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Does it seem odd to anyone else that Sergeant William Thick was connected, indirectly or directly, to all the victims? I know his name has been mentioned as a suspect before, but I don't think he's one of the "favorites" for having committed the murders--and he should be!
His brother Morgan, a former policeman and bartender, lived on Key Street near Buck's Row. William Thick himself was heavily involved in the Annie Chapman investigation, arrested Joseph Pizer, whom he'd known for ages--and then was seen chatting with Pizer and escorting him home after the inquest. Pizer was quickly and thoroughly cleared of all charges.
Elizabeth Stride's murder took place very close to Thick's home in Nottingham Place. He was also connected to Catherine Eddowes: Thick had, about seven years earlier, been convinced to put in a good word for two men named Jack McCarthy and Jimmy Smith, who had been arrested for illegal prizefighting. Jimmy Smith owned Cooney's Lodging, where John Kelly--Eddowes's longtime partner--lived. The other prizefighting detainee, Jack McCarthy, was the landlord of Mary Jane Kelly.
These might seem like tenuous connections, but there are so many of them, and to all of the victims, that I have to wonder. Even if Thick himself wasn't a killer, could he not have been covering for one or more men whom he knew, as he'd done before for prizefighting? Granted, prizefighting is a minor infraction, but "Johnny Upright" Thick had already shown himself willing to help out a friend when it goes against the letter of the law. Morgan, perhaps, who'd been discharged for inappropriate conduct? Either Jimmy Smith or Jack McCarthy--or both--who were both connected to the Ripper's last two victims?
His brother Morgan, a former policeman and bartender, lived on Key Street near Buck's Row. William Thick himself was heavily involved in the Annie Chapman investigation, arrested Joseph Pizer, whom he'd known for ages--and then was seen chatting with Pizer and escorting him home after the inquest. Pizer was quickly and thoroughly cleared of all charges.
Elizabeth Stride's murder took place very close to Thick's home in Nottingham Place. He was also connected to Catherine Eddowes: Thick had, about seven years earlier, been convinced to put in a good word for two men named Jack McCarthy and Jimmy Smith, who had been arrested for illegal prizefighting. Jimmy Smith owned Cooney's Lodging, where John Kelly--Eddowes's longtime partner--lived. The other prizefighting detainee, Jack McCarthy, was the landlord of Mary Jane Kelly.
These might seem like tenuous connections, but there are so many of them, and to all of the victims, that I have to wonder. Even if Thick himself wasn't a killer, could he not have been covering for one or more men whom he knew, as he'd done before for prizefighting? Granted, prizefighting is a minor infraction, but "Johnny Upright" Thick had already shown himself willing to help out a friend when it goes against the letter of the law. Morgan, perhaps, who'd been discharged for inappropriate conduct? Either Jimmy Smith or Jack McCarthy--or both--who were both connected to the Ripper's last two victims?
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