If you could follow any suspect...

[Barnaby]

This is a shameless rip-off of the "if you could witness any ONE of the murders" thread. Nevertheless, I think it is equally interesting.

If you could follow any ONE Ripper suspect (contemporary or modern) throughout the autumn of 1888 (and beyond if you please), whom would you follow? Note that even if your guy isn't the Ripper, excluding him might be an enormous contribution to the field.

To up the ante, this could be quantified somewhat. Let's set identifying Jack the Ripper by name beyond reasonable doubt at 100. Ruling out Druit, for example, might then be arbitrarily worth 70 points. Ruling out an anonymous unknown Jew not named Kosminiski might be worth 1 point. If this was Las Vegas, do you go for broke and follow who you believe to be the Ripper or play it safe and make a valuable contribution by following a popular suspect who might be the Ripper but probably isn't? Highest score wins.

[Damaso Marte]

Aaron Kosminski. We know so little about him, and of the suspects whose name we know he is probably the likeliest to actually be the Ripper. Taking him out would be huge, but so would all the things I would learn about him.

(For the record, I would bet big money that the Ripper's real name does not appear even once on all of Casebook)

[Rubyretro]

I would certainly follow George Hutchinson, from before the murders, during the period of the murders, and after he left the Victoria Home (I would certainly shadow him from the day before Kelly's murder, until the Police lost interest in him).

Since Hutch and his movements have been so discussed here, I would love to see the truth of the matter, and find out about the 'Romford' story, and whether A Man existed, and whether Hutch was Toppy. If Hutch was an alias, I'd love to try and get a clue to who he really was and why he changed his name.

Infact, I don't think that I'd mind if Hutch wasn't the Ripper -I wouldn't even mind if he had lied to the police and hadn't even gone near Miller's Court on the morning of Mary's death....it would be equally fascinating to see what sort of a man would walk into police station and needlessly involve himself in the case, and then fabricate such detailed press interviews, and why.

Actually, my motivations are quite selfish (although it would confirm or eliminate Hutch from the suspects); I find Hutch a very interesting personality in his own right, and I'd love to see something of his life -where he was a groom, and what casual jobs he did, and what his life was like at the lodging house, and whether he really knew Kelly and any of the other prostitutes who were murdered, and how he interacted with other people -particuarly women.

Well, it's a big pity that I can't zoom off this minute to spy on Hutch ! -much more interesting than going to work !

[Carol]

I'd like to follow James Maybrick. Then I would be able to prove 'unconditionally' once and for all that he was not Jack the Ripper. I could truly prove the Diary to be a fake!

Carol

[Wickerman]

I'd like to have kept an eye on that character stood outside the Britannia (9 Nov.), commonly termed here as The Bethnal Green man.
Regardless of the fact he was turned over to the police by his accusers (Paumier/Ronay?) and presumably cleared of suspicion, this in itself does not eliminate him.

Sutcliffe (Yorkshire Ripper) was interviewed and let go nine times (between 1977-1980) before he was finally arrested in 1981.

Jon S.

[Harry the Hawker]

I (no longer) think him a likely suspect for the Ripper, but I reckon following F. Tumblety around for a while (including the flight to New York) would be a heck of a ride. Listening in to his police interviews may also be quite interesting (unless he just gave it the 'no comment' all the way).

Cheers!
Harry

[Tom_Wescott]

Definitely Le Grand. Even if not the Ripper, I'm sure to solve some crimes and learn a few things by following this chap around. Very much in the thick of things Ripper wise. I just have to be careful as he had a tendency to follow the people following him! As for anyone following Tumblety, my advice if he enters a bathhouse would be just to wait outside and at a safe distance!

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Robert]

I feel my best chance of learning more about the murders might be to follow Phillips or Abberline. Am I allowed to artificially suspect them so I can follow them?

[S.Brett]

I´d like to follow Aaron Davis Cohen and N. Cohen!

[sleekviper]

In the flesh and blood? I am following Jill; the best looking Jill that I can find. The rest are pretty useless to follow since would end up dead at some point; they may not have killed any of these women, but would bet the house that at some point most did kill somebody, and would not like to join that list. They didn't make the rogues gallery for unpaid horse parking tickets, so Jill it is.

[Lechmere]

If Hutchinson isn't Toppy then I don't know how you can find him an interesting personality as there isn't much personality to know about... is there?
Madam Retro - I suspect you have just got an over active imagination. Is this a female version of those fellows who develope a worrying over infatuation with Mary Kelly?
..."how he interacted with other people -particuarly women." - hmmmm.

Anyway get your walking shoes on for the trek back from Romford. And I think you will be disappointed if you thnk you will be doing any grooming as I strongly suspect he was thus employed on just a couple of occasions several months before.

I could say I'd like to follow Cross - but maybe it would be better to choose Cadoshe (if I make him a suspect) as I could peak over the fence.
Or Diemschutz and I could peak behind the gate.
Or George Morris and I could look out his warehouse door.

[Sally]

I'd follow Joseph Barnett - though I don't personally consider him a suspect - after Kelly's murder to see where he went to live and how he met his 'wife' Louisa.

If I was allowed to follow from before the Autumn of Terror - say the year before - then I might be tempted to follow George Hutchinson for a while. Just to see if he was a groom back then.

[Dave O]

I'd follow Albert Victor because I like big soft cushions and swank dinners.

[Monty]

Diddles.

Monty

[Bridewell]

The Queen Vic

Aaron Kosminski. We know so little about him, and of the suspects whose name we know he is probably the likeliest to actually be the Ripper. Taking him out would be huge, but so would all the things I would learn about him.

(For the record, I would bet big money that the Ripper's real name does not appear even once on all of Casebook)

Hi Damaso,

I suspect you may be right!
All the most interesting people seem to have been taken. (I'm assuming Fisherman will do the honourable thing and walk to work with Charles Cross). On that basis, I'm going to go with Prince Albert Victor. I won't learn anything about the Ripper murders, but at least I'll get to have lunch with Queen Victoria.

Regards, Bridewell

P.s. Sorry Dave O. I was composing my post as you posted yours. We can exchange notes afterwards.