‘It was exactly a quarter to four when I passed up Buck’s-row to my work as a carman for Covent-garden market. It was dark, and I was hurrying along, when I saw a man standing where the woman was. He came a little towards me, but as I knew the dangerous character of the locality I tried to give him a wide berth. Few people like to come up and down here without being on their guard, for there are such terrible gangs about. There have been many knocked down and robbed at that spot. The man, however, came towards me and said, “Come and look at this woman."'
Are these the word of an innocent man? Specifically, Paul is saying the area is full of bad people and Cross may have been one of them. Indeed, his appearance may have been so frightful that this young man, used to going up and down these very streets, was forced to give Cross a wide berth.
Paul explains also that he listened and thought he detected a faint heartbeat, allowing Cross to pronounce the woman dead. It was also Paul that wanted to move her, in case she were alive and they could help her (presumably). It was Cross who objected. Of course what has happened here is that Paul killed Nichols, went off to take his knife home and walked back down Buck's Row. The hapless Cross became the witness to dismiss any eyes from Paul and Paul accepted this willingly, perhaps gloatingly.
Being a carman, Paul would have known the area intimately and could have easily taken 1 of 100 different routes for his job with noticeable drop-off in productivity. Also being a carman, he may have been involved with transporting meat. Not only would this be a good cover should any policeman find him with blood on him, but a pile of various meats and sweetbreads would be perfect for hiding a uterus, kidney, or even a heart. "Oy, it's a box o' pig hearts, guv."
Now that any questions arising could be directed upon Cross who "discovered" the body, Paul was free from scurutiny and felt a sense of god-like power allowing him to continue in his work as long as he desired. It was perhaps around teh birth of his 6th or 7th child, when he lost the stamina to do this, and anyway, he'd always have Paris.
Mike
Are these the word of an innocent man? Specifically, Paul is saying the area is full of bad people and Cross may have been one of them. Indeed, his appearance may have been so frightful that this young man, used to going up and down these very streets, was forced to give Cross a wide berth.
Paul explains also that he listened and thought he detected a faint heartbeat, allowing Cross to pronounce the woman dead. It was also Paul that wanted to move her, in case she were alive and they could help her (presumably). It was Cross who objected. Of course what has happened here is that Paul killed Nichols, went off to take his knife home and walked back down Buck's Row. The hapless Cross became the witness to dismiss any eyes from Paul and Paul accepted this willingly, perhaps gloatingly.
Being a carman, Paul would have known the area intimately and could have easily taken 1 of 100 different routes for his job with noticeable drop-off in productivity. Also being a carman, he may have been involved with transporting meat. Not only would this be a good cover should any policeman find him with blood on him, but a pile of various meats and sweetbreads would be perfect for hiding a uterus, kidney, or even a heart. "Oy, it's a box o' pig hearts, guv."
Now that any questions arising could be directed upon Cross who "discovered" the body, Paul was free from scurutiny and felt a sense of god-like power allowing him to continue in his work as long as he desired. It was perhaps around teh birth of his 6th or 7th child, when he lost the stamina to do this, and anyway, he'd always have Paris.
Mike
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