Suspect battle: The Wife-Knifers

[Trevor Marriott]

Hi Trevor,

I'm not sure if that has been validated. This site, in their assessment of Bury, states that Abberline was sent to Scotland but doesn't cite a reference to support the assertion. Euan Macpherson doesn't seem to mention it in his book, whilst Evans and Rumbelow (2006) mention that James Berry, Bury's hangman, claimed that his execution was attended by two Scotland Yard detectives who believed him to be the Whitechapel murderer.

However, I think in relation to statements said to have been made by Berry a degree of caution is required: Berry is said to have questioned Bury about his involvement in the Whitechapel murders, which he didn't deny. However, this is unconfirmed and there is no mention of Bury or JTR in Berry's autobiography.

Best wishes,

John

Given the similarity of the murder of his wife I would have been surprised if he didn't go. If he did then he clearly ruled him out in later favour of Chapman, who can also be ruled out,simply because if there had have been any suspicion of him at the time he committed his murders, then again the police would have gone and spoken to him at some point before his execution. After all if he had have been the Ripper he may well have un burdened his conscience, after all what did he have to lose?

No record, or or no mention by anyone that there was any "suspicion" against Chapman, yet some seek to make him a prime suspect- unbelievable

[John G]

Didnt Abberline go and interview in Scotland about the Whitechapel murders ?

Hi Trevor,

I'm not sure if that has been validated. This site, in their assessment of Bury, states that Abberline was sent to Scotland but doesn't cite a reference to support the assertion. Euan Macpherson doesn't seem to mention it in his book, whilst Evans and Rumbelow (2006) mention that James Berry, Bury's hangman, claimed that his execution was attended by two Scotland Yard detectives who believed him to be the Whitechapel murderer.

However, I think in relation to statements said to have been made by Berry a degree of caution is required: Berry is said to have questioned Bury about his involvement in the Whitechapel murders, which he didn't deny. However, this is unconfirmed and there is no mention of Bury or JTR in Berry's autobiography.

Best wishes,

John

[Trevor Marriott]

Definitely William Bury. There is not only the similarity of the crime that he committed with the JTR murders but also incriminating graffiti found on a door and wall of his basement flat in Dundee. Of course, it could be argued that he was a copycat but my personal view is that copycat killers mainly exist in crime fiction.

However, a major problem with Bury as a suspect is that whilst the murders were taking place in Whitechapel, he was living in Bow. Now Euan Macpherson, in his excellent book on Bury, tries to get round this by arguing that he could have had a bolt hole to flea to after each murder or, alternatively, he could have been a commuter killer: unlike most of the other suspects Bury had access to transport as he owned a pony and cart.

Nonetheless, for me this still presents a major problem. I mean, if he was a commuter killer why just focus exclusively on Whitechapel, a place that he didn't seem to have any particular connection to? Why not, for example, target victims throughout East London, particularly after extra police resources were drafted into Whitechapel? Surely, that would make much more sense.

Didnt Abberline go and interview in Scotland about the Whitechapel murders ?

[John G]

Definitely William Bury. There is not only the similarity of the crime that he committed with the JTR murders but also incriminating graffiti found on a door and wall of his basement flat in Dundee. Of course, it could be argued that he was a copycat but my personal view is that copycat killers mainly exist in crime fiction.

However, a major problem with Bury as a suspect is that whilst the murders were taking place in Whitechapel, he was living in Bow. Now Euan Macpherson, in his excellent book on Bury, tries to get round this by arguing that he could have had a bolt hole to flea to after each murder or, alternatively, he could have been a commuter killer: unlike most of the other suspects Bury had access to transport as he owned a pony and cart.

Nonetheless, for me this still presents a major problem. I mean, if he was a commuter killer why just focus exclusively on Whitechapel, a place that he didn't seem to have any particular connection to? Why not, for example, target victims throughout East London, particularly after extra police resources were drafted into Whitechapel? Surely, that would make much more sense.

[John Wheat]

Bury although I still think Kelly is a strong suspect.

[GUT]

If I could place him in England in '88 Kelly.

[Defective Detective]

Part two of my series.

Which of these two men - William Bury and James Kelly - are more plausible as a suspect in the Ripper killings? You don't have to believe either man actually was "Jack The Ripper", but which is more likely to have been, given the preponderance of evidence?