So Cross the Ripper got involved in the investigation. Why did he stop?

[Azarna]

Sorry, I was being rather pedantic there.

Plus, of course, at the time Polly Nichols murder was generally considered to be the third murder, not the first.

[Columbo]

Lechmere would not have known that as, if Macnaghten is right, then Polly Nichols was the first woman murdered by JTR, so there had been no previous JTR murders and hence no previous witnesses.

Correct, I didn't make a clear point.

Having said that, it seems a bit foolish to give the correct address and the wrong surname if you are trying to avoid someone you believe may be coming after you. Surely it is the address that is the bit you would want to hide.

Columbo

[Azarna]

I doubt he gave it a second thought about giving his address, since he wasn't considered a suspect. And if he did see the killer, it's doubtful the JTR would've come after him. He didn't go after any of the other witnesses.

Lechmere would not have known that as, if Macnaghten is right, then Polly Nichols was the first woman murdered by JTR, so there had been no previous JTR murders and hence no previous witnesses.

Having said that, it seems a bit foolish to give the correct address and the wrong surname if you are trying to avoid someone you believe may be coming after you. Surely it is the address that is the bit you would want to hide.

[David Orsam]

Ignorance is bliss.

Does that mean you are very happy?

[Columbo]

The killer changed type of murder site after Nichols. Buck´s Row and 29 Hanbury Street are very different. An open street - a dark courtyard. Why?

The clothes were "a little above her knees". Why?

Regards, Pierre

Hey Pierre,

I thought the general consensus at the time was the victims chose the site. Although I think Nichols was an opportunity killing. She just happened to be there going somewhere else.

Fisherman has already stated that his theory was Cross lowered the clothes to hide the wounds so Paul wouldn't see them. Please correct me if I'm wrong Fisherman, I know that's very basic.

Columbo

[Pierre]

Ignorance is bliss.

[David Orsam]

The killer changed type of murder site after Nichols. Buck´s Row and 29 Hanbury Street are very different. An open street - a dark courtyard. Why?

The clothes were "a little above her knees". Why?

Pierre, you seem be asking the same question that Ripperologists have been asking for the last hundred years.

And they haven't come up with the answer either.

What a shining example of a Ripperologist you have become!

[Pierre]

Suppose that Cross, after just his first or second murder, manages to insert himself into the investigation of his own crimes by posing as a witness, and not only speaking to a police officer, but giving the police officer a name that, while not "his real name", can be traced to him, and completes this by showing up to the inquest, which must have been swarming with law enforcement officials of every kind, and talks to the media.

Some serial killers obtain great pleasure and satisfaction from inserting themelves into the investigation like this. If Cross was indeed the Ripper, he seems to be showing signs of this tendency.

Once he is in that deep, why stop? Why does he not attempt to exploit his fame and his place in the investigation?

The killer changed type of murder site after Nichols. Buck´s Row and 29 Hanbury Street are very different. An open street - a dark courtyard. Why?

The clothes were "a little above her knees". Why?

Regards, Pierre

[Columbo]

His last words were : "The world will hear from me again."

I'm not saying Cross didn't do it, I'm just pointing out that we're giving Cross a lot of un-warranted credit.

Columbo

[Robert]

His last words were : "The world will hear from me again."

[Harry D]

I think we're giving Cross too much credit. If he saw the killer he would've said so.

I doubt he gave it a second thought about giving his address, since he wasn't considered a suspect. And if he did see the killer, it's doubtful the JTR would've come after him. He didn't go after any of the other witnesses.

And, hypothetically, if he did see the killer it would've been in the file somewhere and reported in the news.

I think it's a far reach to think that Cross was this diabolical genius who was second guessing the police at every turn. If he was JTR he was really lucky he didn't get caught by Paul actually killing Nichols, just like he was lucky Albert Kodosh didn't look over the fence, or someone didn't look in Mary Kelly's room when they heard someone cry murder.

Columbo

OF COURSE Lechmere was an evil genius. How else did he manage to remain gainfully employed and provide for a large family in an overcrowded district whilst moonlighting as a violent serial killer until he died of old age? All while raising nary a suspicion from anyone. That's the one thing people conveniently forget when citing serial killers who were family men... they all got caught because they weren't able to maintain a double-life with that level of risk.

[Columbo]

I think we're giving Cross too much credit. If he saw the killer he would've said so.

I doubt he gave it a second thought about giving his address, since he wasn't considered a suspect. And if he did see the killer, it's doubtful the JTR would've come after him. He didn't go after any of the other witnesses.

And, hypothetically, if he did see the killer it would've been in the file somewhere and reported in the news.

I think it's a far reach to think that Cross was this diabolical genius who was second guessing the police at every turn. If he was JTR he was really lucky he didn't get caught by Paul actually killing Nichols, just like he was lucky Albert Kodosh didn't look over the fence, or someone didn't look in Mary Kelly's room when they heard someone cry murder.

Columbo

[Fisherman]

It always helps to dispose of red herrings, Fisherman.

I agree - which is why I am waiting for you to prove that there is such a red herring involved here.

Not just that YOU think there is - proof that there IS.

You see, I think you are the red herring yourself.

[drstrange169]

You are welcome to expand on that. Not that I think it helps, but anyway.

It always helps to dispose of red herrings, Fisherman.

[Pcdunn]

The problem I see with that option is that if he saw someone, at least a good chance that they saw him.

Thus no matter what name he gives, giving his home address is to say the least risky.

Bloke he saw has at least a fair idea of the time he leaves home, waits, watches, yep that's him, bye bye Mr Criss or Lechmere or whatever your real name is.

Oh, agreed. I only mentioned it as it has been discussed here previously.
I much prefer my first possibility, really.