I in tend to start a thread on the history of Jack the Ripper. I have been researching the case for 20 years. Areas I shall post on will include.The Victims, Police Investigation, Socio-economic factors, Life in the East End in Victorian era, Historical suspects, A psycological profile of the killer-killers, Media handling of the case & any other relevant areas people might suggest. My first post will be titled, people of the abyss. Please post comments,suggestions.

I feel it may be useful, to begin with a complete chronology of the Whitechapel murders. Hopefully this will provide people with a frame of reference, which may prove useful during any debate of this complex case.

7 Aug 1888 4-45am, Martha Tabram 39, hawker& prostitute, is found murdered in George Yard off Whitechaple High street. She has been stabbed an incredible 39 times.

9 Aug. Inquest on M.Tabram. Verdict,"Wilful murder by some person or persons unknown."

31 Aug 2-30am Mary Nichols is seen by Ellen Holland,at the corner of Whitechapel Rd & Odborn St. 3-40am, Nichols Mutilated body is found by Charles Cross in Buck's Row, Whitechaple.

1 Sept. The Nichols inquest opens

5 Sept"Leather Apron"is identified as prime suspect by the "star"Newspaper

6 Sept Mary Nichols is buried.

8 Sept.5-30am, Elezabeth Long see's Annie Chapman talking with a man by 29 Hanbury St, Spitalfields. 5-15/5-32am, Albert Cadosh hears a voice from the back yard of number 29, then the sound of something falling. 6-00am John Davis, Carman, finds Chapmans body mutilated in the back yard of number 29.

9 Sept. William Henry Piggott, 53, suspect, is arrested

10 Sept,Chapman inquest opens. Discrition of suspect is circulated by police
(Liz Long witness).

11 Sept John Pizer is arrested suspected of being "Leather Apron", he is later released without charge.

14 Sept Annie Chapman is buried.

16 Sept, the newly formed "Whitechapel Vigilance Committee", begins street patrols, against police advice.

22 Sept, The Nichols inquest is concluded.

26 Sept, The Chapman inquest is concluded. Both findings "Murder by person or
person's unknown.

TO BE CONTINUED.

Stephen,

Great idea; Jack the Ripper has fascinated me for many years as well. As befits my conspiratorially inclined nature, I am intrigued by the possibility of Royal involvement, either via the Duke of Clarence himself, or the freemasonic connection (with Sir William Gull as the actual murderer), as postulated by the late Stephen Knight in his "Jack the Ripper: The Final Solution" and the recent film "From Hell." I realize most of the respectable researchers into the case have dismissed such theories, but they make a lot of sense to me. An unsolved mystery is always the best kind!

Don,

Thank's for the nice comments. Yes I am aware of the Gull, Netley, Sickert Theory (have you read Patricia Cornwalls book naming Sickert as JTR). Before I debate these issues,Iwant to lay out all that is known about the case. This is helpfull for beginers & seasoned Ripperologists. Wounds, placement of bodies, eyewitness accounts etc, so grab your deer-stalker, wake Watson, there's a killer in the fog, & the game's afoot.

Stephen,

Yes, I've read Cornwell's book. I wasn't very impressed with her Sickert theory, not the least of which because she never even mentioned Stephen Knight, who first mentioned Sickert in connection with the Ripper murders. I also saw her on t.v a few times promoting her book, and wasn't taken by her personality, either.

Chronology of Whitechapel Murders continued.

27 Sept, First "JTR" letter-"Dear Boss"-arrives at the Central News Agency dated 25th Sept.

29 Sept

11-00pm Elizabeth Stride seen by 2 witnesses J Best & J Gardner, leaving the "Bricklayers Arms" pub in the company of a man

11-45pm, William Marshall see's a man talking to Stride by 58 Berner St the pair walk past him to Ellen St. 1

1-00pm???-Matthew Packer supposedly sells grapes to a couple walking up Berner St (much disputed testimony)

30 Sept

12-30am PC 425H William Smith, See's Stride talking to a man in Berner St.

12-45 am Israel Schwartz, see's a man walk up to & argue with Stride. Then throw her to the ground.(very immportant witness IMHO) 1-00am, Louis Diemschutz, steward at the International Workmans Club, discovers Strides body.

1 -30am, a man is seen in Church Lane near Berner St (Reported in the "Star" 1st Oct). Washing his hands in a drinking fountain.

135-am J Lawende, J Levy & H Harris, See Catherine Eddowes talking with a man at the corner of Church Passage. 1-45 am the mutilated body of Eddowes is discovered in Mitre Sq, by PC881 Edward watkins of the city police.

2-55am, PC254 A Alfred Long, discovers a piece of Eddowes apron stained with blood & faecal matter in the entry to a staircase at 108-119,Wentworth Dwellings Goulston St. The words "The Juwes are the men that will not be blamed for nothing"are written in chalk on the edge of the doorway.

5-30am,the words are wiped off on Sir Charles Warren's express orders (another Warren obscuring evidence?)

1 Oct: The " Saucy Jack"postcard is received at the Central News Agency.

6 Oct: Elizabeth Stride is buried.

8 Oct: Catherine Eddowes is buried in an unmarked grave.

13 Oct: the East London Observer claims that Eddowes stated two days before
her death, that she knew the identity of JTR, & intended to claim the reward

NEXT, HORROR IN MILLERS COURT.

Don.
Very true! John Netly could have driven a coach & horses through the holes in her theory. Mr Knight's is an interesting case in it's self (very strange death,A high
ranking freemason said before he died "his light will go out very soon") but I
guess what with,JFK JTR,& 9-11 we have our hands full already. keep posting.

Excellent stuff Stephen,

I guess I read into these serial killers etc. from my father being a Homicide Det (Ret.)

Have you ever researched the Zodiac killer??

Ryan
Glad you like it! Yes I have had a look at Zodiac interesting similarity here with
an Italian serial killer il Monstro,please excuse my poor Italian. My Wife has
devised an interesting theory onZodiac which I will post when iv'e finished
JTR chronology(Great ballistic stuff on JFK by the way you & Al Carrier ROCK!)

Whitechapel Chronology Contiued.

8 Nov:

During the evening, Joe Barnett Fish porter, visits Mary Jane Kelly at Millers court for the last time, leaving at around 8-00pm. At 11-45 Mary is seen by Mary Anne Cox A widow of 5 Millers Court, coming home with a "livid faced man with a carrotty moustache"

9 Nov:

1-00am: Mrs Cox hears Mary singing in her room.

2-00am: George Hutchinson, on his way to Flower & Dean St see's Kelly & strikes up a conversation. She walk's off toward Thrawl St, & is joined by a man whom Hutchinson observes very closely (very immportant witness IMO). Kelly & the man disappear into Millers Court.

2-30am: Sarah Lewis laundress,o f Millers Court, sees Kelly with a man (presumably Hutchinson).

4-00am: Sarah hears a single loud scream of "MURDER".

4-00am: Elizabeth Prater, living above Kelly hears a cry of "MURDER".

8-30am: Caroline Maxwell see's & speaks to Kelly (highly disputed testimony) at the corner of Millers Court. Kelly says she has the "horrors of drink on her" (alocoholic shakes.)

10-00am: Maurice Lewis, tailor of Dorset St "sees Kelly drinking in the Britannia Public House in Commercial St (highly DT).

10-45am: Thomas Bowyer retired soldier, collecting rent for landlord, John Mcarthy, dicovers Kellys terribly mutilated body.

12 Nov: The Kelly inquest opens.

19 Nov: Mary Jane Kelly Is buried in Walthamstow, over 200,000 people line the route many openly weeping,

NEXT "OTHER RELATED FACTS".

Whitechapel Murders Other significant facts

17 Jan,The Star a new radical newspaper is founded.

3 April 1888 Emma Smith,45 Widow,of Spitalfields, is assaulted & raped with a
blunt instrument

4 april Emma dies of peritonitis. Oswald Puckridge trained as a surgeon but
confined since threatening to "rip people up" is releasedfrom Colney Hatch
asylum.

28 aug, Annie Chapman confined to spitalfields workhouse.

11 Sept, John Pizer, is charged with indecent assault. Questioned about
Nichols murder, he is later released without charge.

14 Nov,Micheal Ostrog (suspect)is convicted of theft in Paris.

17 Nov Nikaner Benelius (suspect) is questioned in relation to Liz Strides
murder. no charges are brought.


31 Dec, John Druitt,s (suspect) body is found in the Thames.He has commited
suicide.

17 July,1889 Alice Mckenzie is found murdered in castle alley her throat cut
abdomen & genitals mutilated.

13 feb 1891, Frances Coles is found dying her throat has been slashed.

END OF CHRONOLOGY.
My next post will be to examine victims & witnesess in depth including
examination of wounds ect I warn you it's not for the faint hearted.

FIRST CANONICAL VICTIM MARY ANNE NICHOLS (1845-88)


Commonly known as Polly,she was born on 26 Aug 1845. She was the daughter
of Edward Walker & wife Caroline

Mary Anne married William Nichols in 1864.They had 5 children, but the
relationship did not last because of a brief affair by William, & mary's love
of the bottle.
By the time of her death she was working as a prostitute in Whitechapel.

THE MURDER.

30 AUGUST 1888,11pm
Mary seen walking in Whitechapel Rd
31 August 12-30am
She is seen leaving the "Frying Pan" public house
1-20am She is sat in the kittchen of the common lodging house at 18, Thrawl St
She did not possess the 4 pence needed for a bed,& is thrown out. She claimed
she would soon get her doss money,saying "see what a jolly bonnet ive got.

2-30am, She was seen by, Emily Holland at the corner of Osborn St & Brick lane. Nichols was extremely drunk & leaning against a wall.

3-15am PC John Thain passed the entrance to Bucks Row on his beat. at a
similar time,PC John Neil,walked down Bucks Row.neither of them saw anything suspicious.

3-40am Charles Cross,was walking along Bucks row when he saw somthing lying in the street.he thought it was a sheet, & crossed the road to see if he could
salvage it.He soon realised it was the body of a woman,lying on her back,with
her hands by her sides.her legs were extended & her eyes wide open.

THE POST MORTEM.

1 Sept 1888 10am
Dr Llewllyn made a full post-mortem examination of Mary Nichols. A bruise on
the right side of her face looked as if it was created by the pressure of a thumb.
This was a recent injury,which lead the doctor to sumise that the killer had
steadied Mary's head before slitting the throat. there were 2 cuts in the throat,
both started on the leftside of the neck below the ear & ran below the jaw, one
4 inches 7 the other 8 inches in length. both cuts reached through to the
vertebrae. the large vessels on both sides of the neck were severed.
Aknife had been thrust into the lower part of the abdomen,creating a very
deep wound.There were several more cuts across the genital area.
All the cuts were caused by the same weapon,& the killer was left handed
& appeared to have a rough anatomical knowledge.
,

THE SECOND CANONICAL VICTIM ANNIE CHAPMAN (1841-88)

SECOND CANONICAL VICTIM ANNE(dark annie) CHAPMAN (1841-88)

Anne Chapman was born in Paddington in 1841,her parents were Geo &
Ruth Smith. She married John chapman,a Coachman, in 1869 & had three
children. the relationship had broken down by 1881,due to Annie's heavy
drinking.by the time of her death she was residing at, Crossinghams
lodging house 35, Dorset St, Spitalfields. & was working as a hawker, &
prostitute.

THE MURDER.

7 Sept 5pm ,Annie is seen by Amelia Palmer in Dorset St (very drunk.)

8 SEpt 21-12am She was seen by William Stevens in the kitchen of her lodging
house (by now roaring drunk.)

1-35am, Seen by John Evans the nightwatchman at crossinghams. He evicted
her asshe had no money for her doss.

3-30am-5-30am All the following people were in the vicinity of Hanbury St
(the murder site) at these times, none heard or saw
anything suspicious.Mr Thompson a Carman, Mr John
Richardson Market trader, Mr Albert Cadosh,Carpenter,


5-30am Elizabeth Long,saw a man and woman standing on the pavement.she
could not see the mans face, but she later identified the woman as
Annie Chapman.The man asked Annie will you?,& Chapman replied,
yes.

5-45am Butcher John Davis, finds Annies mutilated body in the back yard of,29,
Hanbury St, her left arm was placed across her left breast. her face
was covered in blood, & her throat had been slashed. Her clothing was
up to her abdomen.

NEXT THE POST MORTEM.

POST-MORTEM OF ANNE CHAPMAN ( 8 Sept 1888 ).

Dr Phillips performed the P/M.

Dr Phillips observed that the face & tongue were swollen,& that the throat had
been sliced from left to right thru to the spine.
There was a fresh bruise over the right temple, & a bruise on the left eyelid.
The abdomen was laid open & the intestines had been severed, lifted out,
& placed on the ground above the right shoulder.
The uteris with the upper portion of the vagina & two thirds of the bladder,
had been completely removed from the body & the murder site.
Phillips asserted that the killer had some anotomical knowledge,stating that
he could not have performed all of the injuries himself in less than 15 mins
The murder weapon was a knife with a sharpe, thin, blade at least 6-8 inches
long. Phillips further surmised that the murderer strangled chapman to death
before making the first cut into the neck.


NEXT "LONG LIZ"

Any visitors to this thread please feelfree to make comments, suggestions,
ask questions etc. I want a real lively debate over this case. Later I shall
post my own theories (a few surprises I promise you.)
Thanks ,Steve.

Good research, well presented.
I read the Prince Jack paperback, and a pretty scathing examination of Prince Jack. So I am open to a more solidly based theme. What do you all think of the Duke of Clarence theme? Is it totally debunked or still a contender? The weaknesses and fictions in the paperbaack were fairly obvious, but the tie in with the letter and the royal tutor?

(it has been a few years)

I do feel that there was some kind of Royal involvement in the Ripper murders, though I am unsure about the exact nature of that involvement. I think that either the Duke of Clarence (Prince Eddy) himself may have been the Ripper (as postulated in "Prince Jack"), or he may have been connected via his tutor James Stephen, who was a strange and interestting character (his poetry was laced with really obscene and violent passages about females). I tend more towards the Stephen Knight thesis, however, which theorized that Freemasonry played a hand in the killings, and maintained there were a trio of killers, with Royal surgeon Sir William Gull the actual murderer. "Jack The Ripper:The Final Solution" is still my favorite work on the subject, although I know that most Ripperologists don't share my view, and have tended to dismiss any allegations about the Royal family. Of course, that only tends to make naturally suspicious guys like me believe it a little more strongly.

Shanet & Don
James Kenneth Stephen was roped in for entertainment value, William Gull,
Walter sickert, & John Netley were emphatically not Britain's Watergate,more
Ripperology's Piltdown Men. Prince Eddy, who was in Yorkshire & Scotland
on the dates of the murders,proved an irresistible soap opera lure because
he was royalty. The Ripper suspects must be viewed in a harsh light, when we
look at them in nitty-gritty terms, you will find that virtually all of them(Ostrog
Kosminski,Stephenson,Chapman,Maybrick etc) are flights of fancy.

I belive the answer's are much simpler, and later I will present evidence against
the MURDERERS,of three of the woman.Namely Turner/Tabram,Stride,& Kelly.
Thank's for your interest. Steve.

THE THIRD CANONICAL VICTIM ELIZABETH "LONG LIZ "STRIDE (1843-88)

Elizabeth Stride,was born near Gothenburg, Sweden in 1843. Her father
was Gustaf Ericsson a farmer, & her Mother was Beata. On 25 April 1865
she gave birth to a still born girl, & was twice treated for venereal disease.

In 1866 she moved to London,& married John Stride,there was no issue
John Stridedied in 1884. Liz then lived with one Michael Kidney A dockside
labourer for roughly three years from 1885.

During 1887-88 Stride had eight D & D charges at thames Magistrates Court.
On 27 sept, Stride took up lodgings at 32, Flower & Dean St after leaving Kidney
on 25 Sept. Her main income at this time was from prostitution.

THE MURDER.

29 Sept 6-30pm, She was seen in the Queen's Head public house, Commercial
St, by Elizabeth Tanner,deputy of Stride's common lodging house. They drank
together then walked back to the lodging house.

7-8pm, seen by Charles Preston, a Barber, & Catherine Lane a cleaner at 32
Flower & Dean St.

11-pm,two labourers J Best & J Gardner, saw a woman they belived to be
Stride,outside the, Bricklayers Arms in Settle St. Stride was with a man
(description 5ft 5ins, smartly dressed in black suit & black hat,with a
thick moustache) Best teased the couple, saying the man was "Leather
Apron".

11-12pm, Mathew Packer, claimed to have sold grapes to the couple (much
disputed testimony.)

11-45pm William Marshall, was standing outside his lodgings at 64, Berner St
He saw a man & woman outside, the couple kissed & the man
remarked "You would say anything but your prayers" They then
headed in the direction of Dutfields Yard.(description 5ft 6ins well
dressed, dark clothing, middle aged.)

30 Sept 12-30am,Walking his beat PC, William Smith observed a man & woman
in Berner St. (description 5ft 7in 30-35 years old, dark
moustache, wearing a black coat dark hat, white collar & tie
& carrying paper parcel 18 ins long 6-8 ins wide.)

12-45am, Israel Schwartz,walked passed the gates of the,International Workmen's
Club in Berner St. he saw a man stop & talk to a woman who was
standing in the gateway.(description 5ft 5 ins dark jacket, dark hat
light moustache,) he tried to pull the woman into the street,she
screamed and he threw her to the ground. Schwartz later identified
Stride's body as the woman he saw.

1-00am, Louis Diemschutz Steward of the Berner St club, noticed a small heap on
the ground. he prodded it then descended & lit a match. It was the body
of a woman. he ran to the club to get help. once outside they could see
blood by the body. her right arm was over her belly,her hands & Wrists
were covered with blood,& her throat was cut. At this point two men
hurried off to find a constable.


NEXT LIZ STRIDES POST MORTEM
.

POST-MORTEM OF ELIZABETH STRIDE.

1stOct,3pm, Dr Phillips & Dr Blackwell conducted.

They found a long gash in Strides throat,a clean incision from left to right
about six inches in length. There were no other cuts or marks to suggest
strangulation. There were however pressure marks on both shoulders,
under the collar bones.

Both doctors agreed that cause of death had been haemorrhage resulting from the
severance of the LEFT carotid artery. This injury could have been inflicted in
seconds.

Contrary to a few histrionic newspaper reports, Stride was not clutching
grapes in her hand when she was killed. and no residue was found in her stomach
at P/M.


NEXT "DOUBLE EVENT" CATHERINE EDDOWES

FORTH CANONICAL VICTIM CATHERINE EDDOWES (1842-88)

Catherine Eddowes was born in Wolverhampton in 1842. Her father was
George Eddowes,a tinplate worker, Mother Catharine.
Between 1861-1863 she lived with Thomas Conway,who was a pensioned
soldier (18th Royal Irish Reg). At sometime in 1881 they seperated &
Catherine had custody of her Daughter Annie. For the past Seven Years
she had lived withJohn Kelly,a porter,loding at 55 Flower & Dean St.

THE MURDER.

27 Sept,Eddowes & Kelly returned to London, after several months hop
picking in Kent.
29 Sept 10-11am,Eddowes was turned out of the casual ward,& went to
flower & Dean St to see Kelly.

2pm, The couple parted company in Houndsditch,Eddowes going off
in search of money.

8-30 pm,PC Louis Robinson & PC George Simmons took Eddowes to
Bishopegate Police Station because she had been drunkenly
causing a disturbance by imitating a fire engine.

8-50pm, PC Robinson looked in on her. She was asleep & stunk of
alcohol.

12-55 am, A relatively sober Eddowes is brought up from the cells. When
Discovered the time,she tells PC Hunt,"I shall get a damn
fine hiding when I get home" He reply's "serves you right".

1-00am (The time Liz Stride was discovered in Berner St) Eddowes leaves
the Station crying "All right. "Goodnight old cock"These were her
last recorded words.

1-30am, PC Edward Watkins passes by Mitre Square. He doesnt see
anything suspicious.

1-34am, Joseph Lawende, Joseph Hyam Levy,& Harry Harris,left the
Imperial Club at 16-17 Dukes place. They saw a man and
woman talking. Lawende & Levy later identified Eddowes
cloths as those worn by the woman they saw(Description of
suspect. 5ft 8ins about 30 years old,dark coloured jacket
and hat,fair complection,

1-40 am PC James Harvey reaches the entrance to mitre square, but
does not enter.

1-45am, PC Edward Watkins enters Mitre square, & discovers the body of
Catherine Edowes in the southwest corner of the square, lying
on her back in a pool of blood. her throat was cut. her cloths
were above her waist, herstomach was ripped open, & her b
bowels were protruding.


NEXT "THE GOULSTON STREET GRAFITTI"

Greetings!
Before I post on the grafitti,I should like to pose a question to members,
about the "Double Event". As an aide to memory here is a time-line
of events.

ELIZABETH STRIDE.

6-30pm,Stride visits Queen's Head,Dorset St. (Witness Liz Tanner.)
7-00pm, At Lodging House,F & Dean St (C. Preston & C.Lane )
7-00-11-00pm,Movements unknown.
11-00pm, Drinking with man in, Bricklayers Arms. (J. Best & J. Gardner.)
11-45pm, At 63 Berner St with a man. ( W. Marshall.)
12-30am, Outside Workmans club corner Commercial St (PC Smith )
12-35am, Walking past club, M Eagle(Witness) see's nothing suspicious.
12-45am Outside Club, being attacked by two men? one of the men shouts
"Lipski" at witness, I. Schwartz.
1-00am, L. Diemschultz discovers Strides body, inside court-yard of Berner
St Club.

CATHARINE EDDOWES.

2-00-8-00pm, Movements unknown.
8-30pm, Arrested by, PC Robinson, D&D in Aldgate High St.
12-55am, Released from protective custody,Bishopgate P/Station
(Witness PC G Hunt.)
1-30am, PC Watkins, passes though Mitre Sq, see's nothing suspicious.
1-35am, Seen by Lawende, Levy, & Harris at the entrance to Mitre Sq.
1-40am, PC Harvey arrives at entrance to, MItre Sq. He see's ntohing
suspicous.
1-45am,Body discovered by, PC Watkins in Mitre Sq.

And now the question. You will observe that the killer had between 12-45am
to 1-00am,to have inflicted further injuries to Stride, other than the cut to
the Carotid Artery, in all the other murders much more damage was done
to the victims, yet he breaks his M/O & walks three quarters of a mile,with
the Police hard at his heals, finda another victim, kills her, inflicts the
multiple wounds that he did not on Stride.Leaves part of her blood soaked
apron in Goulston St, and disappears into the mist. Does this scenario
make any sence if the same person killed both women?

THE GOULSTON STREET GRAFITTI.

2-55am, PC Long passed though Goulston St for the second time on his
beat. He saw a piece of bloody apron on the floor of a stairway
leading to 108-119, Wentworth Model Dwellings, Goulston St. the
peice of ripped material matched the apron worn by Catharine
Eddowes. Above the material was a message written in white chalk
"THE JUWES ARE THE MEN THAT WILL NOT BE BLAMMED FOR
NOTHING" There has been a great deal of dispute over the meaning
of the message, Because it is not clear whether the Jews should be
blamed oe excluded from the murders, or whether the word JUWES
even means Jews. The message was seen by many as the rippers
calling card,But it could well have beenon the wall for days

The message was conected with the murders, because it seemed
to be a comment on the rise in Anti-Semitism during the Whitechapel
murders. There is no photographic record of the evidence, because
Sir Charles Warren ordered it to be erased,this was done at 5-30am
with the hope of preventing further Anti- Semitism. The piece of
apron was given to DR Phillips at Golden Lane Mortuary. it was the
only physical clue ever left by Jack.

NEXT, THE POST-MORTEM OF CATHARINE EDDOWES.

POST-MORTEM OF CATHARINE EDDOWES.

BY DR BROWN, OBSERVED BY DR SEQUEIRA.

There was a cut of one quarter inch through the left lower eyelid,
the right eyelid was cut through. There was a deep cut over the
bridge of the nose down to the angle of the jaw (right side).The
tip of the nose was sliced off

The throat was slit across the gash about 6-7 ins in length. The
larynx was severed below the vocal chords.

The cause of death was Haemorrhage from the left common
carotid artery.

The front walls of the abdomen were laid open from the breast
bone to the pubes. There was an incision into the liver of 2-3 Ins.
There was a stab on the left side of the groin, and an incision about
3 Ins below this.

The pancreas was cut but not removed. the left kidney was taken out
and removed by the killer. The womb was cut through horizontally
and taken away with some of the ligaments

Dr Brown surmised that the victim must have been lying on the ground
when the wounds were inflicted. & all the injuries were performed by a
sharpe pointed knife,6 Ins in length.


NEXT "DEAR BOSS- FROM HELL" YOURS TRULY JACK THE RIPPER.

Before I post on the ripper letters, lets see if we can get a debate
going. Of the four victims posted so far, I belive one can almost
certainly be atributed to a second murderer. Care to speculate on
which.( There's a rather large clue in post #23). Good luck.

I think you must be talking about Elizabeth Stride. Conventional wisdom has had it that the Ripper was interrupted just after he'd begun his grisly work, and thus didn't finish the job according to his usual standards. This murder was the only one with a reliable witness who reported seeing the victim in a suspicious interaction with someone (in this case, a physical altercation with two men) just prior to being killed. Of course, the fact that the witness reported seeing two men together has led some to speculate that this is evidence of more than one person being involved in the murders. Who knows? Thanks for posting all this good stuff.

Don.
Thanks for your continued interest.

SPOT ON MY MAN, I belive Liz Stride was murdered by one of the men
Schartz see's her with. Ifurther belive that I can name her killer. & hope
to do so,BEYOND RESONABLE DOUBT. But as in all good soap opera's
I'll leave it there for now. anyone else care to comment? Have a good
Easter Don. Now " FROM HELL ".

FROM HELL " YOURS TRULY JACK THE RIPPER."

27th Sept 1888,The central news agency recieved a letter from someone
who called himself " Jack the Ripper." This was the first time the
nickname was used, & it soon replaced " Leather Apron "

The letter which started " Dear Boss "was written in red ink as the writer
could not use blood because it went, " thick like glue." The writer
mocked the police investigation,& then stated that he was " down on
whores " & would not stop " ripping" them until he was " buckled." He
proudly asserts that he gave the last one no time to " squeal " & said
that he intended to clip the next victims ears off & send them to the police,
" just for jolly ".He requested that the letter be "kept back " until he had
done "a bit more work ".It was signed "Yours truly/ Jack the Ripper".

1st Oct, the day after the " double event "a postcard ,which was apparently
bloodstained, was sent to the CNA from "JACK THE RIPPER" .It told the
agency that they would hear about a "double event". Caused by "Saucy
Jack"on the following day. He wrote that the first victim" (Liz Stride.)
"squealed a bit "& that he could not kill her immediately. He did not have
time to get the victims ears for the police. He then thanked the agency
for holding back the letter until he had killed again.


NEXT " I SEND YOU HALF THE KIDNE" (Sic).

Stephen and Don

Just got back from offline. Will send comments soon. Great thread, people are reading it, I am sure, so don't get discouraged....so Clarence was a false trail, I thought so...more later

Shanet

Shanet, Hi,

Dont be concerned about me becoming discouraged,I've chased
this case for the last 20 years( At times much to my wife's displeasure)

I joined this Forum because of the high standard of debate,around
the JFK case,very impressive! & I wished to subject my own research
in JTR, to the same level's of open debate.My next post's will be about
1,The "Kidney" letter to George Lusk.2,The "New Journalism" and the
Ripper case 3,The terrible death of Mary Jane Kelly 4,A psychological
examination of the killer/ killers.

I belive that even after nearly 120 years, certain elements of this most
perplexing case are solvable. We must let the evidence SPEAK.

Oh! by the way,it was'nt Lee Harvey Oswald. Thank's for your continued
interest.
Steve.

THE "LUSK" LETTER.

At 5pm on the 16th of Oct 1888,George Lusk, Chairman of the
Whitechapel vigilance committee, received a letter and a small
cardboard box wrapped in brown paper. The letter was addressed
"From Hell" & read, "Mr Lusk Sor (sic), I send you half the kidne(sic)
I took from one woman prasarved (sic) it for you, tother(sic) piece
I fried and ate, it was very nise(sic) I may send you the bloody
knif(sic) that took it out if you wate(sic) a wile(sic) longer.
Signed Catch me when you can Mishter(sic) Lusk sor(sic)

The small box contained a Kidney!!!

This was examined by Dr Thomas Openshaw of the pathological
museum, London Hospital. Dr Openshaw belived that it was half
of a left human kidney,but could not say how long it had been
removed from the body, or whether it originally came from a
woman.

NEXT THE RIPPER & THE NEW JOURNALISM.

Before I move on a quick question to members,(especially educators)
Do you notice anything strange about the spelling mistakes in the above
letter. Do they seem consistant to you? or perhaps how an educated
person imagines how an illiterate person spells?

THE RIPPER & THE RISE OF "NEW JOURNALISM.

Victorian newspapers pace 1886, would be unrecognisable today. no
headlines or photographs, just row upon row of tightly spaced print.
They catered almost exclusively to the upper middle classes, and
centered upon Westminster politics,with very little Editorial comment.
Political speeches would often be reported word for word.

Newspapers then were not primarilycommercial, there owners often
cautious, well educated, wealthy men, who had little or no interest
in challenging the existing social order.

The father of "New Journalism" was, WT Stead, Editor of the radical
"Pall Mall Gazette". The key feature of New Journalism was not
sensation seeking,(although this approach was used unstintingly)
But commercialisation, it ran it's sensations as it ran everything else,
by the bottom line. As H. Harris Editor of the "Tatler" said "I always
aim my stories at 14 year olds,kissing,& fighting were all I cared for
at that age,& this is what the Public cares for & enjoys today.I say
never overestimate your customers,& watch circulation increase"
New Journalism,was a combination of,racier stories,shorter paragraphs
investigation,sensationalism,exageration,screaming headlines, a large
typeface & a gossipy style of reporting.(known today as"dumbing down")
But above all there was a desire not just to report the news, but to help
make it though Campaigns.

These "campaigns" were often started by reporters sending letters to
their own paper under a false name,demanding that something be done
about the latest scandel. As can be imagined "The Ripper was a Godsend
to this kind of muck-raking journalism. It was sensationalism,sex,hysteria,
murder & sentimentality all rolled into one, & circulations went through
the roof,& every time a letter was printed yet more readers were created.

Read those three letters again, are they not everything the press wanted
"Jack" to be,sly, cunning,taunting,aggresive, & above all the perfect name
JACK THE RIPPER, to perfect?

"THIS WAS'NT THE WORK OF A MAN, BUT A DEVIL"( Thomas Bower )

THE TERRIBLE DEATH OF MARY JANE KELLY.

The youngest of the victims,at the time of her death Mary jane Kelly
was 25 years old and 5ft, 7ins tall she had long blond hair, blue eye's
& a fair complection.

THE MURDER.

8th Nov,7-30pm, Visited by Joe Barnett ex boyfreind.
11-45pm Seen by Mary Anne Cox, entering Dorset st with a man
Description"30-35 years old stout biuld moustache, long overcoat
hat, carrying a pail of beer. Mrs Cox belived Mary was "In her cups"
12-00pm Cox hears Kelly singing.
1-00am according to Cox Kelly still singing.
2-00am, George Hutchinson, a labourer,meets kelly at flower & Dean st
she asks him for a loan, but Hutchinson has no money.Kelly says "Well
I must find some money George, & go's off in the direction of Thrawl st,
where she meets a man.Hutchinson hears the pair laugh,then kelly say
"All right". The man reply's"You willbe alright for what I have said" They
then walk back passed Hutchinson to Millers Court.
Description, 5ft 6ins 35 years old, heavy moustache, dark eyes, dark complection
soft felt hat, long dark overcoat, black necktie with horseshoe pin, a
massive gold watch chain with red jewel encrustment.
Hutchinson waited for an hour (until 3-00am) but the man does not come
out from Kellys abode.

4-00am Elizabeth Prater living upstairs from Kelly, hears a cry of "Oh
murder" As this is a common occurance she does not investigate.
10-45am,Thomas bower, visits Kelly to try & get some long overdue
rent. On getting no reply he looks though the window & sees a sight that
will haunt him for the rest of his days. Kellys mutilated corpse lays on the
bed, & parts of her body decorate the room!!!


NEXT THE POST MORTEM OF MARY JANE KELLY.

POST MORTEM OF MARY JANE KELLY.

PRESENT,Dr Phillips,Dr Bond & Dr Brown.

Date 10,Nov Time 9-45am.

FINDINGS.

The face had been cut in all directions & the nose, cheeks, eyebrows &
ears were partly removed. The lips were removed & several incisions
cut though the chin. The neck was cut though to the spinal column.
Both breasts were removed by rough circular incisions,& the skin &
tissues of the abdomen were removed in three large flaps. The right
thigh was cut to the bone,the left thigh had all skin flayed off with
musculature to the knee. the lower part of the right lung was ripped
& torn away. THE HEART HAD BEEN REMOVED & TAKEN FROM THE
CRIME SCENE.

NEXT OFFENDERS PROFILE OF JACK THE RIPPER

APPLYING 21st CENTURY TECHNIQUES TO THE CASE.

Those of us out here are still reading! You were aking if education professionals would comment on the rippers handwriting. FWIW My mother taught Psy. at Hutchinson community J.C. and mentioned several times that it seemed an attempt to mimic a person with limited education.

Mitchell.
I have not abandoned the project,just took a few days off to post
on the JFK threads,which was my initial reason for joining this forum.
Over the next week I shall attempt to "profile" the ripper,any comments
from yourself,or other forum members would be much appreciated.

Your Mom sounds like a smart Lady.If you read my post on the rise
of new journalism, you can probably make an educated guess as to
where im heading on this. Thanks for your interest.

Steve.

OFENDER PROFILE OF THE WHITECHAPEL MURDERS.

As a first step lets sort the primary characteristics of offenders into two types

ORGANISED / UNORGANISED
1,average/above average 1,Below average intelligence.
intelligence
2,Socially competant. 2,Socially inadequate.
3,Skilled worker 3, Unskilled.
4,Sexually competant 4, Incompetant.
5,High in order of birth. 5,Low in order.
6,Fathers employment stable 6,F/E Unstable.
7,Low child disipline. 7, Harsh disipline.
8,Controlled mood during 8,Suffers anxiety during
crime
9,Alocohol use during crime 9,Minimal use.
10, lives with partner. 10, Lives alone.
11,Good mobility, 11, Lives near crime scene.

This uses the "Quantico" profile system,pioneered by Robert Ressler
of the FBI, & a system of mine, which relies on the following points.

1, Organisation 2,Crime scene 3,Method 4, Victim 5, Time 6, Witnesess
7, Unkown. Now lets look at the murders & try to profile " Jack"

1, POLLY NICHOLLS.
1(Organisation) This killing bears all the hallmarks of the organised offender.
Quick dispatch of victim, own weapon used, no material clues left at scene,
& a trophy taken from the victim. (a ring).
2,(Crime scene) -Bucks Row- Quite, poorly lit, Victim possibly killed out of
sight, behind the gates of a board school.
3,( Method) Bruising to throat (Thumb marks?) Two deep slashes to neck,
victimwas disembowled, Left handed killer, Short bladed pointed knife.
4,( Victim) Female, 5ft 2ins 45 looked younger,dark hair, delicate features
front teeth missing, heavy drinker, living at lodging houes 18 Thrawl St
working as a prostitute.
5,(Time) Murdered between 3-4 am 30 August 1888, A Friday.
6,(Witnesess) None.
7,( Unknown) Exact time of death, were marks to throat made by killer
was killer known to victim, was body moved after murder.
PERPETRATOR, Male, age 20-40 yrs, strong , organised attack, left handed,
calm approach, worked/ lived locally, possibly knew victim, no attempted
rape, WEAPON, Short bladed strong, pointed knife. No apparant knowlege
of anatomy.
NEXT CRIME PROFILES OF ANNIE CHAPMAN, LIZ STRIDE & CATH EDDOWES.

2, ANNIE CHAPMAN.

1,(Organisation) This killing contains elements of both types. Trophy
taking,Rings,organised. Removal of body parts,Unorganised. Swift
attack-heavy mutilation, Organised. Leaving clues? Unorganised.

2,(Crime scene) Hanbury St, murder took place in the back yard
of number 29. Poorly lit, secluded.

3,(Method) Signs of strangulation, Throat cut though to spine,
Multiple mutilations to body,Right handed killer ? Long 6ins thin
bladed knife.

4(victim) Woman,47yrs, 5ft tall, Dark,Heavy biuld, teeth missing,
Alcoholic. Living at Crossinghams lodging house 35 Dorset st,
work selling flowers, Prostitution.

5,(Time) Difficult to say,Dr Phillips estimate, 4-30am Saturday
8th Sept, 1888.

6,(Witnesess) Mrs Long.

7(Unknown) Exact time of death, was killer known to victim, were
mutilations post mortem,?
PERP, (Witness Mrs Long) Male, 5ft -5ins, Shabby dress,
Organised/Unorganised attack, right handed? No attempted rape,
Weapon thin ,long bladed, knife. Some knowlege of anatomy(Dr Phillips)

NEXT ELIZABETH STRIDE.

Stephen,

Sorry for the brief interruption. Great storybook concept. Couple of things:

1. If you're including the Emma Smith murder, as some do, then you're exonerating Oswald Puckridge. I'm inclined to think you're making him up as I've never heard of him, but everything else in your story checks out so I guess you're just throwing him in as a red herring---unless you exclude the Smith murder OR you have him as the second killer, which I fear you do.

2. I'll reveal who I believe it was after your dissertation.

Please continue the ripping yarn....................

Mark, welcome.

I decided to begin by looking at the accepted (canonical) victims.
Nichols, Chapman, Stride, Eddowes & Kelly.Later I shall include
other woman who have been linked to this case. Smith, Tabram,
Coles & Mckenzie.

Mr Puckridge was a real person( Damn Oswalds get everywhere)
Sir charles Warren sent a progress report to the Home Office naming
three suspects on 19th Sept, and Ossie was one. More on him
later.

keep posting, Steve.

Ps What do you make of the ripper letters???

I suppose while were on the subject!!!!

Although Puckridge was an actual suspect, and therefore must be
investigated. I tend to discount him. Lets see what history tells us about
him. Oswald Puckridge had trained at the London Hospital in surgery.
In early 1888 friends, & colleagues became increasingly concerned
about his behavior, late night wanderings, hearing voices in his head,
and most worrying, threats to "Rip people up".He is commited to
Colney Hatch Psychiatric hospital in Febuary, discharged in August.

So why do I discount him? Take any serial killer of the last 50 years,
when they are finally captured everybody says "I cant belive it, he was
such a quite man, loved his wife etc, etc. Serial killers tend almost to
a man (a white man) to be Psycopaths, not Psychotics.

NEXT LONG LIZ.

I suppose while were on the subject!!!!

Although Puckridge was an actual suspect, and therefore must be
investigated. I tend to discount him. Lets see what history tells us about
him. Oswald Puckridge had trained at the London Hospital in surgery.
In early 1888 friends, & colleagues became increasingly concerned
about his behavior, late night wanderings, hearing voices in his head,
and most worrying, threats to "Rip people up".He is commited to
Colney Hatch Psychiatric hospital in Febuary, discharged in August.

So why do I discount him? Take any serial killer of the last 50 years,
when they are finally captured everybody says "I cant belive it, he was
such a quite man, loved his wife etc, etc. Serial killers tend almost to
a man (a white man) to be Psycopaths, not Psychotics.

NEXT LONG LIZ.

While were on the subject!!



Although Puckridge was an actual suspect, and therefore must be
investigated. I tend to discount him. Lets see what history tells us about
him. Oswald Puckridge had trained at the London Hospital in surgery.
In early 1888 friends, & colleagues became increasingly concerned
about his behavior, late night wanderings, hearing voices in his head,
and most worrying, threats to "Rip people up".He is commited to
Colney Hatch Psychiatric hospital in Febuary, discharged in August.

So why do I discount him? Take any serial killer of the last 50 years,
when they are finally captured everybody says "I cant belive it, he was
such a quite man, loved his wife etc, etc. Serial killers tend almost to
a man (a white man) to be Psycopaths, not Psychotics.

NEXT LONG LIZ.

3, ELIZABETH STRIDE.

1,(Organisation) A clasic controlled attack( Raptor) Victim is overwelmed
by sudden savage attack. Killer leaves scene immediately, no clues left.

2,(Crime scene) Berners St, inside yard of International Workingmans
club. well lit area,over 100 people in close proximity.

3, (Method) Bruising to both shoulders, deep cut to throat,about 6ins
in length, no mutilations, right handed killer indicated,short bladed
knife.

4, ( Victim) Woman 44 years old,5ft 9ins, light complection & hair
slim build, heavy drinker. Living at common lodging house Flower
& Dean St, working as a prostitute.


5,(Time) 12-45-1-00am Satuday 30thsept 1888.

6(Witnesess) J Gardner, J Best, A Marshall, I Schartz.

7,(Unknown) Was killer known to victim. What was Liz doing in Berner St
not a known place for prostitutes & clients.
PERP, (Description Schartz) Male 30 years, brown moustache, brown hair,
fair complextion, dark jacket & trousers, peaked cap.
Right handed, no attepted rape, Weapon short sharp knife.

Before I move on to profile the murder of Catharine Eddowes, I would like
to examine in more detail some interesting aspects of the Liz Stride murder.

THE MURDER SITES

1,Stride-Dutfields yard, well lit, close to a busy club.

2,Nicholls-Bucks row, poorly lit quite street with few pedestrians

3, Chapman-Hanbury St, a quite dark backyard.

4, Eddowes-Mitre Sq, dark enclosed square with dark entrances.

5, Kelly-Millers Court, single room in a quiet court off Dorset St.

Stride was murdered in a well lit, busy area, the other sites were quieter,
and poorly lit, areas the killer knew there was little chance of discovery.

It must also be accepted, due to p/m evidence that:

1, Stride was on her back when killed, face upwards:

2, The killer was to the left of the body, on Strides right side:
(The blood flowed away from her murderer )

3, Face held in the left hand. (Bruise to right jaw Thumb print)

4, Weapon held in right hand.

We have a right handed killer who doe's not, mutilate the body despite
having 15 mins in which to do so,(Schartz-Diemschultz) and chooses
a well lit, busy area in which to do his grizzly work.

Obviously different M/O= different killer?????????

Stephen,

It's a big jump. The killer changed his M/O anyway, with the murder of Kelly. All the "right handed-- left handed" stuff can be overestimated, IMO. Some of the doctor's reports contradicted each other. Also, the killer could have been
ambidextrous. The best rebuttal of your theory is, however, that if there were two killers it's even more strange that the case remained unsolved. Surely one of them would have been caught.

Mark.

Thanks for your continued interest. I dont belive ive posted a "theory"
for rebutal, just a few questions about the Stride murder scene.
Why no mutilation? there was time, but no! he leaves Stride, walks
three quarters of a mile, finds Eddowes, kills her, performs the mutilations
he could have inflicted on Stride, leaves and then writes a chalk message
in Ghoulston St, & all this whilst being hotly persued by the Police?

Do you feel that the case for Berner St being markedly differnt to the other
murder sights is well made?

I belive that the Police could have, & should have arrested Strides killer
the very next day. After all, he presents himself at the station at 8-00am
that morning!!!

Stephen,

Thanks for your reply. From memory, I thought the killer was disturbed(interrupted) during the Stride murder. Wasn't that borne out by the "JTR' letter? Not that I place any faith in them, probably 2 and maybe all 3 were fakes. Whoa! What's this? The killer presents himself at the station next morning? I'm all ears(and eyes)!. Personally, I believe the killer was one of the 3 mentioned in Anderson's(?) notes -- Kosminski, Druitt and Ostrog. In one of the books I read some years ago, there was a great description, IMO, of the killer. I'm going from memory here so I'm glad to be corrected as it probably won't be totally accurate.... a cop on the beat patrolling (maybe) Mitre Square gave a description of a man who walked hurriedly past him shortly before one of the victims was discovered. From memory he stated he was young - mid to late twenties - pale complexion, looked a bit dainty even but with blazing, wild eyes. The cop later regretted not questioning him.... Can you tell me who the cop was? It's one of the more obscure facts of the case and it's hard to dig up on the net.

Anyway, who was this contrite suspect? Is this widely documented or a new discovery?