in Whitechapel/ Spitalfields in 1891 it wouldn't help track Jack, IMO. This was an incredibly mobile population. Look at the work that's been done on the people who lived in Millers Court for example at the time of Mary Kelly's death in comparison to those living there at the time of the 1891 census.

[Columbo]

I wasn't aware profiling had such a poor track record in serial murders.

What about the assumption JTR was single ? It's hard to see how JTR could kill and come to wash off blood.

Well, he very well could've been single, but the blood has been a question for years. There were washing stands apparently around where he could wash his hands, if his clothes were dark or he wore a coat over his clothes that could hide any spatter. Unfortunately he could very well have been married and carried on similar to other killers have done in the past.

I'm sure there has been great contributions by the FBI in Behavioral Science but profiling was never a science. As most profilers will tell you a profile is an opinion of the profiler, that's all.

Columbo

[John Wheat]

I wasn't aware profiling had such a poor track record in serial murders.

What about the assumption JTR was single ? It's hard to see how JTR could kill and come to wash off blood.

To Craig H

I think the profile has its uses. For me it gives a rough idea of what Jack may have been like. I do however think the assumption Jack was single could be wrong. What if Jack had somewhere to stay away from his wife where he could wash blood off himself, change his clothes etc.

Cheers John

[Craig H]

Henry Defries, gasfitter, 7 Middlesex Street.

Hi Scott
I found Defries on ancestry.com but he was born 1874... Too young ??
Craig

[Craig H]

I wasn't aware profiling had such a poor track record in serial murders.

What about the assumption JTR was single ? It's hard to see how JTR could kill and come to wash off blood.

[GUT]

Hi Craig,
I wouldn't put too much stock in any FBI profiling, especially on this case. Unfortunately there is no, I repeat, no criminal case that was ever solved that can be remotely contributed to FBI profiling.

Columbo

And even worse, profiling is a moving feast, thus I have real doubts that even if a 100% accurate profile could be created in the 21st century it has much benefit when looking at a 19th Century crime, the same really applies to geophysical profiling.

[Columbo]

I'm interested in doing some research to use witness statements, profiling and census address records to try and identify the Ripper.

I think this secret will be to use enough assumptions to narrow the search, but not too specific as there are so many unknown variables.

This may be a waste of time and impossible to do. However I'd like to give it a go and keen to know if others are also interested.

Step 1 : Use Witness statements to create search criteria

My assumption is Lawende and PC William Smith are the most credible witnesses. They both saw a man aged about 30 years old, pale complexion, about 5'7" tall, clean shaven with small moustache.

Is there anything else we can tell from witness statements ?

Is the person not working class ? This means they are less likely to be a labourer, dock worker, etc.

William Marshall saw someone similar and heard him say “You would say anything but your prayers" in English accent which seemed well educated. If this is accurate, can we assume JTR was English, so not raised in Scotland, Ireland or Wales.

Step 2: Use Douglas (FBI) profiling to narrow search criteria

John Douglas (FBI) used knowledge about serial killers to produce the following profile:

https://vault.fbi.gov/Jack%20the%20Ripper/Jack%20the%20Ripper%20Part%201%20of%201

There is a good summary of this profiling in the attached CBS article

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/jack-the-ripper-case-125-years-later-murders-of-london-prostitutes-by-notorious-serial-killer-remain-unsolved/

I know a lot of people are sceptical about profiles such as these. However, they do have credibility and allows us to reduce search field.

Based upon this profile, can we assume JTR was not married, and lived on his own.

Other people have previously thought this was the case, as living with others would have increased chance that someone suspected and named him.

Step 3: Use geographic profiling to narrow search for where he lived

Kim Rossmo from Texas State University Centre for Geospatial Intelligence used some geographic profiling techniques to identify likely street addresses where the Ripper may have lived.

http://www.txstate.edu/gii/projects/jack-the-ripper.html

Wesley English also used geographic profiling to write the following article which identified possible streets where JTR may have lived.

http://www.wesleyenglish.com/geoprofile/infamous-cases/jack-the-ripper/

One option is we search specific streets.

Step 4 : Search the 1891 Census to identify a short list

Debra A – who has demonstrated wonderful research skills on this site and JTR Forum – has suggested using findmypast which allows search by specific streets.

This would allow us to search for a man, aged 25-35 y.o., who is a lodger, is single and living in the targeted streets.

We could possibly remove those born outside England and who are from lower social class.

Interested to hear what others think

All the best

Craig

Hi Craig,
I wouldn't put too much stock in any FBI profiling, especially on this case. Unfortunately there is no, I repeat, no criminal case that was ever solved that can be remotely contributed to FBI profiling.

Columbo

[David Orsam]

Step 4 : Search the 1891 Census to identify a short list

Debra A – who has demonstrated wonderful research skills on this site and JTR Forum – has suggested using findmypast which allows search by specific streets.

This would allow us to search for a man, aged 25-35 y.o., who is a lodger, is single and living in the targeted streets.

We could possibly remove those born outside England and who are from lower social class.

Interested to hear what others think

My experience, Craig, is that people moved around a lot in the nineteenth century, especially single men who were lodgers, so that one would have to question whether a census taken in 1891 will actually assist much, if at all, in establishing where a particular individual was living three years earlier and will not, in any event, include a large number of men who were living in your targeted streets in 1888.

[Scott Nelson]

Henry Defries, gasfitter, 7 Middlesex Street.

[Craig H]

Using witness statements and profiling to identify the Ripper

I'm interested in doing some research to use witness statements, profiling and census address records to try and identify the Ripper.

I think this secret will be to use enough assumptions to narrow the search, but not too specific as there are so many unknown variables.

This may be a waste of time and impossible to do. However I'd like to give it a go and keen to know if others are also interested.

Step 1 : Use Witness statements to create search criteria

My assumption is Lawende and PC William Smith are the most credible witnesses. They both saw a man aged about 30 years old, pale complexion, about 5'7" tall, clean shaven with small moustache.

Is there anything else we can tell from witness statements ?

Is the person not working class ? This means they are less likely to be a labourer, dock worker, etc.

William Marshall saw someone similar and heard him say “You would say anything but your prayers" in English accent which seemed well educated. If this is accurate, can we assume JTR was English, so not raised in Scotland, Ireland or Wales.

Step 2: Use Douglas (FBI) profiling to narrow search criteria

John Douglas (FBI) used knowledge about serial killers to produce the following profile:

https://vault.fbi.gov/Jack%20the%20Ripper/Jack%20the%20Ripper%20Part%201%20of%201

There is a good summary of this profiling in the attached CBS article

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/jack-the-ripper-case-125-years-later-murders-of-london-prostitutes-by-notorious-serial-killer-remain-unsolved/

I know a lot of people are sceptical about profiles such as these. However, they do have credibility and allows us to reduce search field.

Based upon this profile, can we assume JTR was not married, and lived on his own.

Other people have previously thought this was the case, as living with others would have increased chance that someone suspected and named him.

Step 3: Use geographic profiling to narrow search for where he lived

Kim Rossmo from Texas State University Centre for Geospatial Intelligence used some geographic profiling techniques to identify likely street addresses where the Ripper may have lived.

http://www.txstate.edu/gii/projects/jack-the-ripper.html

Wesley English also used geographic profiling to write the following article which identified possible streets where JTR may have lived.

http://www.wesleyenglish.com/geoprofile/infamous-cases/jack-the-ripper/

One option is we search specific streets.

Step 4 : Search the 1891 Census to identify a short list

Debra A – who has demonstrated wonderful research skills on this site and JTR Forum – has suggested using findmypast which allows search by specific streets.

This would allow us to search for a man, aged 25-35 y.o., who is a lodger, is single and living in the targeted streets.

We could possibly remove those born outside England and who are from lower social class.

Interested to hear what others think

All the best

Craig

[Columbo]

[QUOTE=Pierre;381517]

Exactly my point. Instead of using lists of "clues", which are no clues, as frames for selection, one should use primary sources for witnesses and evidence at the sites. One must work inductively and not deductively.

Kind regards, Pierre

But doesn't trying to work inductively leave your conclusions open to interpretation? Inductive logic by nature is not a certainty.

Of course inductive logic is really all you can use in a 130 year old mystery.


Columbo

[Elamarna]

[QUOTE=Pierre;381517]

Exactly my point. Instead of using lists of "clues", which are no clues, as frames for selection, one should use primary sources for witnesses and evidence at the sites. One must work inductively and not deductively.

Kind regards, Pierre

Pierre

Post 151 appears to have dismissed the witness reports at Berner street and Mitre Square , even getting witness's at sites confused with other sites.

Unfortunately with regards to "Evidence" there is little, and what there is is open to some very strange interpretations from some.


And my Friend if you post:


"The person I have found and think was the killer was a police official. I am sorry about this."

And

"The murder dates are connected to his own personal motive"

And

"He wrote to the police"

And


"I think I know that he was well educated and that he lived for a short time in a house that looked a bit like this one:"



(One could go on, but that would indeed be boring.)

They are points which specifically fit the man you think may have been the killer.
Those are clues, to whom you believe the killer was.

To continually say they are not clues is I repeat bizarre

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks"- hamlet

(of course in this case it is the man rather than lady).



Steve

[Abby Normal]

What would the peaked cap have looked like?

"like something a sailor might wear."

also, both PC smith and long describe the man they saw as wearing a dearstalker. This cap has peak front and back but I believe the back peak can be folded/buttoned up so it looks like it has just the front peak.