Only one suspect can be shown to have carried a knife.

[MrBarnett]

So you have read my book. You should tell me if you think he was the Ripper and if not, who you think it was (It will be sad if you say you have no opinion, or that it was a nobody.)

I do not say that I am unsure that Thompson stayed in Providence Row, in my book, because, from what I wrote of what I know of the Row & Thompson, I am sure he did.

Here, on Casebook I am simply adding that even if he did not stay, he was in Spitalsfield and that alone satisfies the condition for his candidacy.

I would hate to appear to be a pedant, but it's Spitalfields, not Spitalsfield.

Why on earth would it be sad if I didn't have an alternative suspect to FT?

[Richard Patterson]

Let me ask the question again - on what evidence do you base your claim that Thompson was living in Spitafields in 1888? From what you say above it appears that you aren't sure that he actually did.

No such uncertainty appears in your book.

So you have read my book. You should tell me if you think he was the Ripper and if not, who you think it was (It will be sad if you say you have no opinion, or that it was a nobody.)

I do not say that I am unsure that Thompson stayed in Providence Row, in my book, because, from what I wrote of what I know of the Row & Thompson, I am sure he did.

Here, on Casebook I am simply adding that even if he did not stay, he was in Spitalsfield and that alone satisfies the condition for his candidacy.

[MrBarnett]

I'm glad that you see that whether Thompson stayed at Providence Row to be an important aspect of Thompson's candidacy. A colleague contacted the sisters who ran Providence Row, asking for attendance records. Unfortunately they answered that records were not kept. This leaves me with the fact that Thompson wrote of applying to stay there. At the very least, I have Thompson standing at the end of Dorsert Street. If not in November 1888, the most plausible time, then earlier, and if that is the case, it simply extends his history of connection to Spitalsfields and a refuge that Mary Kelly is also supposed to have used. I devote a chapter in my book on Providence Row and the reasons why we can conclude that Thompson used it. There is plenty to quote from that. You obviously have an interest in my suspect or my claims. I am unsure if you have or have read my book. I am happy to send you a complimentary copy of it. You are welcome to read it and write a review on it. I am confident your opinion would prove interesting reading. You will surely find holes in the theory that others might have missed, since you know a great deal about the Ripper murders and have knowledge on Thompson as well.

Let me ask the question again - on what evidence do you base your claim that Thompson was living in Spitafields in 1888? From what you say above it appears that you aren't sure that he actually did.

No such uncertainty appears in your book.

[Richard Patterson]

That's all a bit vague, Richard.

This is such an important aspect of Thompson's biography in respect of his candidacy as a JTR suspect. You must have quotes you can share with us that unequivocally place Thompson in the PR refuge.

(Strange that you didn't feel the need to include them in your book.)

I'm glad that you see that whether Thompson stayed at Providence Row to be an important aspect of Thompson's candidacy. A colleague contacted the sisters who ran Providence Row, asking for attendance records. Unfortunately they answered that records were not kept. This leaves me with the fact that Thompson wrote of applying to stay there. At the very least, I have Thompson standing at the end of Dorsert Street. If not in November 1888, the most plausible time, then earlier, and if that is the case, it simply extends his history of connection to Spitalsfields and a refuge that Mary Kelly is also supposed to have used. I devote a chapter in my book on Providence Row and the reasons why we can conclude that Thompson used it. There is plenty to quote from that. You obviously have an interest in my suspect or my claims. I am unsure if you have or have read my book. I am happy to send you a complimentary copy of it. You are welcome to read it and write a review on it. I am confident your opinion would prove interesting reading. You will surely find holes in the theory that others might have missed, since you know a great deal about the Ripper murders and have knowledge on Thompson as well.

[MrBarnett]

The operational times of the refuge and the rules of admittance, and that Thompson mentions Providence row in other texts. Also that Boston College, that houses the world's largest collection of Thompson's manuscripts and letters, supports Walsh's findings.

That's all a bit vague, Richard.

This is such an important aspect of Thompson's biography in respect of his candidacy as a JTR suspect. You must have quotes you can share with us that unequivocally place Thompson inside the PR refuge.

(Strange that you didn't feel the need to include them in your book.)

[Richard Patterson]

What other evidence is there?

The operational times of the refuge and the rules of admittance, and that Thompson mentions Providence row in other texts. Also that Boston College, that houses the world's largest collection of Thompson's manuscripts and letters, supports Walsh's findings.

[MrBarnett]

Yes I remember discussing this with you. No. It is not on this alone that I conclude that Thompson was staying at the Providence Row refuge.

What other evidence is there?

[Richard Patterson]

You may remember we have discussed this before. The extract from the article I have seen is of Thomson describing the scene outside the refuge. Walsh says this was 'evidently' taken from his own experience. No date is indicated.

On that meagre evidence you conclude that Thompson was staying at the refuge in the 1st week of November, 1888.

Yes I remember discussing this with you. No. It is not on this alone that I conclude that Thompson was staying at the Providence Row refuge.

[Richard Patterson]

Hi Richard,

And now we have sworn testimony of Tumblety having surgical instruments in his travel chest. Point, he would not have carried these knives on his person, but then again, why did he travel with them?

Sincerely,

Mike

Tumblety? cannot be shown to have had a knife, unless you mean those seen in a bag 8 years before the murders, 4,624 miles away in New Orleans.

[MrBarnett]

You can find the article in an 1892 Merry England issue. It’s called Catholics in Darkest England. William Booth enjoyed reading it and so did W.T Stead (you will know of him from your Ripper research I expect.) I won’t supply the wording because you are distracting me from the TV series, Fear of the Walking Dead, and it’s more fun right now. I’m sure you will track it down, if you care to. I think it's in my book too. I think you have a copy.

You may remember we have discussed this before. The extract from the article I have seen is of Thomson describing the scene outside the refuge. Walsh says this was 'evidently' taken from his own experience. No date is indicated.

On that meagre evidence you conclude that Thompson was staying at the refuge in the 1st week of November, 1888.

[mklhawley]

Hi Richard,

And now we have sworn testimony of Tumblety having surgical instruments in his travel chest. Point, he would not have carried these knives on his person, but then again, why did he travel with them?

Sincerely,

Mike

[Richard Patterson]

We all know that in the ensuing years after the great knife shortage of 1887, only a privileged few had access to these sharp implements. Truly Francis Thompson is the suspect to end all suspects.

Ha ha. You give me real fits Harry. I suppose we must count ourselves fortunate that Jerry Lewis recently died to make room for you and your brilliant cutting sarcasm. Did you think that all up as you typed? I would tell you to keep up with the mockery, but I don't need to do that. I'm sure you can run on your own steam. Slow clap for Harry!

[Harry D]

We all know that in the ensuing years after the great knife shortage of 1887, only a privileged few had access to these sharp implements. Truly Francis Thompson is the suspect to end all suspects.

[Richard Patterson]

OK, Richard, supply us with the wording of his claim to have tried to have gained access.

You can find the article in an 1892 Merry England issue. It’s called Catholics in Darkest England. William Booth enjoyed reading it and so did W.T Stead (you will know of him from your Ripper research I expect.) I won’t supply the wording because you are distracting me from the TV series, Fear of the Walking Dead, and it’s more fun right now. I’m sure you will track it down, if you care to. I think it's in my book too. I think you have a copy.

[Michael W Richards]

Out of the hundreds of named suspects, only one can be shown to have even carried a knife in the area, during the time period. Can you guess who that was?

I believe that many tradesmen carried knives, such as butchers and bootmakers. There are suspects in both those trades. We also know that at least one unfortunate carried a knife the night she was killed. We also know that many, many people in that area routinely carried knives, that they were carried for mostly utilitarian purposes, but it appears at least some were carried for killing.

If you've narrowed it down to just about any 28-35 year old man living within walking distance of the murders who was on the streets after midnight I hope the book is no more than a page.