Who are the mostly likely suspects?

[Bridewell]

Blotchy

Hi RN


Right now if forced to pick just one suspect as Mary Kelly's killer and therefore Jack the Ripper I would have to go with Blotchy.

Hi Abby,

I hate to be pedantic (no, actually I love it, it's my raison d'etre) but isn't "Blotchy" a description, as opposed to a suspect?

Yours with tongue firmly in cheek.

Bridewell.

[Abby Normal]

I don't see Blotchy as the Ripper at all. To my mind, Jack wanted to kill and mutilate - not sit back and enjoy a cabaret.

Hi Robert
perhaps he was enjoying the opening show before the headliner.

[DVV]

Hi Greg, I believe Blotchy was Mary's last punter, but not her murderer.

[GregBaron]

Can't be certain...

As I think Lawende saw the ripper, I don't think Blotchy can fit the bill.

Still a suspect for Miller's Court, but the Hutchinson episode, hours after, seems to militate against Blotchy (even if Hutch was lying).

There descriptions seems slightly at odds but I don't think we can rule out the rough sailor and the shabby blotchy as being the same dude.

I'm a bit dense but I don't see how a lying Hutchinson precludes Blotchy?

I don't see Blotchy as the Ripper at all. To my mind, Jack wanted to kill and mutilate - not sit back and enjoy a cabaret.

Good one Robert but don't forget the Jews were singing in Dutfields. Perhaps, like Frankenstein, Jtr gets furious when the music stops....

All kidding aside, we don't know when Blotchy fled or when the murder occurred. Perhaps they both passed out and woke up at 4 when Blotchy realized it was now murder time or he was well into the carving phase when Hutch and Lewis were doing their dance outside the court. Not saying its likely but still...


Greg

[Robert]

I don't see Blotchy as the Ripper at all. To my mind, Jack wanted to kill and mutilate - not sit back and enjoy a cabaret.

[DVV]

I would have to go with Blotchy.

As I think Lawende saw the ripper, I don't think Blotchy can fit the bill.

Still a suspect for Miller's Court, but the Hutchinson episode, hours after, seems to militate against Blotchy (even if Hutch was lying).

[DVV]

it doesn't to me, DVV just needs to build a convincing case to support him, but it doesn't help that Fleming cant be directly linked to a murder....Let alone all the other murders as well

Hi Malcolm, thanks, but I'm easy with Fleming, his case is already strong enough - compared to other suspects, I mean.

[Abby Normal]

I like your thinking Abby and pretty much second it, especially if we consider Blotchy could be BS, Lawende's sailor and even Ada Wilson's attacker.

But, and there is always a but, if Hutch is honest, then who is Astro-Man?

I suppose a rarely explored third option is that Hutch is fabricating but is still not the murderer............!


Greg

Hi Greg
Thanks.

I dont beleive Hutch was honest about A-man, or even about seeing/speaking to Mary that night. I think all signs point to MK not venturing out again after Blotchy. Hutch was there (Sarah Lewis confirms) but in my mind he may have just been looking for a place to crash and waiting for someone to leave Mary's room. Later he made up A-man for his 15 minutes of fame/cash(yes-the third option you mentioned above).

That being said he is still in my top 5 for MK's murderer (and JtR) as well, I am just leaning toward the "third option".

[GregBaron]

Good list...

Hi RN
My traditional top 5 is:

1. Chapman-Pros: Known serial killer of women,lived in area, probable surgical skill, probably fit witness description. Cons: did he live in area long enough to know it well, did he speak english well enough, age (too young?)
2. Bury-Pros: Known killer of woman with knife, lived in area(local-close enough), known to be violent, known association with prostitutes. Cons: did not live in WC
3. Hutch-Pros: Places himself at murder scene, too detailed "suspect" (A-man), admitted knew Kelly Cons: just a witness
4. James Kelly-Pros: known murderer of woman with a knife, escaped from asylum just before killings, fit witness description, Crazy like a fox, local
Cons: no real evidence he was connected to the murders (like all the above others)
5. Koz-Pros: mentioned as a suspect by 3 top police officials, local man
Cons: Bat **** crazy.




However, recently, i have come to beleive more and more that Mary Kelly is the key to this case in that JtR knew her relatively well, and she him. Therefore, i would now lean towards these 5:

1. Hutch
2. Flemming
3. Barnett
4. Blotchy
5. Boyer


Right now if forced to pick just one suspect as Mary Kelly's killer and therefore Jack the Ripper I would have to go with Blotchy.

I like your thinking Abby and pretty much second it, especially if we consider Blotchy could be BS, Lawende's sailor and even Ada Wilson's attacker.

But, and there is always a but, if Hutch is honest, then who is Astro-Man?

I suppose a rarely explored third option is that Hutch is fabricating but is still not the murderer............!


Greg

[Abby Normal]

If we could narrow down a list of say, the top 50 or so most likely suspects, who would your list consist of?

Hi RN
My traditional top 5 is:

1. Chapman-Pros: Known serial killer of women,lived in area, probable surgical skill, probably fit witness description. Cons: did he live in area long enough to know it well, did he speak english well enough, age (too young?)
2. Bury-Pros: Known killer of woman with knife, lived in area(local-close enough), known to be violent, known association with prostitutes. Cons: did not live in WC
3. Hutch-Pros: Places himself at murder scene, too detailed "suspect" (A-man), admitted knew Kelly Cons: just a witness
4. James Kelly-Pros: known murderer of woman with a knife, escaped from asylum just before killings, fit witness description, Crazy like a fox, local
Cons: no real evidence he was connected to the murders (like all the above others)
5. Koz-Pros: mentioned as a suspect by 3 top police officials, local man
Cons: Bat **** crazy.




However, recently, i have come to beleive more and more that Mary Kelly is the key to this case in that JtR knew her relatively well, and she him. Therefore, i would now lean towards these 5:

1. Hutch
2. Flemming
3. Barnett
4. Blotchy
5. Boyer


Right now if forced to pick just one suspect as Mary Kelly's killer and therefore Jack the Ripper I would have to go with Blotchy.

[DVV]

Hahaha. This gave me fits.

Mike

I know you just can answer flippantly when proven wrong.

Open the window, get some fresh air and repeat again : "6'7".

You'll feel better.

[Abby Normal]

Dave.
I didn't say he couldn't have been. What I want is some reason to believe Fleming should be considered as a serial killer.

Look at it this way. If a killer murders his girlfriend, he doesn't do it last. He does not do this 'after' a string of killings.
The killer who chooses to kill his ex. does it first, then in order to cover up his relationship to the victim he might go out and commit other murders to make it appear his ex. was just an unfortunate victim of a serial killer.

Don't tell me Fleming plotted to kill Kelly since early August and had to go through some cockamamy ritual involving another five women before he decided to finally kill his intended victim!

Neither do we need to entertain the idea that Fleming just went mad and began killing random women, only to finally turn on his ex. and kill no-one else!

So, to entertain Fleming as a serial killer the hypothesis needs to come up with an exceptional scenario to explain his culpability.
1st. because Kelly was killed last, and 2nd. because no more murders followed. This is a problem for a man who was romantically involved with Kelly.
The same problem goes for Barnett.

Regards, Jon S.

Hi Wicker
Flemming and Barnett were now both mary's ex boyfriends basically. now she is just another prostitute-yes a special one(hence the heart), but a now a prostitute and not there girlfriend anymore.

[Malcolm X]

Hahaha. This gave me fits.

Mike

it doesn't to me, DVV just needs to build a convincing case to support him, but it doesn't help that Fleming cant be directly linked to a murder....Let alone all the other murders as well

[The Good Michael]

.
So back on topic, yes, certainly Fleming must be counted among the most serious suspects.

Hahaha. This gave me fits.

Mike

[The Good Michael]

[QUOTE=Ben;204628]Any particular reason why only one part of the asylum records was reproduced, i.e. when Fleming was the heaviest? We seem to be mysteriously glossing over this inconvenient bit, for example:

July 1st: Weight 11st 1lb
Mentally rambling and incoherent. many delusions about persons. Works well in Dining Hall and Mess Room. Health good.
Oct 1st: Weight 11st
Rambling and incoherent. Works in D.H. and Mess room. Good health.

QUOTE]

Ben how typical of you to not mention that he was 11 stone 8 pounds upon admission. I mentioned that he lost weight during his time in the asylum. I didn't fail to mention anything. he was also listed as 6 ft 7 in. There can be no mistake in either of them. But I expect this and less from you and less is what we always get. thanks for the consistency.

Mike