Stride Poll 2

[GBinOz]

Hi George,

But why 'prominent'?

So, while both Lawende and Marshall describe a man with a cap with a peak, that's where the similarity ends. Lawende thinks the man looks like a sailor (did the red handkerchief add to this impression?) while Marshall specifically states the man didn't look like a sailor, but like a decently dressed, middle-aged clerk.

I would argue they aren't describing the same man.

Hi RJ,

Prominent was the word returned in an AI search on "peaked cap in 1888".

I wouldn't dispute your argument that they aren't describing the same man.

There are considerable differences in the millinery and apparel aspects of sightings by witnesses.

Best and Gardner described a "a black billycock hat, rather tall". "He was well dressed in a black morning suit with a morning coat.

Smith saw "a dark felt deerstalker's hat". "His clothes were dark. The coat was a cutaway coat.".

Packer saw "a wideawake hat and dark clothes; had the appearance of a clerk".

Brown - "Had he a hat or a cap on? - I cannot say", "I saw that he had a long dark coat on".

Adding the random nature of the sightings of Stride's flower and a case could be made that they are all describing different men.