Jack the Ripper - The Theory
by Peter Jones
It is presumed you, the viewer, has or will read the other segments of Jack the Ripper (hereinafter called JTR)
Firstly let's be clear JTR was a serial killer. No more, no less than the numerous monsters we have all heard about in the 20th and now 21st centuries. Why do I say this? Simply because JTR clearly selected, stalked, close hunted then seized upon his prey with the result being a killing to satisfy whatever desire, lust or evil drove him; as it did for numerous others we can all name. JTR picked upon the most unfortunates of society at a time when their deperation, in this case being for a pittance of money, plus their vulnerability, drunken condition and availability had their defence non existent. The poor light of the night or pre-dawn early hours of the morning clearly assisted in concealment of the person.
As theorised later in this article - all the victims were first strangled and subsequently "ripped". As any SAS member will confirm, strangulation is a swift and silent killer i.e. it is almost impossible to utter a loudish cry for help when the throat is gripped by great pressure. DO NOT TRY IT but simply grasping the throat either side of the larynx and squeezing hard will quickly (8 - 10 seconds at most) cause unconsciousness plus the victim will be unable to make any more noise louder than a gargle or gasp. Death will take only 20 - 30 seconds overall. In fact cutting the throat as deeply as was done would likely cause almost instant death. An inebriated, weak and vulnerable woman, especially with disarrayed clothing and probably with her back to JTR simply had no hope of defending herself.
It is my theory, from the research undertaken, that JTR clearly strangled all his victime BEFORE cutting their throats or as the final part of the swift attack i.e. he grasped the throat fiercely, most likely when he was standing behind, until the victim ceased struggling. As he either proceeded to lay them down or immediately afterwards did he cut the throats and then violate their bodies. The seeming lack of large amounts of blood spill at the sites would confirm cessation of heartbeat prior to mutilation. The Annie Chapman site (29 Hanbury Street) had some blood spray on the fence, but not very much and only a foot or so from the ground.
Their are various parts of "The Theory" so I have broken them into parts:
Before launching into theory it is pointed out I have no idea why (motive). Clearly JTR was a monster and I simply cannot fathom what drives such people.
Part 1) Why was Druitt in the area? When he was a schoolmaster at Valentine's School in Blackheath?
Blackheath being on the southern side on the Thames approximately 9 miles to the eest.
There are three components to this part of my theory.
Firstly I believe the Whitechapel area was close to where Montague Druitt kept a residence (rented). Look at the map on the Logistics Page. Find "The Minories". It will be seen this street is only no more than 15 - 20 minutes walk from all the Sites. It is also close to Fenchurch Street Station and also to the District Line Railway & East London Railway. By leaving the school he worked at in Blackheath and catching a horse drawn bus
to New Cross, Druitt could then catch a train to Whitechapel. Why Whitechapel ? It is known Druitt's Mother, in 1888, was a patient at Brook's
Asylum in Bethnal Green. The best way for Druitt to reach Brook's Asylum from Blackheath was to catch the East London Line train from New Cross to Whitechapel and then walk up Valance Road for about 25 minutes. Likewise if he lived, as I theorise, in The Minories the walk would be only 35 - 40 minutes. This puts him firmly in the murders area and with reason for him to frequent the area.
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There is an alternative residence for Druitt to consider.. The picture above is of his chambers. There are records of some tenants actually living on the top floors of this building, but no reference to Druitt. I feel these residents were more likly Clerks or Servants.
However I firmly theorise Druitt actually lived in The Minories. Why? His cousin, Dr Lionel Druitt, lived in The Minories for a few years prior to his emigrating to Australia in 1885 (he lived only a short distance from my own present day residence in Melbourne). During my researches I recall a reference to the former Librarian at Poplar Library stating he had come across a record of an M Druitt residing at an address in The Minories. But try as I try to re-find this reference I have so far been unlucky.
I theorise Montague also rented rooms i.e. a boarding house situation (as was common in those days) likely in the same house as Dr Lionel and he kept this arrangement on. This also answers the question of the weapon Montague used. I believe Donald Rumbelow claims to have "the knife" - which is in fact a post mortem knife designed especially for quickly opening up the abdominal cavity. Excellent for both cutting throats and then disembowelling.
Travel both to his Chambers and Valentine's School being quick & easy. A sub theory being he only spent 3 or 4 nights at Valentine's during the week. It has to be remembered terms were relatively short too. Druitt's work as a Pleader would also require him to attend Chambers. Some others have theorised Druitt's duties at Valentine's were as "Night Master", possibly on a roster. If this theory is true or credible then it makes retaining rooms in The Minories more sensible/credible for both his income streams.
A lot has been made of the "missing hour" between Murders 3 & 4. Studying the logistics map shows a smart walk from Berner Street to The Minories is no more than 7 - 8 minutes, 10 at a slower pace. I therefore theorise Druitt simply went to ground i.e. bolted to his rooms after the failed attempt to complete the butchery on Liz Stride. Then by whatever forces drove him he ventured back out and stalked Eddowes into Mitre Square and committed Murder 4. Again the distance from Mitre Square to The Minories being 10 minutes at the very most.
The above now rams home the reasons for Montague to be in the areas of the murders. Residence, travel to & from Blackheath, travel to his Chambers and finally the ease of visiting his Mother who was at Brook's Asylum until at least July 1888. After this date she was moved to the clinic shown below.
Manor House Asylum was a private lunatic asylum (metropolitan licensed house) founded by Edward Francis Tuke (c.1776-1846) and continued by the Tuke family.
The Manor House Asylum being close to the River Thames where Druitt threw himself in to drown. To my mind it is quite a logical step to theorise Montague had visited his Mother and then drowned himself. His suicide note (of this I theorise more elsewhere) alluded to his being distressed over the mental state of Mother.
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