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Casebook: Jack the Ripper - Message Boards » Victims » Elizabeth Stride » Stride's was not a ripper victim. ! » Archive through March 05, 2005 « Previous Next »

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Jeff Hamm
Chief Inspector
Username: Jeffhamm

Post Number: 608
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2005 - 11:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi Restless,
To be honest, I'm not entirely sure how this was done myself, nor can I remember where this information originates from. I'm sure I read it here somewhere, and that somewhere this information has a citation to a reference. The term "knee trembler" stuck with me though. I seem to recall some statements where prostitutes of the era bragged they had not been penetrated by a client in years though, or something to that effect.

While trying to maintain a bit of politeness, if the usual position was standing up, the client probably rather intoxicated, a fairly large bulky dress in much of the way, and not a lot of time, perhaps it would be difficult to know exactly what is where.

- Jeff
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Restless Spirit
Sergeant
Username: Judyj

Post Number: 28
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 2:33 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Jeff Hamm
Jeff you are priceless, and I know exactly where you are coming from when you are trying to put the facts forward politely. Honestly I have tried every position myself to try to comprehend the concept but I will be dammed if I can figure out how it can be done under the circumstances with these ladies mentioned before (rather large of stature). I of course did not try this procedure with an unsuspecting male. You sure have been polite with your explanation but I am mystified, blown away(so to speak).
Thank you though for the lesson and explanation explaining the procedure.
It was a pleasure reading your post and I do hope you did not think I was impolite in my zeal to figure out or visualize this new or old approach to sexual activity. I am stymied. I do not have anyone to try it on at the present time,however I doubt very much that I would suggest it or try it on a partner of mine.
You are very patient and yes very polite.
Thanks Jeff
Restless Spirit
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Lee McLoughlin
Sergeant
Username: Lee

Post Number: 45
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 7:02 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I dont know if this will make sense but I'll try!

I belive that the sequence of the "double event" makes Stride not a Ripper victim.

Stride was attacked in an area with many people about which was the complete opposite to the other victims. Eddowes in an area which was similar, in remoteness, to the other victims.

Had Eddowes been killed first and the Ripper didn't have the oppotunity to perfrom the mutilations I believe he would have been angry/pumped up enough to attack Stride in such a crowded area. But the other way round? I'm not sure. Why would the Ripper attack someone in an area as the one Stride was murdered in?

I strongly believe that Stride was killed by Michael Kidney in a drunken rage.
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Phil Hill
Detective Sergeant
Username: Phil

Post Number: 138
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 7:19 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I'm afraid Restless, that your clear intention to point the finger at a particular "type" of Ripper, rather undermines your theory in my eyes. Although you are honest enough to make it clear that you are stating your "beliefs".

You wrote:

I certainly agree with you re Mr. B.S.
If he was J t R he was sure being careless to be seen by witnesses... I believe Mr. B.S. was someone like Kosminski... a known lunatic, she rejected him for obvious reasons, he attacked her... Mr. B.S. shouts to Schwartz, he flees Mr. Pipeman on his tail, Liz is left alone.
Along comes Jack who may have witnessed the whole scenerio (from a secure unwitnessed location). He the gentleman offers his hand to help her up...


This is all very well, but there is not a shred of conclusive evidence that "Jack" was a gentleman. Secondly, there is not a single report of a "gentleman" in Berner St that night.

Liz may have seen a "date" who sounds more like a clerk than a "gentleman" but even that is circumstantial. I suppose I have to ask - what do you mean by a "gentleman"? From what strata of Victorian society do you see him coming? How would he have been dressed? This is important in terms of what people saw - and there were plenty of people in busy Berner St that night.

Finally, you have created this person who comes up, gentleman or not, out of whole cloth.

If Mr B.S. has an identity, it was IMHO almost certainly Michael Kidney who had potential "reason" and was known to be violent". His involvement would explain, Occaam's razor style, almost all Liz's known actions.

Sorry to have to disagree so strongly.

Phil
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Jane Coram
Inspector
Username: Jcoram

Post Number: 302
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 7:35 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi Restless,

I just sent you a private message about the above, which I didn't think I could post on the boards without the site being closed down!
Hope it fills in the gaps, although Jeff did an admirable job under the circumstances!!!!!

Hi Lee,

I am totally on board with your post, and it is what makes most sense to me, I wouldn't like to hazard a guess at who killed her, although I think Kidney is certainly in the frame for it......

Of course we still have to say that it is impossible to be sure one way or the other if she was a JtR victim or not, but I do lean more to your scenario than any other........

That is a good point about which order would have been more logical.........have to think about that one a bit.............

Any reasons other than that you think that Liz was not a victim of JtR?

Love to all

Jane

xxxxx
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Jeff Leahy
Sergeant
Username: Jeffl

Post Number: 17
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 8:07 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi Restles spirit and Jeff

Yes there was a considerable debate on another thread about prostitutes and contreseption. The problem being that if women were doing a dozen or so tricks a night fooling every client with what you discribe as a knee trembler doesn't add up. Nor the anal theory which gained popularity after its inclusion 'From Hell'.

Unfortunately there appears to be no writen account about how women of this period reduced the risk of pregnancy. (I seem to remember someone gave a link to another site on this subject) Its a problem that was probably passed down by ladies of the night since Roman times but if you'll excuse the pun an oral history.

There were a number off idea's raised, but the one I liked, which sort of conects with MJK. Is the use of a hanker-cheif or peice of clothe. Silk was certainly used. Whether fine linin would work I'm not certain, perhaps it would reduce the odds, but I've never tried.

I would think pregnancy very common. I beleive the term 'Mothers Ruin' comes from a proceedure which included large amounts of Gin and Hot water to create an abortion but I'm afraid old nana Leahy never went into great details.

Interestinyly I cault a programme on the Aztec's and Mian's last night who invented latex hundreds of years ago. Certainly the Victorian inventor of the Macintosh new of its properties.

Logic dectates to me that in their heavy dresses, they turned their backs, lifted their dresses on to back the client coming from behind (though I dont bye the anal, not every customers choice). But this would be easier than standing upright facing each other in heavy clothes.

But from the research I did noone could give me a diffinative answer. I suspect that these woman would be street wise and pass down every trick from generation to generation but there simply would have been alot of ignorance and unwanted pregnancies.

The statistic is easy take the total number of prostitutes working in London, work out the average number of tricks per night and times by 365.

Lets hope the silk hankies worked

Jeff
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Jane Coram
Inspector
Username: Jcoram

Post Number: 303
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 9:08 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

HI Jeff,

I'll try and be as delicate as possible on this, but if it starts getting too out of hand, I might have to send a private message as I did to Restless!

I was brought up amongst prostitutes, the back alley that we lived in had more prozzies per square inch than any red light district. They all looked after each others kids, while they were working, so you can imagine that my upbringing was 'interesting' to say the least.

Pregnancies happened far too frequently, just as they still did in the 50's and 60's of this century.......some things don't change that much.

Yes there were methods used that helped to keep the pregnancy rate down a bit.....prostitutes knew what times of the month they were more or less likely to get pregnant and would avoid certain days......

There first choice for intercourse would be to avoid actual penetration if they could get away with it, depending on how drunk the client was basically they would try get get away with the least they could for money...........

Mother's ruin as the term goes, was boiled gin and a scaldingly hot bath. I think the idea was that boiling the gin changed it's chemical properties and turned it into a natural abortive substance.....the very hot bath presumably was supposed to induce shock to the system, but I honestly don't know how effective it was......very common though so I suppose it must have worked sometimes.......

Strychnine was used with the same principle in mind, and slippery elm too I believe, obviously some sort of plant, inserted was supposed to produce and abortion.........never heard that one actually used..........

Quite often they would get someone to punch them hard in the lower abdomen, which did often work, but was obviously dangerous and only used as a last resort if all else failed........

The other methods I might not be able to go into, but I'll see how I go and draw a veil over it, if it starts to get a bit out of hand........

Prostitutes often performed abortions on themselves using any sharp instrument to hand or they would do it for one another......it is actually not hard to do, but very dangerous and septicemia can set in or they could just not stop the bleeding.......quite a few deaths resulted from these home remedies........

An abortion could be procured from a midwife, who doubled up as an abortionist, but they used the same methods, usually just a knitting needle or something similar, unsterilized and with no anethesetic, although the poor woman was usually got so drunk before hand that it did help a bit............

I'm not sure what the mortality rate was, but there were often complications which the poor women had to live with quite often for the rest of their lives.

I had never heard about the silk before, but I suspect that prostitutes of the lowest class just too their chances.......It is quite possible that all of JtR's victims were passed child bearing age anyway, being in their mid to late forties and the chances of them actually getting pregnant less than when they were younger anyway........

They did used to have condoms though, which were made from animal intestines......not sure that would have been the case with our ladies, but it was very common ...........

I'm not sure if I should be ashamed that I know all that or not......but you did ask!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Jane
xxxx
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Lee McLoughlin
Sergeant
Username: Lee

Post Number: 46
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 10:42 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Slight change of subject here. I would advise everyone to see the film Vera Drake which is a very powerful film based around illegal abortions in the 1950's.


Jane asked,


"Any reasons other than that you think that Liz was not a victim of JtR?"

Apart from the sequence of the "double event" and the location there are a few reasons. Liz Stride was spotted hanging around Berner Street for some time with a "date" who started to attack her. Whould JTR hang around for so long with a victim? We dont know how long he spent with any of his victims but I doubt any of them spent as long as Stride did with her attacker and in such public view.

Another thing I think is wrong is that Stride's killer was nearly caught. No one knows how the Ripper evaded the police on his murder nights but I suspect that it was because he knew a bit about the local police beat and area. It just stands out as wrong.

If Stride was a Ripper victim I personally belive that it adds weight to any "2 man" theory. Not just because of pipe man at the Stride scene but because of the "double event as well.

Another thing regarding the Stride murder. If she wasn't a Ripper victim, as I believe, I wonder if somebody avoided arrest because the police threw both murders together and the Ripper had a cast iron alibi for the Stride murder.


(Message edited by lee on March 03, 2005)
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Frank van Oploo
Chief Inspector
Username: Franko

Post Number: 513
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 11:26 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi Lee,

Although I'm also inclined to think Stride wasn't a Ripper victim, I have some remarks regarding your last post.

Stride may have been hanging around Berner Steet in the company of a date for quite some time (this is the impression I got from reading about this particular case), but as far as I know there's no indication that it was her 'date' who attacked her.

Another thing is that, judging from the fact that blood was still flowing in Nichols' case as well when she was found, her killer had most probably just got away before Paul and Cross found her.

For what it's worth, I believe the Ripper kept on 'ripping' until he heard Charles Cross and PC Watkins approach the scene. Nobody in particular seems to have disturbed him in Chapman's case (it was probably the fact that it was getting light and that people were about to rise). He had probably already left at least some 15 minutes before Chapman was found.

All the best,
Frank
"Every disadvantage has its advantage."
Johan Cruijff
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Jane Coram
Inspector
Username: Jcoram

Post Number: 304
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 12:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi Lee,

Firstly before I say the following don't forget we're on the same side!!!!!!!!!

I just thought I better point it out before somone else does.....

It was not necessarily her 'date' that assaulted her.

If you read the witness testimonies, you'll see that Gardner and Best describe the man she was with outside the Bricklayers arms as being 'five feet five inches tall, had a black moustache, sandy eyelashes and wore a morning suit and a billycock hat'.....

There is no evidence that this man was her killer. As you rightly pointed out this man would have been in her company for a further two hours after they left the pub, hardly a sensible thing for a serial killer to do.........

Another witness William Marshall saw Liz with 'a man of clerky appearance, some five feet six inches tall, stout, wearing a small black coat, dark trousers and a peaked sailor's cap.'This would have been about 11.45 pm and it was obviously not the same man......

Then we come of course to dear old Matthew Packer who gives a description of someone who was 25 - 30 abut five feet seven, wearing a long black coat and a soft felt hat...But he did have broad shoulders and was stout........

Now whether we believe him or not is another matter but this again would have been around 11.45. Rather too long a time for her killer to want to hang around with his victim in public view......

Unfortunately after that she was supposedly seen again by Constable Smith and the description he gives is that the man was 'five feet seen inches tall, clean shaven, around 28, wearing dark clothes and a dark hard felt deerstalker hat'......which leaves us up sunny side creek without the proverbial paddle!

There was another sighting by James Brown which is a bit more tentative, at around 12.45 which describes the man as stout, abut 5 feet seven inches and wearing a long coat that reached almost to his heels........hardly surprising that no-one can say for sure what Liz actually got up to that night!

So where does that leave us in regard to Scwartz's testimony? How many men did Liz go with that night and which of them were dates and which clients? I would not like to hazard a guess which one of these if any are actually accurate descriptions but it does not seem that none of them really tally with Schwarz's description of Mr BS.........

There is some discussion though that they do tally with the sightings made by Lawende in Catharine's case, so that one has to be left open.

Allin all though I don't think it is at all safe to say that Liz was killed by a 'date' possibly, but it was just as likely to be a disgruntled client and ex boyfriend or of course JtR himself.....

I do think that JtR had a good knowledge of the local police beats, which makes me think that he was a local man.

In my personal view I agree with you that Mr BS didn't seem too clued up on how precarious his situation was that night, either didn't know or was too drunk to care.........

Not sure about the 2 man theory, not impossible, I did look into it once, but decided it wasn't so feasible, but I can't remember why......(old age)

If Liz was killed in a domestic, then I think you are right, he was a very lucky man indeed..........

Love Jane

xxxxx

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Lee McLoughlin
Sergeant
Username: Lee

Post Number: 47
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 12:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi Jane and Frank.

You both make some very good comments.

I think that the Stride case is the one with the most mystery attached to it. If it could ever be allocated to anyone other than the Ripper it will end once and for all a lot of theories. (including the diary!)

Jane wrote: "Firstly before I say the following don't forget we're on the same side!!!!!!!!! "

No need to worry about that Jane. If anyone is willing to post his/her views on this site they should except that they will be offered alternative views or errors will be pointed out to them. I am always willing to stand corrected, except with my girlfriend!

Best Wishes,

Lee
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Glenn L Andersson
Assistant Commissioner
Username: Glenna

Post Number: 3217
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 1:05 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi Jane,

A very good post indeed.
You simply took the words right out of my mouth.

As you say, we have no evidence whatsoever that the "date" was the one that assaulted.
Let's just not forget, that one should be cautious about the true relevancy of witness descriptions; the perceptions of each person are so different and ruled by personal references that we should not rely too much on them whatever theory we have.
But still...

As for Mattew Packer, he actually delivered two, slightly diverging, witness descriptions, and also in later interviews changed the time of the incident, so one wonders really how reliable his testimony is.

To conclude, we have very little evidence of many men Stride really accosted that night and which role they played (and which ones that actually did exist), so we should not assume that the long date was the same man as Mr Broad Shoulders or her killer.

All the best
G. Andersson, author
Sweden

(Message edited by Glenna on March 03, 2005)
The Swedes are the men That Will not be Blamed for Nothing
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Frank van Oploo
Chief Inspector
Username: Franko

Post Number: 514
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 2:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi Jane,

"I would not like to hazard a guess which one of these if any are actually accurate descriptions..."

Neither would I. As I've said in earlier posts I don't attach much importance to such descriptions unless they include one or preferably more striking features.

In Stride's case that would only be the respectable appearance of Stride's companion and the flower pinned to her jacket. In addition the way they behaved seems telling to me as well. The man was showing affection for Stride, they were quietly talking to one another and they both appeared to be sober.

All my best,
Frank
"Every disadvantage has its advantage."
Johan Cruijff
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Jeff Hamm
Chief Inspector
Username: Jeffhamm

Post Number: 609
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 2:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi,
I recall in one of the various JtR books (maybe Sugden's?) some discussion on whether or not all these sightings were, in fact, of Stride. The quote "Not tonight, some other night" couple was suggested as being two other people, a fellow and his fiance, though I forget if names were supplied and the full reasoning for this. Does anyone else recall such a suggestion?
Anyway, this is one of the issues that would need clarification. Which of these sightings are definate, and which are more tentative and so prone to error.

I agree with Glenn that Packer's description should be ignored. Where he agrees with others, well, we have the other's information already. And since his story keeps changing in time and place, and when originally questioned by the police he claimed to have seen nothing, well, I think we gain more by dropping him from consideration. Based upon his behaviour, he's more likely to add mis-information than useful information. Even if he were "telling the truth", we have enough similar information from other people that he adds little. The only unique bit he adds are the grapes, and the medical testimony clearly tested Stride's stomach contents for signs of grapes, and there weren't any. So, even if Packer sold someone grapes, it wasn't Stride who ate them. The reports of her holding a grape stalk are also refuted by the reports of the crime scene at the inquest, so we can put this down to "creative reporting" of the newspapers.

- Jeff
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Jeff Hamm
Chief Inspector
Username: Jeffhamm

Post Number: 610
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 2:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi Restless,
I would think that the "knee trembler" might be easier for a larger women to "get away with", simply because her thighs are wider? And, I believe the Egyptians knew that pregnancy could be prevented by an IUD, in the form of pebbles from a river. How they first discovered this, I'm not entirely sure (sort of like who first realised that if you let cabbage rot and ferment for a while, it makes tasty sourcraut? Who first thinks, "Hey, maybe that's good to eat?" ha!)
Anyway, poor diet and poor nutrition can greatly reduce the liklihood of pregnancy. It can even stop the normal cycle. Given the living conditions, this would all help to reduce the liklihood of pregnancy. Of course, it would not eliminate it, and there would be all sorts of "home remedies", and illeagle abortions, etc.

- Jeff
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Richard Brian Nunweek
Assistant Commissioner
Username: Richardn

Post Number: 1351
Registered: 2-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 3:18 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi,
I feel that Elizabeth stride was waiting for somebody before she was killed, possibly the man she left with when observed by Gardner and associate, is it not a possibility that her friend popped into the club whilst she waited at the entrance, and whilst he was inside the incident occured?.
we will never know the reason Stride was standing outside the entrance to Dutfields yard, but a fair bet is that she was told to wait there, by the person she spent part of the evening with, the question is Why?.
As mentioned she could have been waiting for the man of cleric description to return from wherever, mayby the man she spent the evening with saw her as his victim and went to attain his weapon, or a simplier explanation , he went into the club, and upon hearing of the episode that occured kept silent of any involvement.
Richard.
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Restless Spirit
Sergeant
Username: Judyj

Post Number: 29
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 4:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Jeff Hamm
Thank you for explaining this procedure to me. I am sure enlightned now. HAHA
I still have a difficult time trying to visualize this procedure, but I am still confused as to why these men didn't know the difference.
I must be living a very sheltered life.
regards
Restless Spirit
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Restless Spirit
Sergeant
Username: Judyj

Post Number: 30
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 5:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Phil Hill
Hi Phil
Constructive critism never hurt anyone and should be accepted if presented tactfully,yours was. I will be the first one to admit that I am behind on the board discussions, that's why I am suggesting certain sceneros. Her case is different, there is no question about that. But so far there has not been any proof submitted by anyone who can unequibically tell us what actually happened that night.
I appreciate your comments,and accept your opinion.
regards
Restless Spirit
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Jeff Hamm
Chief Inspector
Username: Jeffhamm

Post Number: 615
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 7:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi Restless,
It's strange to think they wouldn't know, but if the clients were generally intoxicated, and nervous about being caught, perhaps they weren't all that concerned? Again, I'm not really sure exactly how this was all supposed to work, but it's reported somewhere. Perhapse the Joy of Sex has a diagram? Then again, I'm not sure I really want to know. ha!

- Jeff
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Paul Jackson
Inspector
Username: Paulj

Post Number: 294
Registered: 2-2004
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 8:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hey Everybody,

Im not trying to be rude or anything, but....
I just have to get something off my chest.
Several people have always stated that ....well
Jack wouldnt have exposed himself to so much risk
in Berner St........ Please take another look at the Chapman murder. He killed her in the back yard, in broad daylight...next to a house where
19 or 20 people could have at ANY SECOND came out of the house and caught him. He was sooooooo lucky that he didnt get buckled right there.
SO, I am not trying to offend anyone and you are entitled to your view as I am mine...
but saying that Berner St was the only crime where he exposed himself to great risk is
totally unfounded.

Glenn...whats up 'ol boy? how are ya?


Paul
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Glenn L Andersson
Assistant Commissioner
Username: Glenna

Post Number: 3218
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 8:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hey Paul, ol' buddy.
How are ya.

I knew you were going to say that.
But it is not the same thing. The yard in Hanbury Street was risky, but that's all. In Berner Street the attacker/killer is assaulting someone in front of witnesses and is making a rather awkward assault, far from the Ripper's fast technique of silencing and killing his victims. Mr BS was a sloppy amateur, even though he managed to get away and remain unidentified.
It is not only the site location we're dealing here, but the approach.

All the best
G. Andersson, author
Sweden
The Swedes are the men That Will not be Blamed for Nothing
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Paul Jackson
Inspector
Username: Paulj

Post Number: 295
Registered: 2-2004
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 9:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hello Glenn,

My above post was not aimed in your direction
Hope I didnt hurt your feelings...haha.

Jane....I have always discounted Browns statement, because I think he probably was describing the "other couple" that were near the board school at the same time...THe couple that Mrs. Mortimer referred to. I could be wrong on that, but it just makes more sense. Peace

Paul
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Jeff Hamm
Chief Inspector
Username: Jeffhamm

Post Number: 616
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 11:05 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi,
I think the "risk" factor with Stride all depends upon "the unknown factor." This "unknown" is the answer to the question "At the time of the initial assault, did Mr. BS think he was alone?" If he was unaware of Schwartz's presence, and Pipe man hadn't come out of the pub (or wasn't noticed), then for all intensive purposes, Stride was attacked in a location no less risky than Nichols or Chapman. If Mr. BS was under the impression that nobody was around, then we may be seeing a glimps of the "blitz attack" that JtR appeared to employ. Sudden, and completely unexpected by the victim.

Of course, I'm also going with the assumption that Mr. BS was JtR here, but that's not an indication I've changed my mind on Stride. I'm just working from this "point of view" for the above.

Now, if Mr. BS was actually aware that others were watching him, I think this might point towards more of a domestic situation (sudden emotions erupt, etc).

Anyway, since we cannot know what Mr. BS knew, this is all very theoretical and perhaps not of much use in terms of limiting the options.

- Jeff
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Harry Mann
Sergeant
Username: Harry

Post Number: 36
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 3:49 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

From the statement of Schwartz,it is not clear whether Stride was waiting at the yard entrance,or passing by when accosted.
The statement of Brown,citing a time of 12.45,the same time Schwartz says he entered Berner St,should not easily be dismissed.Allowing for a small discrepency in time,both could have been in positions mentioned,Stride by the yard and the man on the corner.
Whatever,there appears to have been four people,in pretty close proximity,and taking into account the poor lighting of the street,it is probable that not one of them would have been aware of all the others,prior to the actual encounter.
They would have been on the same side of the street untill Schwartz crossed over,and most of the time in shadow.Believe me I have walked such streets,and know the difficulty of discerning if others are present.
Sure there were others present,but all behind closed doors.There were no indications Stride had been dragged into the yard.She entered of her own accord,and in my opinion with someone of whom she had no fear..Only one man seems to offer that possibility,and that is the man that Brown saw.If he had proved no danger to her before,why be afraid a short time later.
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Glenn L Andersson
Assistant Commissioner
Username: Glenna

Post Number: 3219
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 4:01 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Jeff,

Of course it is theoretical, but Schwartz's account really do not display a blitz attack of the Ripper's kind, judging from the Ripper crime scene evidence we have.

What is crucial is how Mr Broad Shoulders reacts when he finds out that he is spotted, and I do not believe this is the conduct of the person who quickly killed and mutilated at least two other victims.

In no way -- within any stretch of the imagination -- can the assault by Mr Broad Shoulders be seen as a "blitz attack" aimed to kill and silence an intended victim quickly. And this is just the whole point -- it is simply not fast and efficient enough. It is actually rather lame and clumsy, and way too quarrelsome. What the Ripper probably did, was to fast overcome his victims by smother or strangle them, before they knew what hit them.
In my mind the Mr BS assault is a simple street brawl, possibly turning into a murder, nothing more, nothing less. Therefore the comparison with sites like the yard in Hanbury Street is pointless and therefore the question how aware he was of the bystanders equally redundant.

No one can make me believe that the Ripper would stand on the street, in view of TWO witnesses and shouting across the street in order to scare them away; it is a way too risky behaviour from someone who was careful of not being seen, and he couldn't know if those two (three with the woman) would get together and turn against him -- something that just as well could have been the outcome of his behaviour! It certainly does not add up, and the Ripper would -- in my personal opinion -- rather flee and disappear from the scene as quickly as possible, instead of letting himself be surrounded and threatened by THREE people (including the woman).
No, Jeff, in my personal opinion... a blitz style attack a la the Ripper it is not. What it does look like, is a quarrelsome assault by drunk and aggressive client or male spouse.

All the best
G. Andersson, author
Sweden
The Swedes are the men That Will not be Blamed for Nothing
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Caroline Anne Morris
Assistant Commissioner
Username: Caz

Post Number: 1525
Registered: 2-2003
Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 6:11 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi Glenn,

But what if JtR is beginning to think he's invincible, because of his previous narrow escapes from Polly and Annie?

He presumably looks for potential victims in busier locations than where he finally attacks one. If BS were JtR, and his intention were to get Liz to take him to a more suitable place for another spot of murder and mutilation, and she were to start resisting, saying "It's here or nowhere, love"; and if then he realised they had an audience - surely it would depend on how fired up he was by that point, and how determined not to be messed about with, whether he would funk it and 'flee and disappear', or stick at it and make short work (as BS did) of seeing off firstly the audience and secondly the woman.

The fact is, BS wasn't surrounded or threatened by anyone. He did all the threatening that was witnessed - before murder was committed, unwitnessed. I don't see how anyone can be certain that JtR would never have acted as BS did, given those circumstances.

Love,

Caz
X
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Jane Coram
Inspector
Username: Jcoram

Post Number: 305
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 7:51 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi All,

There were a couple of things above that I thought were interesting...........
On the matter of location, yes Hanbury Street and Bucks Row both held their own dangers. But in Hanbury Street there was only one narrow passage as entrance to that yard which would allow a maximum of one or two people through at a time.

Suppose for an instant that someone did come out and see JtR killing Annie. This witness is confronted with a man wielding a knife, up to his knees in entrails and looking (one would imagine) rather terrifying....would any man on their own try to do anything other than run back into that house and get help? especially if Annie was already dead and there was nothing else that could be done for her..

Even if he saw the attack before she was killed, do you think that he would still risk intervening?

There was only a five feet high fence to the side for Jack to get over and be away....I would have to say that although there were a lot people in that house, the chances of JtR actually being cornered by any of them was fairly remote....

Bucks Row is not a dissimilar scenario..yes there were people in the houses all around, but if one of them had come out or seen the murder would they have intervened on their own? They would have had to have roused others to help and by that time JtR would have been long gone.........

The Berner Street situation is different for a number of reasons......

The club next to Dutfield's Yard was swarming with people, active working men who were probably of a certain mind set anyway in view of the meeting they had been attending.......not the sort of men that would stand aside if they saw a woman in trouble....

Alright some of the same constraints apply, they still had only two doors to come out of the kitchen and the front entrance, but this wasn't in the middle of the night when they were all asleep, they were wide awake, probably had a jar of beer or two and could have come out to get a breath of fresh air at any time in any number......

Would JrR really want to take a risk like that? Possibly but it just does not ring true to me........

The area itself was not known for prostitutes so why would JtR leave his usual very ripe for the plucking killing fields in favour of somewhere that was likely to yield thin pickings anway? I cannot imagine that he would not have been able to find a more suitable victim on home ground when one takes into consideration the number of prostitutes per square inch around Dorset Street etc.,

Would JtR have actually engaged in an argument with Liz drawing even more attention to himself, before assaulting her and calling out to someone across the street....the argument at the beginning of the assault really makes me incline towards it being a domestic.......I can't see the words argument and Blitz attack working in the same sentence. Surely Blitz attack means the absence of any kind of dialogue before the event? By definition it is an attack without warning, Liz had ample warning that an attack was coming.......

Of course it is always possible that bothJtR and Liz did leave their usual stomping ground that night.......

Catharine was well outside the usual area for JtR's attacks as well so there has to be some margin of doubt. Did he go further afield on two occasions that night?

I do wonder though that having strayed outside his usual area for the attack on Liz, whether he might have felt more comfortable going back to home ground? Some serious room for thought there........

Caz's point about not finding anyone suitable in his usual patch thus forcing him further afield, would actually add weight to him later attacking Catharine well out of his usual area.....perhaps he had looked around the nearer streets and found no suitable victims....an interesting thought too..............

I do still have to say though that it does have all the hallmarks of a domestic killing, but I am open to persuasion!

lots of love

Jane

xxxxx
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Frank van Oploo
Chief Inspector
Username: Franko

Post Number: 516
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 9:25 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi Caz,

If Mr BS got fired up enough and was determined enough not to be messed about with, I imagine he must have been irritated, frustrated and angry at that point – which he seems to have been. If so, it makes sense that he would indeed make short work. At some point soon after accosting her he became physically abusive of Stride, so I imagine she wouldn’t have been all that inclined to just go with him into the yard after he’d seen off the audience.

Still, she was found with her feet about 3 yards from the gateway. And, as far as I know, except for maybe the fact that her scarf had been pulled very tight, there is no evidence that she was actually dragged into the yard, her clothes had not been disturbed and no screams were heard. Of course, it’s true that that doesn’t mean that he couldn’t have somehow forced her to go there anyway. However, the cachous certainly remain a hard fact to fit with the notion of an angry, frustrated man who would make short work.

All my best,
Frank
"Every disadvantage has its advantage."
Johan Cruijff
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Glenn L Andersson
Assistant Commissioner
Username: Glenna

Post Number: 3220
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 10:03 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Caz,

I am sorry but I think you are wrong, form where I sit.

"The fact is, BS wasn't surrounded or threatened by anyone. He did all the threatening that was witnessed "

You totally missed the core of what I was saying.
My point was he HE cound't know that! How on earth could Mr BS know how those two witnesses in collaboration would react (maybe even with some help from the woman)? Even though he himself may not have felt threatened, he couldn't really know if they would interfere or not.

An irrational drunk and aggressive person surely wouldn't care about such matters, and I don't think Mr BS cared about this or one minute --, which is why he displays the obvious traits of a drunkard.
But most importantly -- I do NOT believe that the Ripper would be someone who took that chance.
And you still disregard the total differences in approach. Eddowes was killed 45 minutes later, in a manner and approach that corroborates with the earlier murders. Why would he all of a sudden in Stride's case temporarily attack his victim in a different, more sloppy fashion, and above all, on a site busier than the others (which in itself would require an even more fast, efficient and cautious approach)???? Because of the situation and location? I would think not.

I wouldn't say that I am totally certain of anything, Caz, but I say it's very unlikely that Mr BS was JtR, and that he in fact was a total amateur. I am afraid I just don't agree with your interpretations. That can't be helped.

All the best
G. Andersson, author
Sweden

(Message edited by Glenna on March 04, 2005)
The Swedes are the men That Will not be Blamed for Nothing
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Glenn L Andersson
Assistant Commissioner
Username: Glenna

Post Number: 3221
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 10:17 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

"Would JtR have actually engaged in an argument with Liz drawing even more attention to himself, before assaulting her and calling out to someone across the street....the argument at the beginning of the assault really makes me incline towards it being a domestic.......I can't see the words argument and Blitz attack working in the same sentence. Surely Blitz attack means the absence of any kind of dialogue before the event? By definition it is an attack without warning, Liz had ample warning that an attack was coming..."

A very good and valid point, Jane.
I totally agree.

All the best
G. Andersson, author
Sweden
The Swedes are the men That Will not be Blamed for Nothing
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Lee McLoughlin
Sergeant
Username: Lee

Post Number: 48
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 11:02 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

As I was saying yesterday, the sequence is wrong. If the Ripper had been distracted during the Eddowes murder, and therefore the 1st of that night, I would happily accept that he was mad enough to take such risks with Stride.

He would have been angry, frusfrated and hungray for a new victim. He would, in my view, have taken risks to satisfy his need to kill.

But it wasn't like that. Eddowes was murdered in a situation very similar to Nichols and Chapman. It was the first murder, that of Stride, that seems out of place and which had more risks than any of the others.

Are we really willing to belive that a killer who killed in quiet areas, where he had enough time to "rip" his victims apart, would really have killed Stride in such a differnt enviroment?

(Message edited by lee on March 04, 2005)
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Restless Spirit
Sergeant
Username: Judyj

Post Number: 31
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 11:55 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi All
There are very good points made for Mr. B.S. being J t R and just as many good points as to why he wasn't J t R.
There are certainly very good points made as well for Mr. BS being a possible boyfriend, lover etc, and would classify this argument as a domestic.,points against as well.
Has anyone considered that maybe Mr. BS was an intended trick(client) who was unhappy with the price Liz quoted,or the fact that she may have wanted payment up front or maybe Mr. BS. had requested a specificate sexual act, eg: Oral,which Liz was unwilling to perform due to the added danger and suseptability to attack,especially with the ripper out there.
Either one of these scenerios could possibly cause an argument if Mr.BS was drunk,in a bad mood before he even ran into Liz or mentally unstable.
There is no question there have been very valid points made with respect to Mr. BS, however there are pros & cons for every suspect so far discussed.
I don't think Mr.BS was J t R, nor do I think he was a boyfriend, lover etc. I think he was a John or Tom or Dick or Harry who got pissed with her for either of the reasons listed above.
Of course I may be wrong, I was once before I think HEEHEE
my best to all
Restless Spirit
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Jane Coram
Inspector
Username: Jcoram

Post Number: 309
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 1:05 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

HI Restless,

Yes he could have been a disgruntled client, but hard to pin point a reason..........

No prostitute, would go with a client without having the money paid up front, that really is written in stone, so I think you can rule that one out........money in the pocket first and foremost every time............

Theprice was almost univerally the same for women like Liz fourpence......it very rarely if ever varied, that was just the going rate so it was probably not over that.......it is possible he didn't have fourpence and was trying to bait her down I suppose........

Although some sexual positions were more dangerous than others for obvious reasons, I don't think that would have been an issue for Liz at this particular juncture, so I wouldn't really find that feasible..........

I think more likely if it was a client, that he was just so drunk and unreasonable that Liz decided that she didn't want him as a client......I think in view of his obvious lack of boyish good looks and charm most women would have thought twice!

It is very possible that he was a disgruntled client though whatever the reason.......

Lots of Love

Jane
xxxxx
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Restless Spirit
Sergeant
Username: Judyj

Post Number: 33
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 1:24 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi Jane
You've made some excellent points of course, some things I was not aware off.

I am however very convinced that he was an unhappy client, which escalated from there.
And, as you said, for whatever reason.
thanks
Restless Spirit
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Frank van Oploo
Chief Inspector
Username: Franko

Post Number: 517
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 2:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi Jane,

You've written some sensible posts, put forward some very good and interesting points indeed.

Are you saying that the Ripper would have paid his victims where they made the deal and only then would have walked to the actual crime scenes? Or could his victims have allowed him to pay just before business was done, meaning when they had already reached the crime scenes?

"Caz's point about not finding anyone suitable in his usual patch thus forcing him further afield, would actually add weight to him later attacking Catharine well out of his usual area..."

Berner Street indeed doesn't seem to have been known for prostitutes, but I don't know if that's true for Mitre Square as well. I do know however that St. Botolph's Church was also called the Prostitute's Church because it was a church prostitutes would walk around to pick up punters without much chance, if any, of being arrested. And this church was probably no more than 150 yards from Mitre Square.

The fact that he murdered close to St. Botolph's Church might indicate that he knew it as a place where he could find prostitutes. If so, then initially choosing Berner Street as a place to look for a suitable victim doesn't seem to make much sense (that is, if JtR killed Stride too). But then again, the murders themselves didn't make much sense either...

All my best,
Frank
"Every disadvantage has its advantage."
Johan Cruijff
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Glenn L Andersson
Assistant Commissioner
Username: Glenna

Post Number: 3222
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 2:55 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi restless,

Yes, it is a good possibility that Mr Broad Shoulders could have been a drunk and rowdy client, where a deal's gone wrong. I have several times mentioned this as an alternative scenario and it can't be ruled out. And Jane makes some good points here.


Frank,

I am not sure -- and I could be totally confused -- but I have actually read somewhere (God knows where!) that Mitre Square was a place connected with occasional street prostitution, which doesn't surprise me because of -- as you mention -- its close location to Botolph's Church, but also the the fact that many of the surrounding buildings were unoccupied and empty.

All the best
G. Andersson, author
Sweden
The Swedes are the men That Will not be Blamed for Nothing
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Glenn L Andersson
Assistant Commissioner
Username: Glenna

Post Number: 3223
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 2:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

"But it wasn't like that. Eddowes was murdered in a situation very similar to Nichols and Chapman. It was the first murder, that of Stride, that seems out of place and which had more risks than any of the others."

Exactly, Lee! Well put.
Partly my point as well.

All the best
G. Andersson, author
Sweden
The Swedes are the men That Will not be Blamed for Nothing
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Jane Coram
Inspector
Username: Jcoram

Post Number: 310
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 3:35 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi Frank,

About the payment, I have to try and put it in a context that I am familiar with and I really think that it would have applied then as it always has in the oldest profession.........

Right thinking on my feet here.........payment would usually be made on reaching the destination, but the lady would ask to see the money before she went anywhere with him, to make sure he had it......

so Liz in this case would have met the client, he would have propositioned her or her him, he would have shown her that he had the wherewithalls, then they would have gone to a convenient spot, He would have handed over the money and then they would have got down to business.

That's about right I think, the client would not give her the money until the last moment in case she went off with it, as has happened on more than a few occasions! She would not do the business without the cash in case he then refused to pay her......

HI Frank again and Glenn,

You are right about St Botolphs and I should have remembered that because it was my old schools church! I went to Central Foundation Girls School in Spitalfields and St Botolphs was the nearest church to us..........

So would seem to make Berner Street even less likely as a JtR crime scene.......

nice one Frank..........(and Glenn)

HI Lee,

I think we're on a roll here, keep the posts coming. Those of us in favour of a domestic killing seem to be doing all right here for a change!

Jane

xxxxx
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