Alayna Urquhart

For the evidence against Henry Huff is so conclusive that there is no doubt that he will be convicted of the murder of Sadie Hawley.

That's a bit of a stretch.

And unfortunately, the jury didn't agree with that the evidence against Huff was all that compelling.

I'm actually surprised.

And he was eventually acquitted for Sadie's murder.

But I'm actually truly shocked by that.

Now, ultimately, Henry Huff would be one of several black men arrested on, quote, strong circumstantial evidence that they were the Atlanta Ripper.

That was apparently not so strong.

Others included Todd Henderson, John Daniel, and Bud Wise, all of whom bore a slight resemblance to the man who attacked Emma.

But otherwise had no connection to the murders and despite investigators strong belief in their guilt would eventually be acquitted or simply released.

Wow.

As in the case of Henry Huff the timing of the arrests and indictments of the other suspects comes after the public outcry over law enforcement's complete inability to catch the killer.

It's possible that one or more of these arrests could have satiated the public demand for action had the killings not continued while Huff and the other suspects were in custody.

That does present a problem.

That presents a problem.

On the morning of August 31st, nearly seven weeks since the last Ripper victim was discovered, the body of 20-year-old Mary Ann Duncan was discovered by the railroad tracks just outside of Atlanta in a community known as Blandtown.

Like Sadie Holly, Duncan's shoes had been removed and were nowhere to be found.

Her throat had been slit from one side to the other.

And a month later, Ellen Maddox, a cook for a family in Inman Park, was walking home from work when she was struck from behind with a blunt object.

She lived.