Jack the Ripper
- Alexis Qualls
- Sep 29, 2019
- 4 min read
*Warning: This blog contains graphic photos and descriptions of violence. Read at your own discretion*
On August 31, 1888, Mary Nichols was found dead in the early morning in one of the many alleys of Whitechapel, a district located on the eastern end of London. Her throat was slashed, so much to the point that her head was nearly cut from her body. After more observation, it was also found that she had been disemboweled. This was the first of murders by the famous serial killer, Jack the Ripper.
Jack the Ripper, also known as the Whitechapel Murderer (since all his murders took place in Whitechapel) carried out a string of killings during what would later be called ‘The Autumn of Terror’ in 1888.
Jack the Ripper is a prevalent figure throughout pop culture due to the fact that his (or her) identity still remains unknown. The ripper’s ability to outsmart the police and the way he mutilated his victims has kept him a notorious murderer throughout history.
Although we do not know the identity of Jack the Ripper, modern psychologists can declare he had a mental disorder, and a hatred against prostitutes, or women in general. They were able to come to these conclusions due to the mutilations he left on women’s faces, trying to take their identity in death.
Although the Whitechapel murder file accounts 11 murders, police can only surely say that the Ripper had killed five. The five women were dubbed “the Canonical Five”, as they were part of the ‘Ripper Cannon’. They were all murdered during the early hours and during weekends.
The second victim was Annie Chapman, found dead in a backyard a little before 6 am on September 8, 1888, less than a mile away from Mary Nichols. Her throat had been severely cut as well as disemboweled, more or less like the previous victims. Although, unlike Mary Nichols, Annie’s intestines were thrown over both her shoulders and her womb had been removed.
Due to the speed and skill of which the womb was removed, it was theorized that the killer was someone with anatomical knowledge, such as butchers or doctors.
Although both Chapman’s and Nichols murders were very grotesque, they were far from over.
On September 30, 1888, the body of Elizabeth Stride was found at 1 AM in the yard by Louis Diemschutz next to a club. Since it was dark, Diemschutz had lit a match to get a better look at what he originally thought was a bundle of some sorts. Once he saw it was a woman, he went inside and notified everyone that there was either a drunk or dead woman outside.
Only minutes before, witness Isreal Schwartz had passed by the nearby street and saw Stride in a physical fight. Schwart had kept walking, with the belief in mind that it was domestic violence taking place, not a murder.
When the Stride’s body was examined, it was found that her throat had been slashed all the way to the spine. Due to the lack of mutilations, it’s believed that this was an ‘interrupted murder’. The theory is as Diemschutz had grown closer with his pony and cart, the Ripper drew farther into the yard, and had slipped away once Diemschutz had went inside to notify the club.
Less than an hour after Stride’s body was found, the body of another woman named Catherine Eddowes was found at 1:44 AM at Mitre Square (which was just a stone’s throw away from where Stride was found).
Eddowes had the same mutilations of the other victims (although her face appeared even more so disfigured). Perhaps one of the most horrifying though, was the fact that Eddowes’s left kidney had been removed. After being examined by a medical professional, they declared that the killer was most likely did not possess any anatomical knowledge.
The next day, after the night now named ‘The Double Murder’, police received the famous ‘Dear Boss’ letter. The letter mocks the police, and is signed ‘Jack the Ripper’. Theories then rose that it was in fact a hoax letter.
The public had then sent in hundreds of hoax letters, making it difficult to discern if in were in fact valid.
The "From Hell" letter was perhaps the letter taken most seriously, as well as the one believed the most authentic. The letter was addressed to George Lusk, a leader of a Whitechapel Vigilance Committee. It stated:
“From hell.
Mr Lusk,
Sir,
I send you half the Kidney I took from one women preserved it for you tother piece I fried and ate it was very nice. I may send you the bloody knife that took it out if you only wate a while longer
signed
Catch me when you can Mishter Lusk”
A kidney was included with the letter.
The final of the Canonical Five was Mary Kelley. She was found in her bedroom on November 9, 1888. She was virtually skinned down to the bone. The mutilations were so extensive and horrific, that she was only recognizable by her eyes and ears.
Despite never finding Jack the Ripper, there was no lack of suspects. From Aaron Kosminski, an insane polish immigrant, to Montague Druitt, an insane teacher with an interest surgery who disappeared and was found dead after the murders, to even Mary Pearcy, a woman who was convicted for killing her lover’s wife and child, there is a voluminous list of possible Ripper candidates.
Nevertheless, the Ripper remains to be one of the most famous stilled masked killer in history.
I greatly enjoyed the story. I have always found serial killers extremely interesting and so it was nice to learn some quick facts about Jack the Ripper. Very nice job finding information and typing it all in an organized and easy to read way. Very smooth read with really intriguing information.