Theories on Rose being a Ripper victim

[Howard Brown]

There is an extraordinary debate going on over at JTRForums as to whether or not Mylett was a Ripper victim and Anderson's part in the affair.-SPE

Actually, neither Mr. B or myself believe she was a Ripper victim. Our genteel conversation touches on other elements of the Mylett saga...particularly the reversal of opinion by Dr. Bond, in which he declared that Mylett died in due part to alcohol consumption....when the original examination showed none present in her system....and yet Debra Arif has just now stated that Bond found a minute amount of whiskey in her stomach. Good conversation all around....

There's lots of space to discuss this... In Another Place, if anyone cares too.

[Chris]

In Another Place, there has been some discussion of Anderson's statement in his memoirs that 'the Poplar case of December, 1888, was a death from natural causes, and but for the "Jack the Ripper" scare, no one would have thought of suggesting that it was a homicide.'

Howard Brown said that Anderson appeared to have forgotten that the coroner's jury brought in a verdict of wilful murder, and Paul Begg responded that "Surely in saying that ... it is implicit that he was fully aware of the jury's conclusion".

Perhaps so (though perhaps not). But whatever the truth of the matter, surely the relevance to Anderson's other pronouncements is clear. The point is that Anderson simply asserts as a fact that Mylett died of natural causes and implies that any suggestion otherwise was ill-founded. How many readers would guess from this that the majority of medical opinion and the verdict of the jury were that she was murdered?

Anderson's personal opinion is presented as fact, and there is no adequate acknowledgment of opinions to the contrary. But in this case we are fortunate enough to have other sources of information to balance the account.

But on other subjects where we don't have adequate independent information, surely the moral is clear. It is dangerous to take Anderson's claims at face value, even when he speaks of "definitely ascertained fact".

[Rob Clack]

My opinion on Rose is that there is no doubt in my mind she was murdered and I don’t believe she was a Ripper victim. My impression is that whoever killed her had more than enough time to cut her throat and mutilate her.
Anderson’s report of 11 January 1889 is clear that he believed P.S. Golding initial opinion that this was a case of accidental death which is surprising because P.S. Golding didn’t notice any marks on Mylett’s throat and neck. Anderson visited the crime scene in Clarkes Yard, Poplar High Street (which had a reputation for being used by prostitutes) and examined the body of Mylett at the mortuary. What medical qualifications Anderson had, I’ve no idea. It’s staggering that after this he came to the conclusion that Mylett’s death was accidental. And on the 24 December (4 days after Mylett died) Anderson (in my opinion) pressurised Doctor’s Bond and Hibbert that Mylett’s death was accidental and not murder.

Rob

[Stewart P Evans]

Extraordinary Debate

There is an extraordinary debate going on over at JTRForums as to whether or not Mylett was a Ripper victim and Anderson's part in the affair. Given some of the dubious opinions being bandied about I would be interested to hear what those 'over here' think about it. Have a read - it's an eye-opener.

[Wickerman]

The suggestion that Rose Mylett 'may' have been another Ripper victim has always been a controversial one. Although Dr Bond's opinion seems to have become the official one, that her death was accidental. Bond's peers seem to have formed a consensus that her death was murder.
If I recall correctly, Dr Phillips was quite prepared to include her as another Ripper victim.
The medical evidence does tend to lean towards accepting Nichols, Chapman & Eddowes as victims of the same killer. One common denominator between them is that they all had their throats cut twice. As the victims throats are all cut while they lay on the ground, obviously unconscious, only one cut through either jugglar vein is required. Why the 2nd cut?

Perhaps... to hide the mark a cord (Garrott?) would make?
This suggestion came about after the body of Rose Mylett was found with such a mark, according to the medical consensus.
An interesting proposal very worthy of consideration.

[Uncle Jack]

Just thought I would start a thread to see if anyone believes Rose was a Ripper victim, and if yes, the reasons why? I have always been intrigued by the possibility that Jack strangled Mylett but was interupted just before he could cut her throat and mutilate her.

Kind regards,

Adam