the victims werent prostitutes

[PaulB]

I've just had a rummage through the inquest transcripts on Casebook, Ripperology's vade mecum.

Emily Holland "did not know in what way she [Polly Nichols] obtained a living. She always seemed to her to be a quiet woman, and kept very much to herself." Wynne Baxter called her unfortunate, but in the context of her being a murder victim.

Nobody at Annie Chapman's inquest mentioned 'unfortunate' or prostitution. Asked what she did for a living, Amelia Palmer said, "She used to do crochet work, make antimaccassars, and sell flowers. She was out late at night at times."

John Kelly said he . . . "never knew she [Eddowes] went out for any immoral purpose," although "We had been unfortunate at the hop-picking."

The word 'prostitute' wasn't uttered at Elizabeth Stride's inquest. Wynne Baxter mentioned that Stride sometimes being worse for drink was 'unfortunately' a failing with her, and asked what she was doing for a livelihood, Mary Malcolm replied, "I had my doubts."

Asked why Barnett left Kelly, he said, "Because she had a woman of bad character there, whom she took in out of compassion, and I objected to it. That was the only reason." Caroline Maxwell said, "I believe she was an unfortunate," without explaining the basis for her belief.

Ubi autem probationem?

Hi Simon, take a look at MEPO for both Nichols and Chapman.

[Simon Wood]

Hi Jonathan,

Thank you very much.

Regards,

Simon

[jmenges]

Hi Simon,

This one's the Daily News on 10 September-

Sounds pass unheeded in Hanbury street - that is all. The lodger who came down at 5.25 fancied he hard a slight scuffle, with the noise of someone falling against the pailings, but he took no notice of that. They take very little notice in Hanbury street, even of strangers to the house, who sometimes turn in for a sleep on the stairs before the markets open.

Anybody is free to walk through the house passage into the back yard, and it is not uncommon in all parts of London for homeless persons to creep in and sleep in passages and staircases thus left. In this very house only a short time since one of the residents says a man slept on the stairs, certainly one night, and probably more than one. Under such circumstances, of course anybody passing through the yard would attract no attention.

There may be other press accounts of homeless sleeping inside, or even in the backyard, of 29 Hanbury Street. I'll have to look.

All the best,

JM

[Simon Wood]

Hi Jonathan,

Who said that?

Regards,

Simon

[jmenges]

29 Hanbury Street was a place known for allowing people without lodgings to sleep on the stairs and in the passageway- for days at a time- and none of the regular occupants would take any notice of them or ask them to leave.

JM

[Simon Wood]

Hi Jon,

No problem.

Regards,

Simon

[Wickerman]

Hi Jon,

John Davies, tenant of 29 Hanbury Street who discovered the body at 6.00 am, testified—

“Directly I opened the door I saw a woman lying down in the left hand recess, between the stone steps and the fence.”

Regards,

Simon

Sorry Simon, I thought you were talking about Stride.
Thats twice I've done that now.....

[Simon Wood]

I've just had a rummage through the inquest transcripts on Casebook, Ripperology's vade mecum.

Emily Holland "did not know in what way she [Polly Nichols] obtained a living. She always seemed to her to be a quiet woman, and kept very much to herself." Wynne Baxter called her unfortunate, but in the context of her being a murder victim.

Nobody at Annie Chapman's inquest mentioned 'unfortunate' or prostitution. Asked what she did for a living, Amelia Palmer said, "She used to do crochet work, make antimaccassars, and sell flowers. She was out late at night at times."

John Kelly said he . . . "never knew she [Eddowes] went out for any immoral purpose," although "We had been unfortunate at the hop-picking."

The word 'prostitute' wasn't uttered at Elizabeth Stride's inquest. Wynne Baxter mentioned that Stride sometimes being worse for drink was 'unfortunately' a failing with her, and asked what she was doing for a livelihood, Mary Malcolm replied, "I had my doubts."

Asked why Barnett left Kelly, he said, "Because she had a woman of bad character there, whom she took in out of compassion, and I objected to it. That was the only reason." Caroline Maxwell said, "I believe she was an unfortunate," without explaining the basis for her belief.

Ubi autem probationem?

[c.d.]

Hello Paul,

On a serious note, I hope you don't feel as though I stepped on your toes or was trying to steal your thunder. It was certainly not my intention to do so. My apologies if that is the case.

c.d.

[c.d.]

I think that is what I said. I therefore agree with you.

Hello Paul,

Yes, I believe that is what you said. I just added the sacred oath part which I thought was pretty pithy. And the bit about their drinking problems.

c.d.

[PaulB]

[QUOTE=Herlock Sholmes;457643]You’re just not open to new ideas Mr B.[/QUOTE
So I have been told.

[PaulB]

I have to say that I have never understood this line of thinking. Are we to assume that they all swore some sort of sacred oath that they would not exchange sex for money on a particular night before venturing out on the street? They were poor, destitute women with a fondness for drink. How can we say with any certainty what they would do if approached by a potential customer?

c.d.

I think that is what I said. I therefore agree with you.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Perhaps it might help if I say that I was giving the right victim explanations, but not necessarily in the right order.

Thank you Eric

[Robert]

Perhaps it might help if I say that I was giving the right victim explanations, but not necessarily in the right order.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Isn't there a possibility, perhaps remote but nevertheless to be given serious consideration, that this is just slightly unlikely?

You’re just not open to new ideas Mr B.