Who was the best witness to have seen Jack the Ripper?

[The Good Michael]

No it wasn't.

It is remarkable then. It either shows that many men in the East End were similar, or that many people saw the killer...going by just your shortened version of descriptions.

Mike

[Haskins]

If you look at all the sightings just listed in their abbreviated form, there's not significant difference between them. I wonder if that was the poster's intent.

Mike

No it wasn't.

[Haskins]

William Smith wasn't a city PC and Lawende's description didn't specifically mention a deerstalker's hat. Swanson also noted that the man seen by Smith and the one described by Schwartz were probably not the same individual.

Apologies that is right. Also he saw the suspect before Stride's murder, not Eddowes. But too late to correct.

[Hunter]

William Smith wasn't a city PC and Lawende's description didn't specifically mention a deerstalker's hat. Swanson also noted that the man seen by Smith and the one described by Schwartz were probably not the same individual.

[The Good Michael]

If you look at all the sightings just listed in their abbreviated form, there's not significant difference between them. I wonder if that was the poster's intent.

Mike

[Fisherman]

Out of the ones you mention, Lawende is the best witness. The time schedule stipulates this, together with the fact that Eddowes wore clothing that was recognized by Lawende afterwards, a skirt with Michaelmas daisies being among the garments - it would have been rather a distinguishable piece of clothing.

Of course, Schwartz may have been even closer in time to the Stride murder occasion - but more doubt exists as to whether she was a Ripper victim than in the Eddowes case, meaning that Lawende is a bet that is easier to agree upon generally in Ripperological context.

The best,
Fisherman

[Haskins]

Just a quick insouciant poll.

Who was the best witness to have seen Jack the Ripper, in your view?

Elizabeth Long aka Darrell - Saw man c. 5 ft 4, wearing deerstalker and dark clothing, prior to Annie Chapman's murder.

William Smith, City PC - Saw a man 5 ft 7, aged about 28, wearing a deerstalker and dark clothing, prior to Catherine Eddowe's murder.

Israel Schwartz - Saw a man 5 ft 5 with a moustache, broad build, aged about 30, wearing a black cap and dark clothing, prior to Elizabeth Stride's murder.

Joseph Lawrende - Saw a man of "middling" height, fair moustache, medium build, about 30, wearing a deerstalker and dark clothing with the look of a sailor, before Catherine Eddowe's

Sarah Lewis - saw a not tall, stout man wearing a wideawake hat before Mary Kelly's murder.

George Hutchinson - Saw a man 5 ft 6, with a slight moustache, aged about 34 -35, with a dark felt hat and dark clothing before the Mary Kelly murder.

Someone else - please post details.