Why Buck's Row?

[Bridewell]

The police did not recognise any of the C5. Nor did they recognise them once they had their names.

Regards,

Simon

Walter Dew?

[Bridewell]

Hi DJA,

Evening News, 8th September 1888—

“The supposition finds ready acceptance that the poor woman was murdered outside and taken into this yard, by those who knew the place well. This is upheld by the fact that spots of blood are lying thick in the narrow passage leading from the street into the yard, and the blood marks where the body was found must have been caused by its being deposited there, there being no signs of any struggle having taken place in the vicinity.”

Regards,

Simon

Were the 'spots of blood' in the passage noticed before the body was removed or after? If after, the spots if 'thick' (presumably congealed) could have been deposited during the removal process surely?

[Bridewell]

Now, here's a rather more complete version of Ms Farmer's inquest evidence than one finds in the Times.

From the Star of 10 September:

"I am afraid deceased used to earn her living partly on the streets. She was a very straightforward woman when she was sober, clever and industrious with her needle; but she could not take much drink without getting intoxicated. She had been living a very irregular life all the time I've known her."

Go on and explain that one away Simon.

She was a road sweeper?

[Herlock Sholmes]

There's always going to be an element of risk to killing women, whether in the street, in a back yard or in someone's room. The ripper avoided being caught though and so we have to assume that he exercised caution to minimise those risks. If he hadn't have done that then we would have to put his avoidance of capture down to luck (and lots of it.)

[Elamarna]

I can tell you Steve, it is actually impossible.

Pierre

Pierre,
are you just saying it is impossible to exclude some degree of risk. Such is of course true of any serial killer.
Of course that does not mean they put on a police uniform.


Steve

[Pierre]

Leave the victim on public view is the simplest, in a location which is used.
However I am sure that is not what you are thinking of my friend.

Steve

I can tell you Steve, it is actually impossible.

Pierre

[Sam Flynn]

What if he couldn't find another prostitute with her own digs?

Do more outdoor Nichols/Eddowes/Chapman-type murders, until the next opportunity for an indoor job came along.

[Elamarna]

If you were a serial killer and wanted a witness to see your murder victim, how would you do that outdoors without the risk of getting caught?

Leave the victim on public view is the simplest, in a location which is used.
However I am sure that is not what you are thinking of my friend.


Steve

[Pierre]

That was the norm, sadly. I don't think we can read much into Kelly's living indoors, as comparatively few prostitutes would have had that luxury. I think the Ripper took his opportunities where he could, and he must have thanked his lucky stars to discover that his last victim had a place of her own.

If you were a serial killer and wanted a witness to see your murder victim, how would you do that outdoors without the risk of getting caught?

[Harry D]

He's escalating, and I find it difficult to believe that he'd have "de-escalated" after Kelly. She was, and remains, one of the most extreme examples of mutilation murder in the annals of crime, and I'd have expected more of the same - or, at least, something comparable to Eddowes, Chapman or Nichols, had the killer continued. If the Ripper didn't kill Kelly, and I understand the doubts some people have in that regard, then why did he stop at Eddowes?

What if he couldn't find another prostitute with her own digs?

[Joshua Rogan]

The Manchester Guardian, 10th September 1888, confirmed the bloodstains in the passage of 29 Hanbury Street whilst offering the most sublimely ridiculous explanation for their presence—

“There were some marks of blood observable in the passage, but it is now known that these were caused during the work of removal of some packing cases, the edges of which accidentally came in contact with the blood upon the spot from which the unhappy victim was removed.”

And if you believe that, I know a recently deposed Nigerian prince who is eager to put £27 million into your bank account.

In the Star 8th Sept, there is a mention of packing cases being used to cover the bloodstains in the yard, so if they were later moved through the house they could easily have left a trail as later described;

"PAYING TO VIEW THE SCENE.
For several hours past the occupants of the adjoining house have been charging an admission fee of one penny to people anxious to view the spot where the body was found. Several hundreds of people have availed themselves of this opportunity, though all that can be seen are a couple of packing cases from beneath which is the stain of a blood track."

[curious]

He's escalating, and I find it difficult to believe that he'd have "de-escalated" after Kelly. She was, and remains, one of the most extreme examples of mutilation murder in the annals of crime, and I'd have expected more of the same - or, at least, something comparable to Eddowes, Chapman or Nichols, had the killer continued. If the Ripper didn't kill Kelly, and I understand the doubts some people have in that regard, then why did he stop at Eddowes?

Intriguing.

Thanks.

I've been trying to decipher McKenzie, but can't make her fit.

[Sam Flynn]

So, you do consider Kelly his last victim? May I ask why?

He's escalating, and I find it difficult to believe that he'd have "de-escalated" after Kelly. She was, and remains, one of the most extreme examples of mutilation murder in the annals of crime, and I'd have expected more of the same - or, at least, something comparable to Eddowes, Chapman or Nichols, had the killer continued. If the Ripper didn't kill Kelly, and I understand the doubts some people have in that regard, then why did he stop at Eddowes?

[curious]

he must have thanked his lucky stars to discover that his last victim had a place of her own.

So, you do consider Kelly his last victim? May I ask why?

Thx,

curious

[Sam Flynn]

All murder sites, except Mary Kelly's home, were relatively high-risk, exposed public areas. All the prostitutes, except Kelly, had no homes to take their clients to, and had to conduct their business in public places.

That was the norm, sadly. I don't think we can read much into Kelly's living indoors, as comparatively few prostitutes would have had that luxury. I think the Ripper took his opportunities where he could, and he must have thanked his lucky stars to discover that his last victim had a place of her own.