Have Ripperologists Been Polled As To Who They Think Jack Really Was?

[Roy Corduroy]

The reason Jack the Ripper has not been identified is because he didn't exist.

I have written a book

It should be out next year.

Put it out now and you can ride the There is No Santa Claus wave, just in time for the holidays.

No, I look forward to reading it, Simon. Thank you,

Roy

[sdreid]

I always wanted to ask this. I've read so many theories over the years. I've been wondering, even if you don't agree, is there a name that the majority of Ripperologists seem to gear their attention towards as to who "Jack" actually was? Which suspect seemingly gets the most votes?

First question - what qualifies as a Ripperologist?

[Jason]

Hi All,

The reason Jack the Ripper has not been identified is because he didn't exist.

Which makes a poll somewhat redundant.

Regards,

Simon

I love this answer and to be honest i am more intrigued by simons opinion on JTR than i have been about anything JTR related than i have been for years ! .......my mind has been cleaned out, and i am lying down .....i am now ready to take a new direction of thought and logic !

[The Grave Maurice]

Ta for the info, Simon. The moment it appears, I'll be all over it. I've always admired your writing style, so I imagine it will be an exceptionally good book.

[Simon Wood]

Hi GM,

Thanks.

The title is "Deconstructing Jack: The Secret History of the Whitechapel Murders".

It should be out next year.

Regards,

Simon

[The Grave Maurice]

It's hard to explain in a few short paragraphs, which why I have written a book....

You've written a book, Simon? What's the title? With the Christmas break coming up, I need good things to read.

[lynn cates]

agreeable chap

Hello Simon.

"The reason Jack the Ripper has not been identified is because he didn't exist."

Hmm, can't disagree with that.

Cheers.
LC

[jason_c]

Phil H has summed it up very well, the most popular suspect depends largely on what particular period of time you're talking about.

Many of us have suspects who we lean towards, myself included, but at the same time it will not be at all surprising if we ever learn JTR's name beyond all doubt, and collectively look at one another and say...."Who?".

Cheers,
Adam.

Among the contemporary suspects known to us its amazing how few are working class gentile locals. This would be the most likely group the killer came from. I have little faith in the killer being a modern suspect.

He was either in the police files or hes been missed completely imo.

[Simon Wood]

Hi Roy,

It's hard to explain in a few short paragraphs, which why I have written a book, but once you allow yourself to grasp the concept, jettison all the folklore and really think about it, it starts to become obvious.

My apologies if this answer is unsatisfactory.

Regards,

Simon

[Roy Corduroy]

What do you mean, Simon?

It's Saturday afternoon, I've finished raking the leaves. College football is over till the bowl games. Pujols has jumped ship and signed with LA

So I've got all day, and we're all ears. Can you explain, please?

Roy

[Simon Wood]

Hi All,

The reason Jack the Ripper has not been identified is because he didn't exist.

Which makes a poll somewhat redundant.

Regards,

Simon

[Robert]

I think "unknown" would be fairly popular, but it's also a category that can embrace a major theory : "unknown Polish Jew" might be the answer for Andersonites who reject Cohen or Kosminski.

[Adam Went]

Phil H has summed it up very well, the most popular suspect depends largely on what particular period of time you're talking about.

Many of us have suspects who we lean towards, myself included, but at the same time it will not be at all surprising if we ever learn JTR's name beyond all doubt, and collectively look at one another and say...."Who?".

Cheers,
Adam.

[Steelysama]

From listening to the Rippercast, I have noticed that there seems to be some favor these days for the idea that Jack the Ripper was probably a relatively unknown person living in the East End whose name has never been associated with the murders.

The idea seems to be that some believe that there has never been strong enough evidence to truly support the candidacy of any of the known suspects and that there is no reason, logically, for the real murderer to have necessarily been one of those who has been named. After all, Whitechapel was an impoverished and overcrowded area of London which had no lack of crime. Add to that the primitive state of forensics at the time along with a society in which it was rather easy for a person to "disappear" or to assume new identities, especially if you were a member of the poorer classes.

This is a reasonable theory and I do not have any argument with which I could counter it.

However, I personally find Martin Fido's David Cohen theory to be compelling enough to really consider as a possible solution. Maybe we will never know, but I think we are not out of possible leads yet. Granted, I am not a real "ripperologist".

[fromhell]

fromhell - you haven't responded to your own thread, so I don't know how real your interest is, but I did some searching. These old threads might be of use to you:

Name your top 3 suspects with top 3 reasons why you think so...

http://forum.casebook.org/showthread.php?t=4666

Your top 3 suspects?

http://forum.casebook.org/showthread.php?t=3994

Cordially

Phil

No, I'm still here!

I used to be a member here years ago.

I just thought I'd see where we are at this point. I understand we're all on the hunt, but a nice summary of present day is always interesting. Thanks for the responses!