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I think it's bad form to join a board like this and start firing off questions and opinions without anyone having the faintest idea who you are. With this in mind here is a brief outline of myself and my interest in the case.I am in my early 50's married with no kids and two cats. I can live happily without kids but life without cats would be unbearable.
We all live happily in Stoke-on-Trent just 30 miles north of Catherine Eddowes birthplace.I first became interested in the Whitechapel murders in my teenage years when I withdrew a book from the library and discovered the identity of the murderer was Montague John Druitt. Several books, and culprits, later I realised this wasn't quite the straight forward case I had imagined. It seemed the more I read the less I knew as question piled upon question.
What finished me off was reading Stephen knight's ambitiously titled 'Jack the Ripper: The final solution'. Having finished it, and thoroughly enjoying it by the way, I realised no one was any closer to naming the murderer now than they were in 1888. Indeed, you could make a case against almost anyone provided you could prove they were alive and in the area at the time.
With the arrival of the internet we can now share information with like minded people and new theories are put forward, evidence tested and contributions critiqued almost immediately. Reading your forums has inspired me to re-read many old books and read many more new ones. I think anyone studying the case for any reasonable length of time cannot fail to be drawn into discovering more about the social history of the times. I find this to be as interesting as the case itself and adds considerably to understanding.
Along with my wife I try to get down from where we live in the Midlands to London at least a couple of times a year. We always stay in the Spitalfields area, usually the Travelodge in Harrow Place. Getting to know the area helps greatly in understanding the case, giving you a real feel for the geography and distances involved.
As far as suspects and victims go, I am in the "unknown local male" camp for the murderer, a la Peter Sutcliffe. Someone who was no doubt stopped by Police, but had a reason to be there and was a familiar figure to residents and so was never high on anyone's list.
I accept the canonical five victims but am unsure as to other potential victims, believing there must have been some others even if they didn't receive fatal injuries.
I have no particular specialist skills to bring to the case other than my enthusiasm, acquired knowledge and a familiarity in the use of Photoshop which I enjoy using for amateur design and restoration projects.
Let's be careful out there.
Hutch.
but that would be gauche, so please accept my sincere welcome to Casebook. 
), I have to say I found your introductory post both interesting & refreshing. 
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