The BIG Poll

[Herlock Sholmes]

1 Anderson’s suspect (Aaron Kozminski, "Kosminski", David Cohen, "Leather Apron")
2 Sagar’s suspect (Butchers Row suspect)
3 Cox’s suspect
4 "Pipeman"
5 Jacob Levy
6 Thomas Cutbush
7 Robert Donston Stephenson

Cheers SB

[Lewis C]

Interesting suggestion, Lewis, especially noting that you regard your "suspects" as more like "persons of interest".

My problem is that I can't help seeing JtR as not just a cold blooded killer, which others do, but as one who knew exactly what he was doing, as if he had done it many times before. He was highly skilled with a very sharp knife 6-8 inches or longer - that is a fairly rare talent. That, coupled with the fact the he used the m. o. of an experienced slaughterer with the throat slitting and the clear understanding of how to do it while avoiding getting blood on his person, plus the speed at which he worked, the fact that he seemed to know where various organs were, and how to remove them, convinces me that he had a fair amount of experience as a butcher/slaughterer. This, to my way of thinking, rules out almost all of the usual suspects!

I don't know enough at the moment about potential suspects with this level of expertise to make a list, but I am thinking about it! There actually were a significant number of men in the East End or thereabouts with this experience, and we know only a little about very few of them.

Sorry, but I am not helping this thread, which except for my comments, is actually very interesting.

No problem Doc, I think your explanation makes perfect sense.

[Georgeb]

Hi Herlock. Been thinking about this all day, I'm retired, and as stated above its easier to name a type rather than a person. That being said I will go with

1. The Anderson suspect
2. Bury
3. Druitt my first suspect from the softly softly documentary
4. Broad shoulders
5. Pipeman.

I still think it we ever find out we may all be going "who"