Did Jack only kill 3?

[Tom_Wescott]

What press interviews, what daughter, what year?

'In the Sunday Express, 24 May 1992, Michael Thornton recalled her (Lady Aberconway) saying mischievously in 1972 that the memoranda gave 'the official line' and the truth could 'cause the Throne to totter'. On the other hand, in the Daily Mail, 2 December 2006, he reported her as merely saying her father was convinced the Ripper was Druitt.' From Jack the Ripper A-Z

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Trevor Marriott]

Hi Trevor,

We don't actually know that the killer only had 5 minutes though, do we? Kate Eddowes left Bishopsgate Street Police Station at 1am. She was found dead at 1.45am. There is a possible sighting by Joseph Lawende at 1.35am:

"I saw a woman. She was standing with her face towards a man. I only saw her back. She had her hand on his chest. The man was taller than she was. She had a black jacket and a black bonnet. I have seen the articles which it was stated belonged to her at the police station. My belief is that they were the same clothes which I had seen upon the Deceased."

Lawende only saw the woman's back. His identification of Eddowes was based on a black bonnet and a black jacket which were shown to him and which he believed were the same as those worn by the woman he had seen. Are you saying that it is certain that the woman seen by Lawende was Eddowes? If so, on what evidential basis? If Lawende was mistaken Kate could have been attacked at any time between Watkins' patrols and 5 minutes doesn't come into the equation.

Regards, Bridewell.

From Dr Browns official statement

"I was called shortly after 2 I reached, shortly after 18 minutes past 2."

"She must have been dead most likely within the half hour"

Dr Sequeira`s official statement

"I was called on 30th September at 5 to 2 and was the first medical man to arrive life had not been extinct more than one quarter of an hour"

I would suggest that puts the time of death as near to 1.35-1.40 as you are going to get it.

[Tom_Wescott]

You guys are a bunch of nerds. I simply mean that Reid had a remarkably poor memory of the Whitechapel murders, even by the rather lax standards of London police in the LVP. I wasn't saying that he actually had Alzheimers.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Bridewell]

Alzheimers

Hi Simon. I suppose you're aware that Inspector Reid didn't think that Abberline was personally involved with that well-known 'Chapman-was-Ripper' article. But then, Reid was borderline Alzheimers.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

Hi Tom,

Borderline Alzheimers? There's no mention of it in Nicholas Connell & Stewart Evans' excellent book, "The Man Who Hunted Jack the Ripper". Furthermore Reid was still an active correspondent with the Herne Bay press a year before his death.

Regards, Bridewell.

[Stephen Thomas]

According to one press report, his daughter statedly he did not believe Druitt was the Ripper, but was his story for public consumption so people would leave him alone about it. But, of course, who knows how accurate this press report was, as it contradicts other press interviews with Mac's daughter.

What press interviews, what daughter, what year?

[Simon Wood]

Hi Tom,

George Chapman was no more the Ripper than my Aunt Dorothy.

Reid borderline alzheimers? Get outta here. He was the only cop who talked any sense.

Explain please.

Regards,

Simon

[Tom_Wescott]

Hi Simon. I suppose you're aware that Inspector Reid didn't think that Abberline was personally involved with that well-known 'Chapman-was-Ripper' article. But then, Reid was borderline Alzheimers.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Fisherman]

Paul Begg:

"Whether or not there was “proof” doesn’t alter the fact that Macnaghten believed Druitt was the murderer"

Of course not. But since Druitt was dead since long and no case could be brought against him, it could be argued that Mac had something on him that would have held up in court. Clearly, though, he did not - not a shred of proof was ever dug up. And, in spite of the lack of a potential culprit to convict, I think the police would have dug deep to find any sort of confirmation for Druitt´s guilt. And going by Macnaghten´s own words, he would have gained his information from private sources, quite probably from a relative, and that information would have been - as far as we can tell - presented after Druitts´suicide. Therefore, it would reasonably not have been physical evidence, but instead some sort of story told about the man. Either "he confessed to me that..." or "he came home bloody after having done the Hanbury Street tour" or something along them lines - information given in trust about something that was not possible to check. And we can mull over what that something was forever, but we will never know.
And as long as I don´t know, I think it is wise to accept that the best bids of the bunch were regarded as the best bids because the rest were worse. Wherever THAT puts us. And whatever significance it lends to the fact that Macnaghten thought that Druitt was a bid for the killer´s role.

"The absence of proof explains why the police continued to investigate, and quite rightly too!"

Very much agreed!

" it is questionable whether the police really would have devoted resources to dig something up that would strengthen their suspicions about a dead man or a man incarcerated in a secure mental institution?"

I think they would have wanted closure on this one. And the different bids inbetween the different men responsible for catching the killer puts it beyond doubt that there was ever any police solution. If there had been, then I would agree that it would put an end to the efforts. But there was never any consensus on that score, that is very obvious.

The best,
Fisherman

[Bridewell]

5 Minutes

By not stopping to think that could a killer really kill and mutilate someone remove a uterus and a kidney all in 5 minutes.

Hi Trevor,

We don't actually know that the killer only had 5 minutes though, do we? Kate Eddowes left Bishopsgate Street Police Station at 1am. She was found dead at 1.45am. There is a possible sighting by Joseph Lawende at 1.35am:

"I saw a woman. She was standing with her face towards a man. I only saw her back. She had her hand on his chest. The man was taller than she was. She had a black jacket and a black bonnet. I have seen the articles which it was stated belonged to her at the police station. My belief is that they were the same clothes which I had seen upon the Deceased."

Lawende only saw the woman's back. His identification of Eddowes was based on a black bonnet and a black jacket which were shown to him and which he believed were the same as those worn by the woman he had seen. Are you saying that it is certain that the woman seen by Lawende was Eddowes? If so, on what evidential basis? If Lawende was mistaken Kate could have been attacked at any time between Watkins' patrols and 5 minutes doesn't come into the equation.

Regards, Bridewell.

[Jon Guy]

Hi Simon

"Ozymandias" tells of the inevitable decline of leaders and their empires, however mighty they may once have been.

But still, centuries later, the pedestal and the words upon it, still remain.

[Monty]

I did before

Monty

[Simon Wood]

Hi Monty,

But now you do.

Regards,

Simon

[Monty]

Really Simon,

Gee, I didn't know that. ;-)

Monty

[Simon Wood]

Hi Monty,

You wanna be careful wielding Shelley.

"Ozymandias" tells of the inevitable decline of leaders and their empires, however mighty they may once have been.

Merely a heads-up.

Regards,

Simon

[Monty]

Debs work needs no defending, as all will see over the next week or so.

Look on my works ye Mighty and despare.


You truly have no idea Trevor. I genuinely pity you.

Monty