Anyone Watch The ABC Special About Jack The Ripper?

Big Bob

Big Bob

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Oct 13, 1999
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I worked last night, so I didn't get to watch it. It was about a lady who has investigated the Ripper cases and believes him to be a portrait painter. Today my parents were talking about it. My dad said that during the special, one of the knives used by the Ripper was shown, and that it looked like a khukuri!!! :eek::(:eek:

Did anyone here watch this special last night? If so, can you verify the part about the knife?

Bob
 
Yea she held a khuk for about 3 seconds there. Looked like a HI model, not sure which one though, cause I was pretty far. It did have the little notch near the handle though.
 
There were several shots of Patricia Cornwell examining/brandishing what appeared to be a HI WWII, but no reference to the type of knife used in any of the dialogue`(although plenty of clinical discussion of the nature of the wounds). She's supposed to be discussing her theory in a chat room tonight; I e-mailed the moderator asking if she had any evidence that her suspect had ever possessed a Gurkha khukuri, but have had no response.
 
Ms Cornwall should have saved her $4 million bucks and bought a copy of Donald Rumbelow's book, The Complete Jack the Ripper. He was a serving police officer and it shows in his highly detailed analysis. From my own background as a history graduate I believe his method to be sound. My copy is an older one, and I dare say it has been revised since I bought it. The only thing against this book is that there is no mention of my favourite suspect, but then the evidence did not come to light until after it was published.

Nah, he didnt use a Khuk, but there may be similar looking surgical knives from that period-be very grateful for modern medicine! You have to remember that it was clear this man had some knowledge of anatomy and did his butchering with a degree of skill beyond a laymans ability to do so. If he had used a Khuk I dont think this conclusion would have been reached. I do believe there is a 19th century post mortem knife lurking around that is supposed to have been his. I cant remember the details-its been a while-1988 ( 100 year anniversary ) since I took much interest.

It will be interesting to see Ms Cornwall's conclusions, but the fact remains we will never know for sure who the ripper was. At best it will be an educated guess. There are people who have been working on this for years and years and they cant agree amongst themselves. I see she says she is staking her reputation on her findings. Easy to do when no one this side of the supernatural can say one way or the other who the murderer was.

The most likely contender that I have seen mentioned was featured on a tv program screened in the UK a few years back. His name is Francis Tumblety and there is, in my opinion, far more evidence to suggest he is the ripper than any of the other suspects.

Here's the best source I know of for anyone interested:

http://www.casebook.org/

It seems that Tumblety is the foremost suspect of the readers of this website. Go and have a look for yourself.

It seems also that the people on that message board are less than impressed with Ms Cornwall's claims.
 
Alas, the moderator in the ABC chat with Ms. Cornwell did not see fit to pass on my question regarding khukuris, so we can only speculate as to why she was waving one around while apparently discussing the case with her investigators. Certainly a khuk could have caused the "near decapitation" wounds suffered by the victims, but would seem much less suitable for some of the other wounds inflicted. Grisly stuff, and makes my scar itch to think about it.;)
 
Having read Ms Cornwall's q&a over on ABC I think I will save my money regarding any of her books.

Pish!

She makes a lot about evidence that no one else has ever seen, ( yeah, right ), which of course you can only find out about by buying the book. The unfortunate fact is that many, many records were lost during WW2 during the Blitz.

I think anyone that believes they can solve this case beyond question has ego issues. Its too late, too much evidence has been destroyed or has been lost and Scotland Yard and the City of London police couldnt do so at the time, even though they devoted very considerable resources trying to, ( they even asked Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's tutor Dr Bell, the man who Conan Doyle modelled Sherlock Holmes on, to investigate ).

Still, I wish I had $4 million to blow on a fools errand.
 
Originally posted by Berkley
Alas, the moderator in the ABC chat with Ms. Cornwell.....
Grisly stuff, and makes my scar itch to think about it.;)
Click to expand...

Berk I just happened to recall I think you said your abdomen was cut on. So far that hasn't happened to me, still got all my innards thank you, but the hemorhoidectomy I had makes for an embarassing place for a scar to itch.;) :p :rolleyes:
 
If all my scars started itching at the same time I'd have to hire seven scratchers -- and I've got the same one you have, Bro.
 
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