No name in the annals of crime is more notorious than that of Jack The Ripper. The fact that the crime has never been solved makes it all the more intriguing to those who've taken an interest. Many "Ripperologists" or "Ripperphiles" exist, all of whom have taken available information from the time of the murders to come to a 'definitive' solution.
When And Where?: East London (Whitechapel), 1888
Who?: Unsolved
The Murders: Although there are some who believe there were more, it is generally believed that the Ripper claimed five victims during a three month period. The killings are not something to be romanticized, but are in fact among the most brutal ever (see Catherine Eddowes photo). In each case, except for one in which it is believed the murderer was interrupted while committing the crime, the victims had their throats slit, were disembowelled and otherwise mutilated. One would be hard-pressed to find a crime scene photo more grotesque than the famed depiction of Mary Kelly in her Miller's Court bedroom. Apart from a theory put forth by Stephen Knight, the crimes are accepted as those of a sexually psychotic killer. It was this sexual motivation that has helped to make the case as famous as it is. The Whitechapel murders were the opening chapter in the age of the sex crime. Also famed was the Ripper's tendency to taunt investigators with correspondence in the way of notes. Although London police at the time received many letters signed by the Ripper, experts agree that only one was genuine for certain. This belief was based on the fact that it was accompanied by one of Catherine Eddowes' kidneys. It was addressed "From Hell", and was sent to George Lusk (head of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee). The note read " Mr. Lusk: Sir I send you half the Kidne I took from one woman prasarved it for you tother piece I fried and ate it was very nise I may send you the bloody knif that took it out if only wate a whil longer signed Catch me when you can Mishter Lusk."
Suspects: Throughout the years, theorists have come up with any number of identities for Jack The Ripper. Below are some of the favourites. For a definitive read on the case try Donald Rumbelow's The Complete Jack The Ripper (Penguin Books).
Montague John Druitt - Sir Melville Macnaughten became an assistant chief constable at Scotland Yard in 1889. In 1901 he became head of the CID. His notes from that time period have been made public and point to M.J. Druitt, a barrister/teacher, as his his prime suspect. In fact, the notes reveal that Druitt's family were convinced that he was the killer, and Macnaughten himself went so far as to publically state, well after the killings , that the answer once lie at the bottom of the Thames. Although he does not mention Druitt by name, the fact that he committed suicide by drowning shortly after the murders ceased and numerous other references point ot Druitt as his suspect. (Photo)
Dr. Stanley - Leonard Matters wrote a book in 1929 that was based on a deathbed confession of a Dr. Stanley. The story actually comes from a South American surgeon who worked under the doctor in London in 1888, and later heard Stanley's confession as he lay dying many years before. The basic story goes like this; doctor's son visits prostitute; doctor's son gets syphillis from prostitute; doctor's son dies from syphillis; doctor forgets all oaths, goes around killing prostitutes until he murders Mary Kelly who gave son syphillis. An interesting, dramatic story. It isn't given much credence though because Matters admits that it came from a translation of a Spanish story that may have been largely ficiton. In fact, records don't show that the good doctor ever existed at all.
A Royal Conspiracy - Stephen Knight has put forth a very convincing story in his work Jack The Ripper - The Final Solution. It involves a conspiracy involving the British royal family. Knight says that the killings were not random or sexually motivated, but were in fact a cover-up for 'oops-like' behaviour by Queen Victoria's nephew, and son of future king Edward VII, 'Eddy', the Duke of Clarence. Long story made short; Eddy liked to hang out with regular people and ended up meeting a woman named Annie Crook. He got secretly married to her and had a child. Now the cover-up begins. Sir William Henry Gull, Queen Vicoria's physician had Crook committed to an insane asylum to quiet her. The child was taken and put up for adoption. One problem remained - Mary Kelly. Kelly was a friend of Annie's and was present for the wedding. She was talkative and had told other prostitute friends of the situation while imbibing at the Ten Bells pub. Mistaken identities also lead to at least one wrong death (Catherine Eddowes), but basically the girls are picked off one by one, ending with Kelly. How does Knight get his story? Joseph Sickert, son of the late English artist Walter Sickert says that his father was charged with the duty of babysitting Eddy on his jaunts. He points to Gull, coachman John Netley and dramatically at the culmination of his work, Sickert himself as co-psychos who did it all for queen and country.
George Chapman - Chapman, the famed wife-poisoner, was hanged at Wandsworth Prison in 1903 for murdering his 'better-half'. Information has arisen that Inspector Abberline, who investigated the Whitechapel killings thought of Chapman as a suspect. Chapman was in London at the time of the killings, and resembled descriptions of a man seen with Mary Kelly shortly before her death. A flaw in the theory lies with the nature of the crimes. Chapman was a notorious poisoner. That is a crime that physically distances killer from victim. The Ripper murders were very 'hands on' and he, no doubt, derived sexual satisfaction from that intimacy. Could Chapman's M.O. alter so drastically? Probably not. (Photo)
Dr. Neill Cream - Cream was a lifelong criminal who tried his hand in many things. He was an acknowleged nutbar who was, in fact, hanged in 1892 for the poisoning murders of four London prostitues. On the gallows, Cream was said to have cried out "I am Jack the.." as he fell through the platform. Did he do it? Not likely, as he was believed to have been in Joliet Prison in Illinois at the time of the Ripper slayings. (Photo)
Other theories abound; that the Freemasons were heavily involved, that black magic was behind it, that Jack was really a Jill etc.. Whatever you believe, it must be admitted that this case would be less interesting if it had ever been definitively 'solved'.
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