Favoured Suspect...

[John Wheat]

The original jury in Bury's case rendered a verdict of guilty with a recommendation for mercy. This was based on the conflicting medical testimony. The prosecution maintained that the angle of the ligatures on Ellen's neck indicated a garrotting, while the defence insisted that they indicated a hanging from a low suspension point such as a door knob. The re-enacted trial had the jury rendering a not guilty verdict based on the same uncertainties.

The final outcome had Bury admitting to his wife's murder, but denying being the ripper. Had he immediately reported the alleged suicide he may very well have escaped the rope. But he likely wrote self incriminating chalk messages, as opposed to the Goulston St conundrum, and slashed his wife's abdomen shortly after her death. These actions could not aid him in his claim of innocence due to his wife having committed suicide. It is more indicative of his desire to indulge his fantasy to be recorded in history as JtR.

You are completely wrong at no point did Bury deny being the Ripper. In fact he reportedly told his hangman James Berry that he was the Ripper.

[The Baron]

According to Bury he awoke after a drunken binge to find his wife had hung herself from a door knob. Not at all ripper-like. No signature throat cut. Does he go to the police claiming that she suicided? No. He makes a cut in her abdomen which, when he proceeded to stuff her body in a packing case, resulted in some of her intestines protruding. No disembowelment by him. Still not ripper-like considering the escalation in violence up to Kelly. He and his friends then spent several days playing cards on said packing case. He then reports to police that his wife had committed suicide days before, and that he had cut her abdomen so that he WOULDN'T be suspected of being the ripper. Whaaat?? Why didn't he just dispose of the crate containing the body and disappear? Wouldn't the ripper have known what to do after having murdered five plus victims with increasing violence?

JtR murdered multiple victims with a stealth that enabled him to be unseen, and unheard, and unknown after more than 100 years. Bury was nothing more than a drunken idiot that longed to see his memory preserved in history.

Perfectly said!


The Baron

[The Rookie Detective]

You are completely wrong at no point did Bury deny being the Ripper. In fact he reportedly told his hangman James Berry that he was the Ripper.

Although, James Berry never mentions Bury once in his book...

'My Experiences as an Executioner'

One would imagine Berry would have mentioned the man who allegedly told him he was the Ripper.

It would seem that Bury never told Berry anything related to the Ripper and that this event was fabricated and never even happened.

[The Rookie Detective]

Hi Fishy,

Would you care to elaborate on your reasons for your opinion?

In a final analyse, Bury confessed to killing his wife, so he then could not avoid his appointment with the hangman. So why the would he deny being the ripper? IMO, because admitting to being the ripper may have involved interrogation by the police demanding details of the ripper murders which Bury would have been unable to provide. This would debunk his claim, which may have been why the police cleared him of being the ripper. By denying being the ripper, but providing subtle hints such as the graffiti and the abdominal slash, he could perpetuate his illusion without having to substantiate the fantasy.

Cheers, George,

Excellent post George, well said.

[John Wheat]

Although, James Berry never mentions Bury once in his book...

'My Experiences as an Executioner'

One would imagine Berry would have mentioned the man who allegedly told him he was the Ripper.

It would seem that Bury never told Berry anything related to the Ripper and that this event was fabricated and never even happened.

Not necessarily.

[FrankO]

You do also realise that if Bury did mutilate his wife in the same way as Mary Kelly he would have been hung as the Ripper.

Wasn't he hung, anyway, John?

Ellen was his wife not a prostitute that couldn't be traced back to him.

Then why kill her in the first place? Or why rip her abdomen if he didn't want to get suspected of being the Ripper? Or why not go to town with her as the Ripper & get rid of the packing case with her body in it?

In my opinion anyone who doesn't see Bury as one of the top suspects doesn't know what they are talking about.

If we compare Bury to other known suspects, then, yes, to some extent he might be considered a decent enough suspect. But is it a good suspect in an absolute way? I don't think so, but I've already told you some time ago. I, for one, don't have a suspect, but does that mean I don't know what I'm talking about?

Cheers,
Frank