Charles Cross

[Herlock Sholmes]

I have.


There isn't.


He doesn't. In his right hand he's holding 14 inches of excised human colon. Or a soft hat or cap. Opinion is divided.


His left hand is holding the top of a garden gate -- that of 24 Carlton Road, as shown by the brickwork -- which is closed behind him. Nothing suggests that he is 'not quite steady on his feet'. Entirely the opposite, in fact.


It doesn't. Theory unnecessary; thanks all the same.


The distortion is minor and entirely the result of his left arm being slightly raised by the gate and his right arm not being raised by anything and hanging straight down. The effect is actually of total self-assurance. And after all, this is 1912, and *he knows he got away with it*.


His left foot is crossed over his right, toe down, heel up. Boots perfectly polished; trousers perfectly creased.


It reminds me of the old nursery rhyme 'Let's try and make this man more visibly deformed than any suspect reported by any witness'... A sad ending to that one, as I recall...


M.

Mind-boggling levels of irony here considering the comedic lengths that some have gone to in the past to manufacture a case against a man who simply found a body just like the thousands of others who found a dead body whilst walking outdoors - none of whom turned out to have been a serial killer.

[Geddy2112]

Oh whilst I'm here, according to Michael Conner in the Ripp 87 we get this...

Charles Allen Lechmere was illiterate.

Now I'm not sure how he came to this conclusion but some evidence would be nice. Any ideas?

[Geddy2112]

I have.

Sharing is caring. Can you post the picture please. I really hope it's not the one with the 'fake' scar... thanks.

It looks very much like a chair to me as the side of it is tapered towards the top. A gate would not have that feature.

[Mark J D]

... why does he need to both steady himself with a cane and a chair?

There is no cane, and there is no chair. Apart from that: flawless.

M.

[Mark J D]

In your Lechmerian travels, have you come across a high-definition photograph of Charles Lechmere that isn't cropped?

I have.

There is something odd about his aspect...

There isn't.

He has a cane in one hand...

He doesn't. In his right hand he's holding 14 inches of excised human colon. Or a soft hat or cap. Opinion is divided.

... and either another cane in the other hand (or more likely) is gripping a wall or something in the shrubbery for stability as if he's not quite steady on his feet.

His left hand is holding the top of a garden gate -- that of 24 Carlton Road, as shown by the brickwork -- which is closed behind him. Nothing suggests that he is 'not quite steady on his feet'. Entirely the opposite, in fact.

His chest also seems to protrude strangely, and I have a theory about this.

It doesn't. Theory unnecessary; thanks all the same.

And although it is difficult to tell with one arm partially raised and one shoulder in the foliage, the shoulders don't seem quite symmetrical to me.

The distortion is minor and entirely the result of his left arm being slightly raised by the gate and his right arm not being raised by anything and hanging straight down. The effect is actually of total self-assurance. And after all, this is 1912, and *he knows he got away with it*.

One leg is also thrown slightly forward at an odd angle, but I'd like to see a better photograph, if possible, with the borders so we know it isn't cropped.

His left foot is crossed over his right, toe down, heel up. Boots perfectly polished; trousers perfectly creased.

it reminds me of the old nursey rhyme 'there was a crooked man.'

It reminds me of the old nursery rhyme 'Let's try and make this man more visibly deformed than any suspect reported by any witness'... A sad ending to that one, as I recall...


M.

[rjpalmer]

Some suggest a stroke. Is this what you are hinting at?

No; it appears to me that his torso is somewhat stiff and yet twisted, and the odd protrusion of his chest could indicate he's wearing a Victorian-era back brace because he has curvature of the spine. And why does he need to both steady himself with a cane and a chair?

If he is 'crippled up,' as they used to call it, it could have come on in old age, but is there anything in the historical record that precludes him from having scoliosis or some other deformity?

Below is a more exaggerated case of what I *think* I might be seeing.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Hi RJ, hope you are well, as far as I know that is the only unmolested picture around. In the doctored versions you mainly just see his face. Oh with a 'new' scar that seems to have come about due to the doctoring. Some say he got this in a altercation with one of his victims. Some suggest a stroke. Is this what you are hinting at?
For me he is probably right handed since he seems to be holding a walking stick, all be it rather loosely. Although the cane in the right hand could be due to a 'left sided' injury or stroke. For me he is putting his weight onto his left side onto what looks to me like a dining room chair (or open garden gate.) Although as you say his left leg is in front of the right suggesting it's maybe 'crossed' over the right leg near the ankle.

For what it's worth and what strikes me odd about this picture is the scenery. It looks rather floral and 'Country House' to me. I'll the ring the National Trust tomorrow to see if they ever had a member by the name Charles Lechmere. He does seem to have some form of badge on his right lapel.

Leaning on that chair he looks like Larry Grayson.

The badge is a membership medal for the National Institute of Serial Killers.

[Geddy2112]

In your Lechmerian travels, have you come across a high-definition photograph of Charles Lechmere that isn't cropped? The only one I can readily locate is very blurry.

Hi RJ, hope you are well, as far as I know that is the only unmolested picture around. In the doctored versions you mainly just see his face. Oh with a 'new' scar that seems to have come about due to the doctoring. Some say he got this in a altercation with one of his victims. Some suggest a stroke. Is this what you are hinting at?
For me he is probably right handed since he seems to be holding a walking stick, all be it rather loosely. Although the cane in the right hand could be due to a 'left sided' injury or stroke. For me he is putting his weight onto his left side onto what looks to me like a dining room chair (or open garden gate.) Although as you say his left leg is in front of the right suggesting it's maybe 'crossed' over the right leg near the ankle.

For what it's worth and what strikes me odd about this picture is the scenery. It looks rather floral and 'Country House' to me. I'll the ring the National Trust tomorrow to see if they ever had a member by the name Charles Lechmere. He does seem to have some form of badge on his right lapel.

[rjpalmer]

Thank you and thank you for your post. Since Feb I've read just about every Cross thread.

Hi Geddy,

In your Lechmerian travels, have you come across a high-definition photograph of Charles Lechmere that isn't cropped? The only one I can readily locate is very blurry.

Thanks.

There is something odd about his aspect, but it might be more (or less) apparent with better resolution.

He has a cane in one hand and either another cane in the other hand (or more likely) is gripping a wall or something in the shrubbery for stability as if he's not quite steady on his feet.

His chest also seems to protrude strangely, and I have a theory about this. And although it is difficult to tell with one arm partially raised and one shoulder in the foliage, the shoulders don't seem quite symmetrical to me. One leg is also thrown slightly forward at an odd angle, but I'd like to see a better photograph, if possible, with the borders so we know it isn't cropped.

If you ever come across such a photo with better resolution, please drop me a line. Currently, it reminds me of the old nursey rhyme 'there was a crooked man.'

Cheers.

[John Wheat]

My guess. Money and 5 minutes of fame on a TV show. There is nothing to go on regarding Cross and the whole thing is a complete nonsense.

I couldn't agree with you more Sunny Delight.

[Sunny Delight]

Why is there a quest to frame a clearly innocent witness? There are far better suspects out there such as proven violent murderers W H Bury and James Kelly.

My guess. Money and 5 minutes of fame on a TV show. There is nothing to go on regarding Cross and the whole thing is a complete nonsense.

[John Wheat]

Agreed. The whole thing is a nonsense. I have stated before that Cross was an actual person and labelling him as the most infamous serial killer of all time based on absolutely nothing that can't be easily explained is in my opinion- sick.

Why is there a quest to frame a clearly innocent witness? There are far better suspects out there such as proven violent murderers W H Bury and James Kelly.

[Fiver]

I read the freebie sample and it looks like complete and utter horse manure, explaining that Tabram used to pimp out virgins including an attempt to pimp out Lechmere's teenage sister as a reason for the killings. Eeeek.

Well, they finally have a motive. The motive doesn't make a lick of sense, but they have one.

[Sunny Delight]

The whole case against Charles Cross is absolutely ridiculous.

Agreed. The whole thing is a nonsense. I have stated before that Cross was an actual person and labelling him as the most infamous serial killer of all time based on absolutely nothing that can't be easily explained is in my opinion- sick.

[John Wheat]

Absolutely ridiculous.

The whole case against Charles Cross is absolutely ridiculous.