Why Didn't the Police Have Schwartz and/or Lawende Take a Look at Hutchinson?

[Sam Flynn]

For the same reason, they use straps carrying lunches home across various European places.

It's hot.

Fish and chips are warm, not exactly hot, and the paper they come wrapped in is perfectly capable of insulating the user from the faint risk of third-degree burns. Indeed, on a cold, rainy night, a fish supper tucked under the arm is truly one of life's great comforts.

Scenes in History that Never Happened, #82:

"Where are you going, darling?"

"I'm off to buy us a take-away"

"Don't forget your chip strap!"

---

Give it up, man.

[Batman]

Why would anyone, anywhere, bring a strap to wrap a packet of fast food?

For the same reason, they use straps carrying lunches home across various European places.

It's hot.

Edit: Here is a modern version of what I am talking about.

and another.

These would have been makeshift in the past.

[Sam Flynn]

Fine, but one could easily bring a strap if one is bringing a plate. You do know across Europe that in various countries people carry they lunches in different ways even today?

Why would anyone, anywhere, bring a strap to wrap a packet of fast food?

[Batman]

We're talking about cheap paper, not something as (comparatively) expensive as a plate. You don't bring your own paper to the chippy.

Fine, but one could easily bring a strap if one is bringing a plate. You do know across Europe that in various countries people carry they lunches in different ways even today?

[Batman]

But what about before Kelly's murder? There'd have been people who would have known of men who owned and occasionally - or frequently - went about wearing an Astrakhan coat, gold watch chain and/or horseshoe tie-pin. I can't imagine there'd have been too many of those in the neighbourhood.

Either he was dressing down for those instances or dressing up for the Kelly one.

[Batman]

Private establishments, clubs, beer houses, etc., could stay open longer.

Which explains why Lawende and company left at 1:30am

[Sam Flynn]

They wouldn't have supplied plates either for people to carry their food back with, but people carry their food back on plates, they brought.

We're talking about cheap paper, not something as (comparatively) expensive as a plate. You don't bring your own paper to the chippy.

[Sam Flynn]

I doubt he would wear Astrakhan, ever again.

But what about before Kelly's murder? There'd have been people who would have known of men who owned and occasionally - or frequently - went about wearing an Astrakhan coat, gold watch chain and/or horseshoe tie-pin. I can't imagine there'd have been too many of those in the neighbourhood.

[Batman]

There must have been plenty of shabbily dressed men with facial hair and blotchy complexions living in the area. Astrakhan Men less so.

I doubt he would wear Astrakhan, ever again.

[Batman]

Besides, whether fish and chips were wrapped in newspaper or paper of some other kind, they would not resemble an American Cloth parcel, and they wouldn't have been tied up with a strap. It would have been a case of tucking the bundle under your arm, clutching it in your hand, or sticking it in your coat, and away to go.

They wouldn't have supplied plates either for people to carry their food back with, but people carry their food back on plates, they brought.

Inquest: Alice Mackenzie
[Coroner] Had you seen any one? - I had not. There was not a soul in the alley that I saw. After I saw the body lying on the pavement I heard a footstep coming from Old Castle-place, and I saw a young man, named Isaac Lewis Jacobs. I said, "Where are you going?" He said, "I am going to Wentworth-street to fetch something for my supper." At the time he was carrying a plate in his hand. Jacobs came back with me and stayed there until the sergeant arrived.

A strap is what we are talking about. A small loop that is easy to make into a sling hitch. Brought.

[Sam Flynn]

No trace of Blotchy either.

However there you have the crux of the matter. How does a man who lives locally vanish?

There must have been plenty of shabbily dressed men with facial hair and blotchy complexions living in the area. Astrakhan Men less so.

[Batman]

If astracan was carrying a fish and potato supper with him, he must have bought it before he met Mary.
That means it must have been for his own consumption. Following on from that and he did buy the meal somewhere near or on Thrawl St it probably means that he lived nearby. Would you walk miles for your supper if Chandlers shops were open that late?
So it means he was local.

Exactly, this all works and you are following it through.

We also have an account of a Tabram incident witness living in George's Yard, going to Thrawl St for supper, and not seeing Tabram on the landing but shortly after her body was found there.

JtR living locally makes the world of sense.

Yet astracan was not found despite Hutchinson's very detailed description of him.
I would expect him to have been, even if he was just eliminated from police enquires and Dew making mention of it. But no the man was never traced even if he had done a bunk.
No trace, probably no suspect.

No trace of Blotchy either.

However there you have the crux of the matter. How does a man who lives locally vanish?

JtR seemed to be reading about himself to switch up what he was wearing. After learning about Hutchinson out on the prowl for him, that's a problem.

[Sam Flynn]

What is being claimed here is that newspapers were cheap enough and in bulk availability enough in Whitechapel to wrap foods in them in 1888!

Just about any unwanted paper would have done, and it's not as if the Star or even Daily Telegraph were incredibly expensive to begin with. It was a case of either reusing the paper, burning it, or throwing it away. I have no doubt whatsoever that - in 1888 as in more recent times - old newspapers would have been used for many purposes, including wrapping food.

Besides, whether fish and chips were wrapped in newspaper or paper of some other kind, they would not resemble an American Cloth parcel, and they wouldn't have been tied up with a strap. It would have been a case of tucking the bundle under your arm, clutching it in your hand, or sticking it in your coat, and away to go.

[Batman]

And far the record, I bet my daddy is from even further west than Batman's and mainly, further South

Roy

I am Islington born. I grew up in London. I have eaten the foods they are talking about and more.

It's irrelevant though. I certainly wouldn't go around using that it try to demean others.

[Batman]

How expensive do you imagine last week's newspaper would have been?

You really have no idea, do you?

Ask Alfred, BM, or, possibly, do some research yourself.

Everyone knows newspapers were used up until modern time to wrap fish n chips when it stopped because of hygiene awareness.

What is being claimed here is that newspapers were cheap enough and in bulk availability enough in Whitechapel to wrap foods in them in 1888!

That's what I doubt. I go with paper wrap from out of a pot for its early introduction and newspapers come later when they are cheaper and more available.