Jack the Ripper is the worlds most infamous serial killer. He wasn't the first serial killer. But, he is the most infamous serial in the world. There are a few reasons why Jack the Ripper has remained the most infamous serial killer to this day. The biggest reason is his secret identity. We all love a good mystery. A good whodunnit. Jack the Ripper ticks those two boxes. Let's be honest, if we new who Jack the Ripper was, he would have probably long disappeared into historical obscurity. There is another good reason why Jack has remained as infamous as he is, and that is the setting. Like all good stories, the setting and back drop of a story is really important. It sets up the mood of the story. And gives the story its feeling. In this case, the backdrop of Victorian London. Victorian London has a sort of eerie feeling to it, especially the Whitechapel area. The thick fog. Gas lanterns. You get the picture.
The dates of the Jack the Ripper murders are interesting. Jack the Ripper murdered his victims either at the end of the month, or, at the beginning of the month.
Three of his victims were murdered at the end of the month. His first victim, Mary Ann-Nichols, was murdered on the 31st of August 1888. His third and forth victims were murdered on the 30th of September, 1888. This was the night of the Double Murder. Jack's second and last victims were killed at the start of the month. His second victim was murdered on the 8th of September, 1888. And his last, known, victim was murdered on the 9th of November, 1888. The dates of his murders doesn't suggest randomness, but seemed to follow a pattern. This has led some to speculate that Jack the Ripper must have been working during the week, as all of his murders took place on a; Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Indicating that he was busy during the week. Others have speculated that the ripper may have worked out of town. And was only in Whitechapel on occasion. Leading to the speculation that the culprit was amerchant seaman. Perhaps there are some other reasons that we don't know of. Such as the dates had an importance to Jack. Or, something else. Obviously it is hard to tell with not knowing who he was, or what his motivation was. Though the latter seems more obvious, a hatred of prostitutes for some reason.
9. No murders on October
Ironically Jack the Ripper never committed any murders in October. There was a few letters though, that the police received during the month of October, 1888.
We can only really guess why he did not commit any murder, or murders during the month of October. It could have been as simple as he was sick. It was Whitechapel London. It was an area of deep poverty, and riddled with diseases. If Jack did become ill during that month, it obviously wasn't life threatening. Perhaps he just decided to lay low. At this point in his murder spree, London was moreheavily patrolled. Perhaps he thought that he couldn't risk it. As he would be caught.
8. He probably wasn't insane
Jack was obviously a psychopath, but he wasn't insane. Just looking at the dates and times of his murders, it suggests that he was calculated in his approach to his murders.
To some degree, he seems to have planned his murders. If he was insane, his murders would have been more erratic, and out of place. He probably also would have been caught. He knew what he was doing. New when he was going to do it. And he new where he was going to do it. Therefore, we can rule out that the killings stopped because he was sent to an insane asylum. That probably wasn't the case.
7. There probably wasn't more than five murders
It's possible that Jack the Ripper could have murdered more than five women. Some argue that he killed as many as 11 women. Although, the amount of women thought to have been killed by Jack is a really controversial issue.
However, most historians tend to agree that Jack the Ripper only killed 5 women. And the other women murdered were not the work of Jack. This is because the nature of the murders is different. It is possible that Jack the Ripper killed other woman that police never discovered at the time. Even in the modern world, people go missing without a trace. It is estimated that 275,000 people go missing every year in the UK alone. If that many people can disappear in modern UK, think how easy it would have been for a Victorian to disappear. With the lack of technology around at the time. Therefore, Jack could have had more victims than we new about. However, with the Canonical Five women, it seems as if Jack wanted his victims to be found. Perhaps it satisfied him for some reason to have them found. Given that it seems he wanted his victims to be found, there probably wasn't anymore than five woman killed by Jack.
6. His Modus Operandi
Like all serial killers Jack the Ripper had his own modus operandi. In other words, Jack had his own method of killing his victims.
He wasn't an opportunistic killer. In the sense that, he wasn't someone that was satisfied with just killing. He seemed only satisfied with killing prostitutes. As also stated, he killed his victims at a particular time. Obviously this was due to the profession of the women, and the time they would be working. He also killed them at particular dates. Jack would always kill on weekends and bank holidays. He would also only kill prostitutes. Jack the Ripper had a type, he also had a specific time-frame, this is his modus operandi.
5. The Whitechapel Area
The Whitechapel area was already a notorious place. It was already a place with a high crime rate, murder, and attacks on prostitutes.
What shocked the people of Whitechapel was not the murders on prostitutes, it was the graphic nature of the murders. Historians and criminologists believe that Jack the Ripper choose the Whitechapel area was beause of it's notorious crime and violence. However, the ripper also seems to have a very good knowledge of the area. Given he new how to escape, and where to escape to, after his crime. This suggests that he either worked or lived in the area. or, perhaps he grew up there, and had a good knowledge of it. 4. He had knowledge of anatomy
Many experts think that Jack the Ripper had knowledge of anatomy. The human body. Many doctors at the time of examining the corpses of the women murdered, agreed that the ripper had some for of anatomical knowledge of the human body.
Therefore, it indicates that Jack had a degree of medical knowledge. And likely to have either been a doctor, a butcher, or perhaps he even studied anatomy. He must have either worked in a profession which dealt with anatomy, or he had acquired knowledge of anatomy in another way. But, the mutilated bodies suggest that he had strong knowledge of what he was doing. 3. He was either nearly caught, interview by police, or both
It is thought that Jack the Ripper was either nearly caught, interview by police, or both.
Jack was almost caught on the night of the double murder. He is thought to have been disturbed that night on his first victim. Therefore, he didn't finish the job. And, killed his second victim that night. Perhaps he finally stopped because he was almost caught. And new that it was only a matter of time before he was caught, if he carried on. With his last victim, we see Jack taking a more cautious approach. Up until this point, Jack had murdered all of his victims outside. Mary Kelly was different. It is also suggested that Jack was interviewed by police, but was overlooked as a suspect. The FBI investigation thinks that he was interview by police, but was overlooked as a suspect.
2. The FBI ripper profile
Even the FBI have tried to solve the ripper case. But, have been unsuccessful in finding out who Jack the Ripper was. If even the FBI cannot solve this case, then what hope is there for the rest of us ?
They may not be able to solve the case, however, they have gave us some clues as to who he was. There are some really interesting facts that the FBI gives us about Jack: . They say that he would have either drawn or written about his murders . There was no evidence of torture/sexual assault. . Jack murdered his victims quickly. . They have stated that the ripper could have changed his modus operandi. . Jack was male. And white. . He was likely in his early 30s. . He doesn't look different. But would have fitted in. . He worked alone. Either as a butcher. Or in a human anatomy field. Most likely. . He worked weekdays. Had weekends off. You can see the full FBI profile of Jack the Ripper - here
1. Secret Files
The only way that we might ever find out about who Jack was, is if there is new information that comes to light. The hope for that seems incredibly thin. However, we have found historical information from further back in time, so, there is a chance that new information could come to light, shinning light on the case. The only was that it seems possible is if there is information in the secret Jack the Ripper files, held by Scotland Yard. Scotland Yard has refused to make these files accessible to the public. Why they would make these files a secret after so long is puzzling. The people from the era are long dead. Unless, the files are protecting someone. Could the identity of Jack been known all along by Scotland yard? Could these files one and for all tell us who Jack was? Only reading them would tell us...
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Mary Ann Nichols body was found between 3.40 am and 3.45 am, by a cart driver named Charles Cross. He found the body early that morning in front of a gate on Bucks Row. Another cart driver of the name Robert Paul came into the area just after Cross had found Mary Ann-Nichols body. Paul thought that she was unconscious, instead of dead. He was wrong. Both men pulled down her skirt, as it was raised, due to the mutilation of her body. They then went in search of a police officer. They found PC Jonas Mitzen. Cross said to him, 'She looks to me to either be dead, or drunk. But for my part., I believe she is dead.' The two men went off to work, leaving PC Jonas Mitzen with the body.
As Mitzen was approaching the body, another officer came to the scene. PC John Neil was travelling through Bucks Row when he discovered the body of Mary.
Another PC had also joined them at around 3.47am. As he approached the scene, PC Neil had said to him, ''Here's a woman who has her throat cut.'' He finished by stating, 'Run at once for Dr Llwewellyn.' Dr Llwewllyn had arrived on the scene at 4am that morning. And he had declared that she had been dead for around 30 minutes. This means that Jack the Ripper had just escaped being discovered by cross. It was noticed that Mary Ann-Nichols throat had been slit twice. It was cut from left to right. Her abdomen was mutilated. She had one deep dagger wound which mutilated her abdomen. There was several smaller incisions to her. Nichols is thought to have been killed somewhere other than where she was found. This is because there was a small amount of blood at the crime scene, as Llwewellyn noted. There should have been more blood at the scene. The murder would have been done very quickly. It is claimed that she would die instantly through her throat being slit. The abdomen mutilation around five minutes. The mutilation happened after the she was murdered. Polly Nichols was buried on the 6th of September, 1888.
Mary Ann-Nichols was the first of the Canonical Five women to be murdered by Jack the Ripper. She was murdered on the 31st of August, 1888. Sometime in the early hours of that morning.
Her body was discovered in Charles's Cross in Bucks Row , at sometime between 3.40am and 3.45am. At 3.15am, PC John Thain is patrolling on Bucks Row and sees nothing. This suggests that she was murdered somewhere between 3.15 am and 3.40am/3.45am.
Now that we have discovered when Mary Ann-Nichols was murdered, let us look back to the timeline of her last hours. In those final hours of her life that Autumn night and early morning.
On the 30th of August, 1888, Mary Nichols was seen walking down Whitechapel Road, in the East End of London. At around 11pm that evening. An hour and a half later, at 12.30am, on Friday the 31st of August, Mary was seen coming out of the Frying Pan Pub on Brick Lane. Around 40 minutes later, Mary Ann showed up to 18 Thrawl Street, she did not not have the money for a bed that night. And therefore, couldn't stay.
18 Thrawl Street is where we have the last recorded words of Mary Ann-Nichols. ''I'll soon get me money'' she said to the house deputy. She finished with, ''See what a jolly bonnet I'm wearing.''
Of course the method that she would get the fourpence required for a bed at Thrawl Street was prostitution. Something that would later that morning take her life. The last time that Nichols was seen alive was around an hour before her death, at 2.30 am, on Osborn Street Whitechapel. Outside a grocers shop. The last person known to have seen Mary Nichols alive was her friend Emily Holland. Holland shared a room with Nichols at 18 Thrawl Street. And was the person who later identified Mary Ann-Nichols body. We don't know exactly what Nichols and Holland said to one another. But, apparently Nichols had earned the money she needed for a bed, three times over. But had spent the money. Obviously on drink, as she was drunk at the time. Nichols said that she would earn the money she needed again.
At sometime between from when she had parted with Holland, until the time her body was discovered at 3.40am/3.45am, was when she met and was murdered by Jack the Ripper.
Of course, we don't know at point she met her murderer. If he said anything to her. If they had any sort of verbal communication. And if they did, we obviously don't know what it was. However, it is extremely likely that what happened between them wasn't very long. The ripper killed Mary Ann-Nichols on Bucks Row within that hour. The picture of Bucks Row can be seen below. A small, dark road. Mary's body was found in the middle of the gate, on the ground. Despite people living in the tenements seen in the photo, no one heard a thing. We know of no one who saw what happened. Could someone have seen something, but turned a blind eye? Or heard something, but refused to say anything? It's possible that people, or someone could have heard something. And refused to say. If you look at the more modern murder of Kitty Genovese, it's possible. Kitty Genovese was a woman who was murdered in New York City, and no one intervened to help her. The Bystander Effect. Of course, people just may not have witnessed the murder. We have to remember that Victorian London was a very different place. By the look of the Bucks Row street where Mary Nichols was murdered, there seems to be no street lamps (gas, as of course there was no electricity). And therefore, the street would likely have been pitch black. Therefore, it would have been extremely difficult for people to see a thing. It is likely that no one heard anything, because Jack murdered his victim silently. Probably covering her mouth. He murdered Mary Ann-Nichols with ruthless silence. We don't know which way Jack the Ripper escaped after he murdered Mary Ann-Nichols. Did he live close by, that he could easily have entered his home, without being detected? Or, did he escape down the back street of Winthorpe Street and escape down to Whitechapel Road, were he would have got lost in the crowed? We don't know. Even though it was early that morning, Whitechapel Road would still have been busy. Many people in Victorian London woke up very early for work. Therefore, people around that early in the morning, would not have been uncommon. If the ripper did walk down Whitechapel Road, and did have blood all over him, it wouldn't really have attracted attention. Or seen uncommon. As there were many slaughterhouses in the area, and therefore, it would have been a common sight to see people like this. If he was wearing black head to toe, like traditional depictions of Jack the Ripper, then any blood on him probably wasn't visible in the darkness. As the coroner later said about the murder: ''It seems astonishing at first thought that the culprit should have escaped detection, for there must surely have been marks of blood surrounding the culprit.'' Give the gruesome nature of the murder, there probably was blood all over him. It seems hard to imagine that he was not covered in blood. But as stated, if the ripper was wearing black, during a dark August morning, then it wouldn't have been that visible to a passerby.
The Samlesbury witches were put on trail in the village of Samlesbury, Lancashire, accused of witch craft. There were three women in the Samlesbury witches.
The Samlesbury witches were put on trial in 1612, in what is known as theLancashire Witch Trials of 1612. It is one of the most well-known witch trails in England. The Lancashire With Trials of 1612, were over two days. The 18th of August, and the 19th of August. All of the women escaped the hangman's noose. None of the three women who were accused were found guilty of witch craft. Mary Stuart returned to Scotland on August 19th, 1561. Mary Stuart (or Mary Queen of Scots, as she is also known), left France, Calais, on the 14th of August, 1561. As she left France, Mary Stuart burst into tears. She said as she was leaving the port at Calais, and said, machere France. Mary was leaving a country which she grew up in, to go to one that she wasn't familiar with. Scotland. Mary was only 18 when she returned to Scotland. She had been in France since she was an infant. Mary Stuart was sent to live with the French royal family, by her mother who was French because Scotland was war torn. And Mary was the heir to the throne. Obviously she was far to young to take on the role of queen. Therefore, her life became a danger in Scotland. And a source of manipulation.
Mary choose to return to Scotland after her husband Francis II had died in the following year, 1560, on December. She had turned 18, and decided that the time was right to take back her throne.
The Queen of Scots was taking a chance, she was heading back to a country with protestant reformers at it's helm. Mary herself was a catholic. Mary's faith was something which put her life in danger. She was a catholic queen, in a protestant country. Her move back to Scotland can be seen as naive, in this light. However, it wasn't as naive as when Mary Stuart had decided to flee Scotland, for England. Mary had fled to England in thehope that her cousin Elizabeth I would protect her. This was really naive of Mary for two reasons. The first is, that her faith put her in danger, in England too. The second reason is that she had a claim to the English throne. These two things put her life in danger in England, especially the latter. The minute she set foot in England, she put a noose around her own neck. It seemed inevitable that she would die. Another thing which seems to emphasis that Mary was terribly naive, is that fact that she put in writing that she wanted to dispose Elizabeth and take the throne. She literally signed her own death warrant. A mortuary shot of Mary Ann-Nichols
Mary Ann-Nichols was the first victim of Jack the Ripper. She was the first woman murdered by Jack the Ripper, who belonged to the Canonical Five.
The Canonical Five are the five woman thought to have been murdered by Jack the Ripper. The five women were; Mary Ann-Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Kelly. The five women were murdered by Jack the Ripper in that order.
There seem to be two good reasons why Martha has been considered as a ripper victim. The first being that she was a prostitute, this is important, as all of Jack the Ripper's victims were prostitutes.
Now that we understand the differences between the Canonical Five and the other murders, let us go back to the first ripper victim, Mary Ann-Nichol's.
Here are a few short facts about Mary Ann-Nichol's: Born in London on August 28th, 1845. Died on the 31st of August, 1888. Occupation - Prostitute Body was discovered in Durward Street, Whitechapel. Duncan I king of Scotland died on this day in 1040. It is unclear when Duncan I was born. But he reigned as Sottish king between 1034 to 1040. He was the son of Malcolm II of Scotland. And was succeed by Macbeth, king of Scotland. Both of Scotland's kings Macbeth and Duncan are portray in William Shakespear's play, Macbeth. In the play Macbeth, King Duncan is portrayed as an elderly man. And he is killed by Macbeth. Catherine of York was born on this day, in 1479. On the 14th of August. Her father was King Edward IV. And her mother was Elizabeth Woodville. Catherine of York was from the famous York family. And she became the countess of Devon. She was the niece of king Richard III. And was the last of King Edward IV's children to die. She died at only 48 years old, on the 15th of November, 1527.
Robert III of Scotland was born on this day. He was born John Stewart. He took the name Robert of Scotland as king.
Robert III was a grandson ofRobert the Bruce. Bruce's monarchical name wasRobert I of Scotland. Robert III's father was Robert II of Scotland, who was a relation of Elizabeth II (his 17th great-grandfather). Making Robert III of Scotland Elizabeth II's 16th great-grandfather. Here are some facts about Robert III of Scotland: . He was a member of the House of Stewart. The House of Stewart contains some of Britain's most well-known royals. Including; James I who united Scotland and England, Charles I, Bonnie Prince Charlie, and of course, Mary Queen of Scots. . Robert III ascended to the throne on the 19th of April, 1390. . He was crowned king on the 14th of August, 1390, atScone Abbey, in Perthshire. . Robert III was king until he died. He died on the 4th of April, 1406, at Dundonald castle, in Ayrshire, which still stands to this day. The Jack the Ripper murders shocked Britain during the latter half of 1888. The ripper murders were thought to have happened between August 31st, 1888, with the murder of Mary Ann Nichols. Until the final, thought, murder of Mary Kelly, on November 9th, 1888. The murders that took place between August and November of 1888 are known as the Canonical Five. The Canonical Five are the five women thought to have been murdered by Jack the Ripper. Historians and criminologists generally agree that the Canonical Five were Jack's victims. However, others dispute that Jack the Ripper only killed those five women. Linking other murders to Jack. For some, the Jack the Ripper events begin as early as the 3rd of April 1888. Till as late as the 13th of February 1891. Though, as stated before, those murders which took place outside the Canonical Five, as the nature of the murders, and the victims who were murdered, are different from the Canonical Five. It is always possible that Jack the Ripper had more victims during the Whitechapel Murders. Though, there is no evidence for this. What we know about Jack the Ripper is that he murder five women between the months of August 1888 and November 1888. In total there was 11 murders in the East End of London that year. What we know about Jack the Ripper is slim and fleeting. There is much more that we do not know about the infamous Whitechapel murder. Why did he kill those women in the Autumn of 1888? Obviously part of his motivation was to kill prostitutes, but why was he motivated to do this? Was he just a psychopath? Or, was he mentally ill? Given the nature of the Whitechapel murders, that they were coldly calculated, that they were all at a similar time, and the fact that the ripper was not caught. Suggests a person who new exactly what they were doing. And, they new how to get away with it. Therefore, perhaps we an rule out that the ripper was sent to a mental instituted due to insanity. One of the theories about why the ripper stopped was because he was mentally institutionalized, however, that theory can probably be ruled out. The psychology of Jack the Ripper has been under observation. With some arguing that he was a psychopath. Given that we do not know who the ripper was, it is really impossible to tell whether or not he was a psychopath. Though, understanding the murders can give us some insight into what type of man he was. The fact that we don't know what type of man Jack the Ripper was, or who he was, is what has captured our attention about Jack the Ripper over one hundred years on. It is the mystery surrounding Jack, who he was, and what his motivation was, is something which captures our attention. If we new his identity, he would have quickly faded into obscurity. Here is the timeline of the Jack the Ripper murders: . 31st of August, 1888 - Mary Ann Nichols is murdered. She is the rippers first victim, at 3.40am. . 1st to 4th of September - Police start questioning suspects. Prostitutes name Jack 'Leather Apron'. . 5th of September - The Starpublished several articles about 'Leather Apron'. . 8th of September - Jack the Ripper claims his second victim, Annie Chapman. . 10th of September -John Pizer is arrested as Leather Apron. He has an alibi for the two murders. . 27th of September - The infamous Dear Boss letter is sent to police. The name 'Jack the Ripper' is born. . 30th of September - Two murders are committed in one hour. The first victim of the night was Elizabeth Stride. Her body was found at 1AM. The second victim was Catherine Eddowes, at 1.45AM. . 15th of October - Police receive theFrom Hell letter. Along with half a kidney. . 9th of November - The ripper takes his last known victim (the last of the Canonical Five victims). The rippers last victim,Mary Kelly, was his most gruesome killing. Her face was so mutilated, that you can't even see her fae. Horrible. . Whoever Jack the Ripper was, he is obviously long dead. But, his last victim was killed on the 9th of November, on 1888. We do not know why Jack the Ripper stopped after the 9th of November, 1888. Although, it's good that there were no more victims. It is often speculated why he stopped. If we did know why he stopped, we'd understand more about the case. Did he die? Commit suicide? Was he imprisoned? Did he move abroad? Did he have a purpose for the women he killed, and was finished carrying the purpose out? (Like the From Hell film suggests, with the Royal theory). Or, was he sadistically satisfied with the murders he committed? When it comes to Jack the Ripper, there is more questions unanswered, than answered. |
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