(47) The Policeman Who Missed Jack the Ripper
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- PC Neil was the first policeman at the crime scene at Buck's Row, where the first canonical victim of the serial killer known to history as Jack the Ripper was found.
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There are many anomalies associated with the series of murders associated with the serial killer known to history as Jack the Ripper. Perhaps the most significant is that PC Neil was regarded as the first finder of the first so-called canonical victim - Mary Ann or Polly Nichols - for three days following her death in the early hours of the morning of Friday 31st August 1888. In actuality, Charles Lechmere 'found' her body a matter of minutes before PC Neil. When Lechmere eventually appeared, on Monday 3rd September, he gave the name Charles Cross.
But where was PC Neil while Polly was being murdered and while Lechmere was at the crime scene?
Could he have caught Jack the Ripper in the act?
How PC Neil conducted his beat comes under the microscope.
With thanks to Mike Pemberton for the de-aging and colourisation of the Charles Lechmere photograph.
Mike's UA-cam channel can be found here: / @pembysgamingworld
#jacktheripper
#truecrime
#charleslechmere
#1888
#whitechapel
#ripperology
#serialkiller
#psychopath
#metropolitanpolice
PC John Neil's beat took him round Whitechapel Road and through Buck's Row. How did he miss the murder of Polly Nichols?
"Great familiarity" with the area was most probably required by the killer as part of his/her upper-hand on the victims and authorities. The killer had to feel advantaged in order to be taking risks.
If you watch the two films about JTR - From Hell and the TV one - with Michael Caine, you have to realize how stupid those two films are and tell the story of Sir William Gull and the Royal conspiracy - entertaining though. A film about Lechmere should be made one day and would be THE most realistic account of just how JTR potentially could have looked and went about his business. Make it happen Ed!
Well most of that would have to be drama because apart from the facts that Ed has given us through his research there are no first hand accounts of what he was like as a person.
Yes it would make a fantastic film
I think to have a really good drama you need a good script which ditches all the mythology that past dramas used. Some real attempt must be made to recreate the murder scenes in an authentic manner. There is plenty of material our there to do it. Another key must would be to do it in real time to try and recreate the atmosphere at the places and times. The actors I think in my view should be professionals but not Hollywood stars or well known names. If they can do all that it would be worth watching, but I don't see it happening anytime soon.
Excellent !
These films about “peripheral” characters and incidents are really fascinating and breathe new life into what can easily become a tired and oft repeated story.
Given that our man knew the area well and may have had some knowledge of police procedures, having had a policeman stepfather, I still find it astounding that in view of the number of caretakers, watchmen, local residents and policemen in such a small area, he wasn’t seen or disturbed (only by Paul).
And this is only one of the murder sites !!
Risk taker indeed !
Well done.
Yes and the previous videos show how risky Berner Street was as well!
Yes, definitely - but all the murders had a huge element of risk.
Perhaps that why the m.o. changed to the torso murders ?
@@garrypullen5711well I think the 'Jack the Ripper' murders were just an intermediary phase in a much longer sequence of murders.
@@garrypullen5711 - could it be he had a little flat or perhaps a shop etc, close by? Being able to simply "disappear" when he in reality was hiding close to the crime site?
@@thehouseoflechmere9407 Very interesting!
I love your research and listening to you telling it❤,👍🇮🇪
Me too. How he can get these facts out of research amazes me. He makes sherlock Holmes look thicke.
Have you done a video with the man from Jack The Ripper Tour? I find both your channels fascinating!
Yes, on Lechmere
@@thehouseoflechmere9407 Ok, thank you, I will go look for it!
Lechmere would have known the timings of the beats so if he was innocent then you would have thought he would wait with the body knowing an officer would appear shortly. He knew he had to make his exit from the crime scene so convinced Paul to walk on with him to find a policeman. Also that's why he said to Mizen 'you are wanted in Bucks Row'. Knowing Neil would be there.
Very good points
It's an intriguing idea, but speculation at the end of the day.
@almklit
Speculation based on logic though. He's not pulling it out of thin air.
@@lyndoncmp5751 There is no true logic in speculation, there is only fact that is absolute.
@@lyndoncmp5751 Correct Sir
Great work Edward!
I have a question, perhaps an idea for a video topic about an element in the Nichols case.
I’m often surprised how the 3:15-3:45 A.M. time window often gets overlooked by many Ripperologists, especially those who dismiss Lechmere as Jack. If Jack the Ripper was not Lechmere, could you please explore the time window (if any) that he might of had before Lechmere entered Buck’s Row and came across Nichols?
To me, the narrow window makes me feel that Lechmere must be Jack, especially if we are to believe the estimate time of death and the time Lechmere gave for when he left for work.
I would love to watch you quash any remaining doubts if you decide to explore this topic more.
Keep up the exceptional work!
Yes a good idea
Thank you for your efforts on these video's. You're a stickler for detail. I've read Cutting Point also. You and Holmgren have been promoting the best possible suspect in my opinion. The other have always seemed pretty weak, really.
Thank you for sharing your research with us. At times, I feel as if I am being transported to the terrible night, thanks to your wonderful storytelling. I hope that there are many more episodes of the investigation of the century=yours.
There will be many more
Very compelling stuff. Remarkable
This film was excellent! As was the Liz Stride video. These little but very important details are fascinating! Brilliant stuff! 👍
Glad you enjoyed it!
Gripping episode Ed👍
Is that Ed in that baseball cap? Or is it his trendy twin brother...😂 👊🏻
Much prefer the flat cap!
Absolutely love all Eds content
Brilliant Edward. The net's closing in on lechmere.
Indeed!
Sounds like the killer was surrounded by Police. Lucky or knowledgeable.
Both
Mr. Stow, could you please create a video explaining the setting of East End London during that period? It would be fascinating to learn about the economy, crime rate, poverty, population distribution, and other relevant aspects. We often hear about gangs attacking people on the streets and the poverty in the region. Having someone as knowledgeable as you provide insights would add nuance to our understanding
A lot of those stories are over exaggerated
That was really interesting ....enjoyed that, great stuff.
Glad you enjoyed it
You are excellent in narrating the story❤ easy to understand
Thank you so much 😀
Yes, Lechmere was very familiar with the beats of the police and the timing of them passing different points on their beats. His stepfather, Cross, had been a policeman in the past. Charles would have been familiar with the way the police thought and behaved while on duty. I think his using the last name of his stepfather at the inquest was a double-edged blade, so to speak. It was to possibly garner credibility with the department and also stick-it to his stepfather and the police in general… an “up-yours” kind of attitude. I think he hated his stepfather and the police and wanted to outsmart them and make them look inept through the crimes he committed. He also wanted to simply deflect any serious inquiry into his possible involvement by tying one more knot in the police’s tail.
What always surprises me about this location, is the amount of economic activity in the area, given how dangerous it seems to have been.
East end poverty is a bit of a myth
@@thehouseoflechmere9407 Perhaps but it was still a very dangerous area to walk the streets.
@@bendavies8881 Well, it certainly was for Lechmere's victims! 😆
Interesting video! If Lechmere was the guilty man, and he knew PC Niel's beat, he was certainly playing with fire here. Had Robert Paul not shown up, he "may" have stayed a little longer with the body and could have walked right into PC Niel coming around the corner - he would have been suspect number 1!!
He should have been suspect no 1 anyway
@TheWinterJedi
I'll go with Phillips in that Chapman was killed at the earlier time (which would place Lechmere in the running). I really don't think JTR killed in daylight hours.
I think the playing with fire was part of the thrill. That coincides with him being a psychopath who didn't feel fear the way normal people do. It would also explain why his instinct was to walk up to Robert Paul and not run away. It makes a lot of sense. I don't know why some people are so aggressively against Lechmere being a suspect. He is a damn sight better than Druitt or Kosminski.
I was going to say that exact same thing! Remember American Psycho? They live for the rush. It translates into normal people as stimulating events. If they dont do it a lot, they feel stagnant.@@Briccibracci
As always Edward, thorough and well delivered. But I remain unclear, or unconvinced, of a few things. Firstly, with regards to Niel's route: Your argument and discussion is based on the route he would logically taken. But it occurs to me that there would be many factors not known to us, unreported to his superiors, which might affect Niel's choice of route. Arriving at a certain place at a certain for instance might regularly have resulted in meeting with a watchman, probably and ex copper, who he could have conversation with, or with somebody else. Those beats at that hour would have been very lonely. There may have been someone who he could run into, also at a certain time and place, that would give him sweets or food or tobacco. One of the ways of whiling away their time on the beat for patrol cops was to snack or to smoke, whether it be pipes or rolled cigarettes. There may have been criminal activity that Niel suspected, but didn't have proof enough to mention to his superiors, that would cause him to change the route in hopes of catching the criminals or the crime while it was happening. The surest way of promotion. At least a dozen other possibilities which might cause him to choose to change his route. Second, is the supposition that if Niel had happened on Lechmere in the act, he would in fact have caught Lechmere. I'd always supposed, that if Lechmere, was the killer, he was interrupted by Paul, and recovered well by acting as if he'd just discovered the body. Why would it be any different with Niel? Because it would be earlier in the act, and more obvious? Because Niel was a policeman. I can think of a list of cases in which policemen failed spectacularly to recognize a serial killer in the act, the most horrific and notable being the Dahmer case and the case in Texas that happened almost exactly the same way. Finally, where are you supposing Lechmere is in his development as a serial killer at this point? Just how practiced would be be? Is this his first killing? There's more and more evidence that what we think of as many serial killers first murder are not in fact their first murders. That there were earlier murders in which they had not developed, or least not developed fully, their M.O.s, and even their signatures, where they are, for lack of better term, baby, and then infant, killers, just striking out and not knowing why or what it is they want or what they like. Could that be the case with Lechmere? He seems very cool at this scene, which is not very likely if it was his first. These are all questions. Not arguments. I'll watch the video again. But I strongly feel that these questions will remain.
I concur Edward. These are all questions I would ask as well. Found this one a bit thin on information. Only when compared to your other work of course, which is usually so detailed. And it is not that this presentation is not detailed, but that it does not cover questions such as those put above. I also seemed to catch the suggestion that Lechmere avoided Niel to get to Nichols. If he did do that, and having been someone who knew the area, especially around that time, intimately, would he not know Niel's general route and schedule? And so have planned the murder precisely to avoid being come upon by Niel? Maybe this was just me reading into what you said. Though it would make sense for a man who was going to commit a murder to pay particular attention to the habits of the police in that area. And I'd still have the same questions as above. Still loved the presentation. Learned a lot. And it obviously gave me, and not just me, a lot to think about... That's well done in my book...
Your doubts are well founded.
It wasn't Charley Cross/Lechmere.
The route I suggest is based on logic and where PC Neil said he had been on that round, which he said took about 30 minutes.
He passed the crime scene, went to Harrison Barber on Winthrop Street, went to Whitechapel Road, and turned into Bucks Row from Thomas Street.
Of course he could have made some of this up but I see no reason to doubt it.
If he was walking slowly, checking doors, talking to the odd passer by or nightwatchman, that is about what he could cover - even with a crafty fag.
I factored in his talking to people here and there as it was expected... in moderation. I covered this in the first part of the film.
Who knows what would have happened had Lechmere been interrupted by a policeman?
I suspect he would try to bluff his way out - as Sutcliffe unsuccessfully tried to do, but Dahmer succeeded in doing (as you noted).
It depends on how switched on Neil was. We can't tell, I think.
I think that by this time Lechmere had already killed at least four, possibly eight other victims. I have mentioned four in previous films.
In this video I only wanted to cover PC Neil's likely beat and not spiral off into other areas which will be covered as this series progresses.
I did hint (fairy strongly I thought) that Lechmere would have know roughly how long he would have before PC Neil made his appearance on Buck's Row, as I'm sure he would have seen him on Whitechapel Road. Neil wouldn't have paid any attention to a non descript carman on his way to work.
As you say, on previous nights he would undoubtedly have seen PC Neil at different places. It wouldn't have been the first time Lechmere had walked down Whitechapel Road sussing out likely victims. He would know how quickly Neil walked. How alert he was. And so on.
I tend not to dwell on these aspects as its up to the viewer to paint their own pictures based on the evidence which I present.
Also remember that when Lechmere was a teenager his (bigamous) step father was a beat policeman in the area around where they lived - in the notorious Tiger Bay district.
For me that was definitely not my point, or what I was saying. I had questions. Not with Edward's suspect. I've been clear. I'm an agnostic on suspects, but I think Edward makes a compelling and thorough case. So I was not asking questions in doubt of his ultimate conclusions, but with his specific ones. Please don't use me as fuel for whatever your agenda with against Edward's case or against Edward himself.
@@julesdelorme5192 🤔 Hmmm, considering your previous comments this one doesn't make any sense!.
You appear to be somewhat confused about what you yourself think!.
Anyway, I really don't think that you can legitimately conclude that I am "using" your comments to fuel some sort of agenda I have regarding the subject matter. You expressed doubts about the assertion that Charles Cross aka Lechmere was JtR, I merely agreed that you were right to have such doubts because I myself share the same, and other doubts regarding the House of Lechmere's claim to have solved the greatest murder mystery of all time by simply tailoring circumstances to suit their narrative!.
Other than that, my opinions and associated conclusions have nothing to do with your own, ( whatever they may be??).
I believe that like the House of Lechmere, you have assumed too much.
Why can't a policeman be the ripper?
They absolutely could be. I feel it's a cover-up of sorts.
😁 its always a buzz to discover that a new video has been uploaded by the House of Lechmere. Top notch and great work as ever Edward. I genuinely look forward to your videos. Thank you.
Thanks
Lechmere is JTR and your videos are brilliant as always 👏 can't wait for the next one 😀
Thanks Edward, your videos always get my thoughts going on one of the greatest mysteries. May I suggest another video at some point - on why the police thought he was innocent, and what they missed. Seems like because he did not run and/or was not covered in blood is the main reason for me on why the police seem (would be nice to have the complete case record) to suspect him. Yet like a scratch lotto ticket, this first perception may not be as golden as it seems.
Yes not a bad idea for a film
The old bobby's 'proceed' - I was told by an old school bobby that the pace is deliberate as it is supposed to project an image of 'calm, supreme authority'.
Excellent video. My question is how tall do you feel Lechmere could have been?. I ask for the reason of his stride. If he was tall do you feel he could cover more ground by increasing his pace with out much effort. A simple question that sparked my intrest as you seem tall and walk with ease at a good pace.
16:00
*Edit
Ok.. my apologies. I hadn't finished watching your video before I commented. It seems we are on the same page as I'd written this before getting to the point where you drew a similar conclusion.
Great videos. Very informative.
This is where we see the genius of people like Jack the Ripper and the Yorkshire Ripper by going after prostitutes that knew the area. I'm going to guess that being interrupted by a constable wouldn't be a good idea for a prostitute or her John.
So someone like Lechmere would simply have to locate a prostitute and ask her the safest place where they would not be disturbed perhaps even spending the time to inquire of her why she thought this place or that place would be private.
Alternately, more in the case of the Yorkshire Ripper... any place they suggested that was out of the way where no one would see them... wouldn't be seen as an odd request.
So all that leaves us with here is.. is it luck that they missed PC Neil? Or is it because either Lechmere or Nicholes had been there far longer than they admit and already knew the rout Neil was taking that night... and about how long it took him. 20 minutes to half an hour would be all this would take.
In your video you make it sound like Neil "missed" Lechmere by seconds... but what if Lechmere left his home 20-25 minutes or so sooner than he said he did... and saw Neil walking his beat in front of him?
Yes, Neil missed Letchmere... but it wasn't because of luck. It was because of design.
Did Polly do the same? Were she and Lechmere already together?
"Let's duck into that road after the constable love... e won't be back round for half n hour".
Neil must have got to the crime scene within about 6 minutes of Lechmere and Paul leaving and Neil must have been on Buck's Row within about a minute or two of Lechmere and Paul leaving Bucks Row. It was tight timing
@@thehouseoflechmere9407 Through all your videos, there seems to be one theme for me...
"What time did Lechmere really leave his home for work?"
Lechmere has a reason to explain where he was at any time he was there. Never once did it seem he was "out of place".
A HUGE advantage for him. In point of fact, it's why no one suspected him and why he has gone unnoticed to this day.
Unnoticed that is until someone plugs his home, family's homes and former homes all in the context of the murders.
I have a suggestion for your next video.
Use the music of Albonini's Adagio in G minor as a background and slowly show a map of different colour dots with annotations that show where Lechmere lived and worked through the years with the dots fading as he moved... all done in concert with the dots of his suspected victims, including the torso murders.
I have a feeling this would put a lot of doubters on their heels.
@@twelvewingproductions7508
Do you mean G minor?
@@thehouseoflechmere9407 Sorry.. yes.. G minor.
Perfect music for such a thing.
@@twelvewingproductions7508
I will try it out on a future film
I would have thought Jack would have surveyed the areas for hiding spots, escape routes previously during the day and night. For 5 to 10 minutes of work, JR had spent a lot of time planning beforehand.
Loving the weekly videos at the moment Ed, hope there are many more to come. Nail after nail after nail for ‘Ol Lechy boy 🔨
Don't expect me to keep the weeklies up all year!
@@thehouseoflechmere9407 Oh, Mr Stow, you just crushed my heart. lol
I think the video does reinforce the idea that JTR must have had a high degree of local knowledge. And possibly familiarity of routes the police took as he was certainly taking a risk in Bucks Row. For me it seems to be the most exposed crime scene, whereas the others had degrees of being able to be hidden from sight.
Indeed!
I believe Polly Nichols expected to get into Brown’s Yard, Buck’s Row but found the gateway locked. Killer struck outside on the footpath. He’ll take a risk when he knows the odds. Mitre Square is practically impossible without self harm, in the dark, organ removal within a matter of minutes!
Jack must have watched the Police Beat and studied it on previous nights.
If you walk that route to work for almost 20 years, I'm pretty sure you'd know the beats of every PC on your route.
Possibly, but they did vary their beats. I would highly recommend 'Capturing Jack the Ripper: In the Boots of a Bobby in Victorian London' by Neil R A Bell.
@jackmatthew1880
They were supposed to vary their beats but I would suggest that an interested observer would still be able to work out the pattern
My guess is that, oddly, Lechmere wasn't the only one who would be watching. If he is murdering prostitutes after soliciting them.. they are going to know as much or more than he does about where to go so they won't be seen. And exactly when to do that.
My take is that if these were really local prostitutes he targeted, he would not need to know anything about the area, because the ladies themselves would take him to secluded locations where they knew they wouldn't be bothered, and over the course of a night they would refine their preferred locations
Brilliant!
Super Edward, will watch tonight 👍
The whole scene is suspicious, because of the wounds to the body, with regards to her clothes, she had nine garments of clothes on her person, but her clothes were drawn down to hide the wounds, and drawn down to below the waist to conceal them it would appear.
Why, why would a killer care about the victims appearance all of a sudden, when you compare the later murders that took place, it has to be because of the presence of Robert Paul on the scene all of a sudden, he heard his foot steps coming towards him, and quickly tried to conceal the wounds as best he could, in the seconds he had before Paul arrived. He was hovering over the body, going by Paul, then who later said another version, he was in the middle of the road standing there.
It still doesn't explain why her clothes were drawn down, because the cuts don't correspond with her clothes, so her clothes had to be raised at some point, to make it easier without any inhibition to make the severe cuts, that were made to her body, but why would you go to all that bother to draw her clothes back down after the murder took place, I think he was worried Paul might have an issue with the scene if it was visible.
Was Lechmere Cross a Smoker or Paul for that matter, just about every man smoked a pipe back in the day, these two must have been the only two in the East End who didn't, Lechmere would have had to have a box of matches just to see the ropes on the cart, when you are tying them up, what he did it for twenty or more years and never had a need of a light getting his cart in order, rubbish, even now I use a lighter checking my stuff when I tow stuff around in the night if I haven't got a torch handy, and they didn't have a torch handy back then.
It would have been interesting to see if possible, if he was smoking a pipe out the front of the Working Lads Institute before he went in for the inquest, and someone noticed him smoking, and saying how come you didn't strike a match when you were down Bucks Row that morning, that would have made him uncomfortable.
@@jacktheripper-1888 They were waist height, or just below it, from the accounts I have read over the years, as to her clothes, so the wounds were not visible, Paul put her clothes down further for her dignity, Paul couldn't even decide where Cross Lechmere he was standing, going by the paper reports, you shouldn't put to much emphasis what gets printed in the papers even today.
The killer had plenty of time, before Paul arrived to do what you mentioned, the murder was already done, and all the other things you mentioned were already tidied up before Paul arrived. It doesn't take an hour to do what you mentioned, you make it play out, like it's the novel War and Peace.
I think the killer thought the person arriving on the scene wasn't another person going to work, or just a passer by, but the Policeman doing his rounds, and breathed a sigh of relief when it wasn't a Policeman in view.
You gave a time frame in seconds, the killer had possibly, minutes to do, all I mentioned were the clothes being drawn down to hide the wounds from view, and why, what you are saying, all was done in twelve seconds, I didn't mention any time frame to commit the murder, you did, just the clothing was done in a hurry, the last few seconds before Paul arrived.
Any way opinions are just that, an opinion.
@@jacktheripper-1888 They were waist height, or just below it, from the accounts I have read over the years, as to her clothes, so the wounds were not visible, Paul put her clothes down further for her dignity, Paul couldn't even decide where Cross Lechmere he was standing, going by the paper reports, you shouldn't put to much emphasis what gets printed in the papers even today.
The killer had plenty of time, before Paul arrived to do what you mentioned, the murder was already done, and all the other things you mentioned were already tidied up before Paul arrived. It doesn't take an hour to do what you mentioned, you make it play out, like it's the novel War and Peace.
I think the killer thought the person arriving on the scene wasn't another person going to work, or just a passer by, but the Policeman doing his rounds, and breathed a sigh of relief when it wasn't a Policeman in view.
You gave a time frame in seconds, the killer had possibly, minutes to do, all I mentioned were the clothes being drawn down to hide the wounds from view, and why, what you are saying, all was done in twelve seconds, I didn't mention any time frame to commit the murder, you did, just the clothing was done in a hurry, the last few seconds before Paul arrived.
Any way opinions are just that, an opinion.
Also - despite the movies suggesting otherwise - there was no fog at the time, and it had not recently rained. Note/correction (unofficial source) - it had rained a little the previous day - with a storm 2-3pm. Cloud cover is reported at 50%
Oh, i would LOVE to visit these old places and see what it looks like now. Youve already showed us, but i still want to see it for myself.
I was pretty close by once: march of 1989. I was visiting London for 3 days and Devon for a week. I went on my own in London both days but there is too much to see. Closest i got was the Tower and St Katherines Docks. Almost! Back then there was no internet and i just got lost. I loved it, though.
If i went now, id definitely have a gps, et al. Back then, i was 21 years old. Btw, i started my JTR interest in 1979, age 12.
He saw some people... and some women
My heart keeps 💔 missing a beat, every time 😢😢😢
Mr. Stow, are you going to do something similar to this video with the other crime scenes? Thanks to your diligent work, we have quite a vivid picture of Buck's Row, but some of the other crime scenes are still quite obscure for an outsider viewer
I've gone through Liz Stride and Berner Street in some detail - check them out! I will do detailed examinations of all the murders
Up until 1928 there existed the Whitechapel Haymarket . This was located on Whiechapel High Street by Commercial Street . Huge hay wagons pulled by 2 , 4 and even 6 horses . Coming from Essex , Suffolk and even southern Norfolk . The market would operate from the very early hours to about 7 or 8 in the morning . I wonder if there could be a connection to the killings ?
Good one. This needed some clarification. 👍
Great work Ed, but let me remind you that on the time before PC Neil passed by the the murder site; so the Northern route would have basically been the entire route. Actually, going all the way around at 2.5 mph and ignoring Queen Anne street (cover it when not doing Winthrop?), but ingressing partially up Thomas & Court street from the south, Whites row from the west, and up/down Winthrop street - even without taking the short cut through Nelson court, you can make it in 24 minutes. It would be slightly more than 1 mile. This route would have the added benefit of keeping him "within earshot" all through the night, but could not be briskly walked in 12 minutes. The intriguing thing is that Neil would have been situated roughly due west, and perhaps even ingressing west on White's row around the time that Robert Paul entered Buck's row. And the murderous phantom spooked by Lechmere fleeing westward would possibly run into PC Neil going up/down Thomas or Court street ... or be possibly heard going up Whites' row. Whoever the killer was, his pre planned escape route after 3:30 am would be westward, and if Robert Paull happened to be early, that route would have been unexpectedly blocked .... the killer would then have been undecided right there, slashed Ms Nichols' throat a 2nd time for good measure, and decided to bluff his way out.
Wow Edward, this is a Gr8 Analysis of the Beat PC John Neil most-likely wud have taken to get to the crime scene on Buck's Row...I assumed he went down Court Street, but not so...Thomas Street South most-likely the route he took and missed Lechmere & Paul by a minute or less....Interesting that PC Neil was on Whitechapel Road at 3.30am and took 15 Minutes to get to the Crime Scene....Perhaps Lechmere saw him when he picked-up Polly Nichols and took her down one of the alleys, then around the School and to the dark area on Buck's Row...He might well have known he had a fair amount of time to kill and mutilate Polly, before PC Neil arrived at Buck's Row......Robert Paul was running late when he saw Lechmere with the body, so it is likely they never saw each other going to work before that morning.... Lechmere may have thought no one other than the Beat Policemen went down Buck's Row at that time and was disturbed by Paul coming from the opposite direction 2 PC Neil....He clearly knew The Police Beat in the area and was why he told PC Mizen that a Policeman wanted him in Buck's Row....Lechmere was taking a Gr8 Risk, when he cud have killed her in the alley he took her down and no one wud have disturbed him at that time of the morning...If it was someone else that killed Polly, like James Maybrick, Aaron Kosminski or Montague Druitt, they wud have been seen by Lechmere and Paul, as Polly had only just been slain when found by PC Neil...Also, they wud have stood-out like a sore thumb and wud have been seen by somebody in the area....What wud they be doing there anyway, Edward?....Lechmere was on the way to work, had recently moved into the area and had a very bizarre life up until that point....To my thinking, Lechmere is the ONLY Suspect that had a motive to kill that morning and had a reason to be in the area....Standing near a freshly slain Polly Nichols, when disturbed by Robert Paul and then proceeding to act very strangely in an attempt to get away with it, as Christer Holmgren has said in his Gr8 JTR Doco....These Videos are Very Important in working-out what happened and who was most-likely to be JTR, Edward....Cheers fm Damo😊🤲
Good observations
@@thehouseoflechmere9407 Thanks Edward, but the incredible detail you are providing us with, is firing our imagination, as well as making many of us see what has happened with the JTR Murders....These Videos will no doubt come to the attention of the doubters/naysayers when it comes to Charles Lechmere as JTR, but there really is no other Suspect, IMHO, that U can make a case for like this...If only the Police Investigators had honed-in on Lechmere in Early September 1888, he may not have killed any more women and been Jailed for the Polly Nichols Murder....Cheers Edward fm Damo🤔🙏
well done as usual
Nice one Ed it’s got to be Lechmere what intrigues me is what is the mind set of these serial killers including Lechmere ,a so called normal person will get get dressed & go to do a days work & come home, no not Lechmere he gets up early in the morning gets dressed & before he leaves his house thinks “Oh mustn’t forget my knife just in case I come across one of those unfortunate women on my way to work so that I can kill them & given the chance to mutilate them at the same time” then proceeds to his workplace as if nothing had happened, I presume he did eventually turn up for work or told another lie he was probably cruising the streets just to satisfy his lust for killing someone
Serial killers of this type tend to be psychopaths who are wired differently to normal people and have different priorities.
Have the police investigation documents been made available to the public, or have they been kept secret? It would be fascinating, since this happened so long ago, if they could be published
keep up the good work
...and yet Casebook has not updated their primary suspect list to include Lechmere for whatever reason. In fact they say, "By some counts, more than 500 individuals have been put forward by various experts, historians and theorists - most based on flimsy or non-existent evidence." They obviously don't want Lechmere to be the guy.
That site is a joke
@@thehouseoflechmere9407Agreed, I just wanted to hear you say it. I'm surprised Christer still participates there.
@@davem8836 I can´t. I have been banned. Again. I am apparently the single worst offender they have ever had over there. It´s either that, or …
@@christerholmgren335They banned you?! Figures. It's just as well to be rid of them.
@@christerholmgren335 - View it as a badge of honour! Reminds me of the Henry James quote: ““I don’t want everyone to like me; I should think less of myself if some people did.” 😂
Thanks for all your interesting videos Edward!
Do you know anything more about Robert Paul, his life and circumstances surrounding the Ripper murders and the time afterwards.
If you try to put yourself in his place when he discovers Lechmere in Bucks Row, it is likely that he wondered if Lechmere could be the perpetrator. Lechmere, on the other hand, must also have had a sense of whether he had convinced Robert Paul that he had found the victim by chance or whether he risked exposure by Robert Paul. Interesting if Robert Paul's behavior subsequently, for example, indicated fear of Lechmere..
I have one more Robert Paul film in the pipeline.
The nature of psychopaths is that they are very convincing liars!
Thank you! Your detective is always amazing and bullet proof. I always appreciate when you debunk the so called ripperologists who obviously haven’t done their homework as you have. 🎉
Cheers!
Great video. Just curious whether a PC could stop anyone they passed on a quiet backstreet and ask them the business of why they were there and where they were going? A few years ago, I was travelling from work to home by car at approx 5:00am in the morning and was stopped by a police unit. This was not a random breath test. They just wanted to know my business. Where had I been? Where was I going? Why was I travelling at that time of early morning? Did the PCs in the 1880s also engage in this activity?
They could, but in general the police in 1888 respected the privacy of individuals more than now. The police were relatively new as an institution and there was a degree of tension between the accepted need for law and order and the rights, liberties, and freedom of the individual. The police were sensitive not to overstep the mark, in order to police by consent. This has largely been forgotten.
@@thehouseoflechmere9407 I suspect that police/culture in 1888 hindered the police effort to locate suspects. Had the police stopped individual males walking the backstreets of Whitechapel and interviewed them to check their movements on the nights of the murders they would likely have uncovered JTR.
Assuming I get the date right - The moon would have been 34.1% illuminated. This may have helped make things easier to see. Also the following facts on its travel seem interesting (if true) - During this Waxing Gibbous phase the moon will rise in the east in the mid- to late-afternoon and will be high in the eastern sky at sunset. Assuming it's a clear night, the Waxing Gibbous moon will then be visible through most of the night before setting just before sunrise. Sunrise for London this day would have been 5:12 am. Note - It appears (unofficial source) cloud cover for the night was 50%, and it had rained (a little) the previous day - with a storm at 2-3pm.
Michael Fish did it...
I do hope your going to make a video on the Jack the Ripper case file items that went to auction recently
Brilliant videos. But my question would be. if it was Lechmere why did he suddenly stop after Kelly?
He didn’t stop!
Lechmere and Paul, on leaving the crime scene, having been missed that closely by PC Neil makes me wonder if the appearance of Paul didn't actually save Lechmere who, in case of not having been disturbed by Paul, maybe would have spent a little more time to inflict further damage on Polly Nichols' body than the interaction with Paul did cost him. So it may well be that after finishing his work he'd have run straight into Neil, at which point the Rippers "career" would have been over before it really began.
Yes maybe
We know what the officers were suppose to be doing, but were they doing that? Lots of variables, and sometimes people aren't always doing what they are suppose to be.
EXCELLENT video! again
Thanks again!
I have been binging your videos from the States. You really know how to put together the details to make a compelling argument for Lechmere.
I was thinking, what if Lechmere chose to kill women on non-working days because he was happed upon by Paul the one time he did on his way to work? I was trying to think why he would even approach Paul instead of just slipping away. Then I realized how different this murder was to the others. Took place on his way to work and he was caught nearly red handed. That’d change his modus operandi very quickly to doing it only when he is off work.
A good thought.
If Lechmere was JTR and Tabram was a JTR victim then he also killed Tabram and Chapman on his way to work and only gave it a miss after Chapman. Perhaps it got too dicey for him, explaining the 3 week break until Stride/Eddowes on his day off.
@@lyndoncmp5751 It's an idea, could be spot on or way off.
@@theobjectivethinker64
What could be way off? That Tabram, Nichols and Chapman were killed roughly at the time that Lechmere was on his way to work? It's not way off. They were killed on work mornings and at the relevant times. Stride and Eddowes were killed when few people had to get up for work the next day in. That's not way off either.
@@lyndoncmp5751 Don't beleve the hype, there were a lot of people who used those streets to go to work. There is a reason why Lechmere is not big news or a sensation, because the realty is that the proponents are mere journalists, authors, the work is not subject to peer review scrutinised by acedemics those who run our scientific and historical text, people with masters degrees and PHD's who have the authority to change what we know in a controlled way, adding new information by way of detailed analysis. I work in this feild, I now what it takes to obtain critical affimation. This is just a few peple entertainng us with their view without peer review by qualified quantative and qualititive analysis.
If lechmere was the ripper where was the knife?
Under his apron
Or in his boot
With all due respect to you and your research work, which I follow; you seem to be the last Englishman in London.
Excellent information Edward your podcast are the best great work sir
Thanks for listening
Outstanding, as usual
Thank you! Cheers!
As-certain???? "Ascer-"tain"!😢 but brilliant video as always, Mr Lechmere, thank you.
We all have our peccadillos
@@thehouseoflechmere9407😅
Excellent work Ed. I don't remember seeing anyone walk PC Neil's beat before. First rate stuff. Have to concur that he would have mixed it up each time he went around and not done exactly the same thing over and over again. Human nature.
Cheers 👍
It would have been essential for him to mix it up or he wouldn't ever be able to visit some streets.
@@thehouseoflechmere9407
Yes and you've done a great job in establishing that would have been the case.,
Ever since I heard of Lechmere I’ve been stuck. From a modern method perspective you can’t go passed him until he is somehow eliminated from enquiries at the very least for Nichols. He would’ve been in custody if I’d been in charge at the time and we’d see if 8 days later there was a solution to the problem (given our current knowledge of what occurred)
I read recently that Lechmere was wearing a sack apron at the inquest. Would this have been standard for a cart man? Or would leather have been the norm?
Sacking probably. Leather was a red herring clue
i guess if he had of caught him then 'jack the ripper' would never had been
Ha - quite correct!
He would probably have killed the policeman too.
@renekuskchristensen2182
Serial killers of women don't tend to have the same gusto against men.
@@lyndoncmp5751 He would have killed him to cover it up, not to get off.
@@renekuskchristensen2182
No. Just like Ted Bundy and Peter Sutcliffe didnt kill policemen to cover it up. Serial killers who target women are not so brave against men. Even less so against policemen.
Therefore, the incident happened between 3.35 am and 3.40 am presumably.
Is there an email or some other private messaging system where one can write directly to you?
I have a Facebook page 'the house of Lechmere'. You can private message to that if you like
Are the images at 15:48 and 16:01 really Charles Lechmere?
They are AI renderings based on the picture we have. I mention it in the description below the video.
@@thehouseoflechmere9407 Thanks.
Another good video mate 👍
Thanks 👍
We'll catch him next time.
@5:41 - "saw some people... going to market" - why would the officer assume people are going to market at 3am?
Is Market a street name? Is the market open at 3am back then?
Meticulous research once again. Risk taking would have been part of the thrill for Lechmere. The de-aged photos are striking.
Yes they are very good
The de-aged photos look absolutely fantastic.
@thehouseoflechmere9407 I believe Jack The Ripper was a policeman or ex-policeman. This would lend to the theory that the Ripper knew the beats and how long to cover the beat. The theory also fits with the 'Dear Boss' letter. The Ripper could literally be teasing his old boss and ex colleagues.
I partially agree
Is that a picture of a young Lechmere at 15:48?
It is simply an old image of nobody in particular with a de-aged Lechmere face deep faked onto the image to give an idea of his possible look when he was younger.
That's what I'm wondering too
@@galesal1109 usually Edward responds. Hopefully he can shed some light.
Yes it's an AI image - pemby supplies them!
There's a reference to these images in the description
Thank you
You're welcome
I think that the Ripper should be either Charles Allen Lechmere or Constable PC Neil.
Be interesting to have you talk about George Lusk and the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee
Yes I might do that!
If Lechmere didnt murder Polly Nichols, then he really ought to have stumbled into Jack as she had only been dead for around 5 minutes at most when Paul got there.
Its really that obvious, that it’s rather amazing that the Police cleared him so quickly. I think they must have presumed that only an innocent man would have come forward on his own volition, that the thought never crossed their minds than
We will never know the real reasons for sure, or unlikely we ever will, could be a whole host of reasons for everyones behaviour back then.
@NICKBROUGH8335 agree💯
Nobody else “stumbled into Jack” during any of the other murders either?
@@davekeating. How can anyone be sure. We dont know at what exact time most of the other murders happened and many potential witnesses may never have come forward at all.
@@nickbrough8335 Let’s be honest. Nobody then or now has ever established the exact timings involved in the murder of Mary “Polly” Nichols.
Having done something similar, it wouldn’t surprise me if the beat cops stopped for a brew at certain night watchmen’s huts. While having brews, chats its easy to miss things. There’s no way these beat cops carried out all of these beats like clockwork. Also after an initial ‘lock up’ and check, subsequent patrols would only be to give a cursory glance at already checked buildings.
Yes and no. Policemen had to be at designated places along their beat at preordained times. The station sergeant would check in on his beat policemen during the night. If they were not where they were supposed to be policemen could be docked wages.
Jack was a constable
This is something I have often entertained the notion of too when it comes to JTR theories because after all, a police officer would be the one person that could stand around or walk up and down an area at night without looking suspicious, whereas, questions would be asked of anyone else.
And also, police officers in general back in those days were considered nigh on above suspicion, so they would have been the last to be considered as possible suspects for a crime. Personally speaking, I am fairly convinced Lechmere was JTR but it's interesting to look at other possibilities and it's rare that the police are considered.
I guess we have a bit of a taboo in this country that still makes it hard for us to say "hey, what about police officers?" but we need to get over that because we know from experience now, there are some psychos who fool the thorough vetting processes and get in the police and when you consider that we're talking 1888 when it comes to JTR, it's even easier to believe that the vetting process for joining the police back then might have allowed a clever nutcase to join 🤔
I wonder what would have been the outcome if PC Niel had come across Lechmere on his own with Polly's body - would he have actually suspected him or not? Doubtless, Lechmere would have pulled the same brazen-faced stunt that he did with Paul and asked him to come and look at the body etc. And with Lechmere not fitting the stereotype of a murderer (mentally ill, foreign etc.) and having the justification of being on his route to work, maybe PC Niel would have just taken his details but ultimately let him go on his way???
Quite possibly
He is certainly one of the most credible suspects. Just bought the book Cutting Point.
And how is Lechmere "one of the most credible suspects"? There is not one iota of proof that he murdered Mary Nichols. There is no proof of any criminality/court appearances in his life prior to the Whitechapel murders, and there isn't any after the murders. He carried on with his life exactly as he had done for the previous twenty years, going and coming home from work, and raising his family. The only 'crime', in his ordinary working-mans life, was being alone with the body of Mary Nichols on the morning of 31 August 1888, before Robert Paul came upon him standing near the body at 3:45.....
You will enjoy it
I can't put it down Edward. One of the best books yet in my collection
Out of sight, out of mind😢😢😢
It's very odd that Lechmere just stopped killing. I understand that there are a couple of Thames Torso murders in 1889, but Lechmere didn't die till 1920. What is your theory as to why he stopped killing? I apologise if you've already covered this & I just haven't seen the particular video.
I think he carried on for another 10 years
Any idea who & when he killed after '89? Have you a video about them?
Highly interesting😉
Where was Neil on the nights of the subsequent murders?
On his beat probably
@@thehouseoflechmere9407 PC Neil was Jack the Ripper. An 1888 version of Wayne Couzens. You bet he was on his beat for all the ripper murders. Perfect cover.
@@AntonyRG1 So while on his beat he repeatedly left his post and (wearing uniform) killed in the beat districts of other police divisions, where he had no business to roam about at all? Quite a less than perfect cover I'd say.
Is there any indication of noise on the route. No train, No dogs, Perhaps the workmen and whitechappel road. You would expect if you lived in the area, and regulllay traveled to work, you would have seen the police on their beat previously. One thing puzzles me. Why did either Letchmere and /or Paul not call out - especially if they thought she was dead. Surely the call for police was a common thing, and you would expect police to be nearby.
Police were nearby - and there would have been very little noise
@@thehouseoflechmere9407 When you think about it, lechmere stopped and tapped Paul on the shoulder only to then after looking further at the body to move on. It does not make sense. You stop someone sure. Then if they decide to move on, ok, you begin shouting for help. I understand Pauls motives - he was late , he did not want to be interrupted. Yet Lechmere stopped as if concerned, then seemingly changed his mind. I say again, something is not right here.
I agree with your words urgency. Inspecting the body at worst would reaffirm help was needed. I disagree with the word callous. I substitute the word deliberate. That's the way it looks to me.
JTR could have been someone from the slaughter house.
This is something.I always believed about this killing: that he knew with a fair degree of accuracy how much time had between the appeances of the beat-constable.
He'd been planning this for some tme. His regular walk to work would have made his appearances at that place and time utterly unremovable to, both the policemen and the prostitutes m; "just part of the furniture",as it were.
He would also be able to tell PC Mizen that there would be another PC waiting in Buck's Row.
Paul's appearance may have an accidental occurrence, or which he took full advantage.
It was the victims who knew all the local police beats for obvious reasons. The killer simply exploited this fact.
..."I hope I have cleared up all issues around PC Neil.." - nope, but good try really impresive methodology and presentation. Where was PS thirby after doing his checks of the PCs on the beat? How come PC Neil didnt see Polly before she entered Bucks Row after all as you point out he could have done the beat that night several times....Why did PC Thain leave his cape at the Slaughtermen's Yard on such a cold night?
More questions than answers
Not sure if you've been over this, do you think JTR was very smart or very lucky in terms of always evading capture? In addition, do we have any idea as to the intelligence/cunning of the Lechmeister General? Cheers.
Smart and lucky
Who is the young guy with the hat on in the pictures?
Me
Must of totally shocked the beat police that such murders out on the street could even happen. Sounds like they continuously covered the area. This would have made the search for the killer very personal
Is 15:49 a younger Lechmere?
That policeman was Jack the Ripper.
After all, he was in the general location at the time.
PC Neil was Jack the Ripper. An 1888 version of Wayne Couzens.
That policeman can apparently teleport then as well!
I cant help thinking mary kelly is either the key to it all or a gigantic red herring. Shes either the ultimate goal and it was personal or someone else killed her.
One thing is policemen not being on the right place at the right time, but how in the world can a man, with blood all over himself walk trough London with policemen on the watch not noticing anything!?
Victim strangled first so less blood than one would expect
@@stephenargent4010 - didn't he cut their throat?
And in addition extracted body parts, of which he sent the police?
I would believe there would be some blood, and if the girls was prostitutes, there must have been men/customers there also, and policemen etc, everyone aware of him, and nobody noticed?
@@stephenargent4010 He's cutting their insides out and putting them all over the body in some cases. He would have to have a lot of blood on him after doing that. Also, am I correct in thinking he actually took part of the body in at least one case? At the very very least, his hands would have to be covered in blood - as would the knife. How did he manage to deal with this so quickly when Paul approached?
@ I doubt he was wearing a white T shirt
@stephenargent4010 - several women was already victim for him and everyone was on an outlook, and you claim nobody had noticed a man in the area full of blood?