Did you know that the Jack the Ripper murders remain unsolved more than 130 years after they were committed?
Chances are that you’ve heard of Jack the Ripper. He was an unidentified serial killer generally believed to have been active in the largely impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. Whoever the Ripper may have been he exposed the citizens of London to the seedy underbelly of Victorian society. But who was Jack the Ripper? Was he a person or a myth made up by a journalist? Read on to find out!
Strangely, the mystery of Jack the Ripper is one that has been the subject of books, movies, and tv series. It’s something that seems to morbidly fascinate us (myself included). Within a period of a few months, all 5 murders had been committed within a mile of each other in the Whitechapel District of London. Since 1888 over 100 (or 599 depending on who you ask) suspects have been named but none were ever charged with the murders. Perhaps that’s why there is still interest in Jack the Ripper and his gruesome crimes. After all, he was the man who made Victorian England tremble in fear.
Historically speaking, the East End of London in 1888 was not the place you wanted to find yourself at night (or at any other time for that matter). Comprised of mostly immigrants it was known for its high rates of crime and violence. The people lived in squalor and during this time prostitution was semi-legal (only illegal if it caused a public disturbance). Fun, right? Well, the East End was known for its brothels and low rent housing tenants providing sexual services. Honestly, during this time most deaths of prostitutes were not reported because it was considered a hazard of the profession.
Jack the Rippers murders were different than the commonplace deaths of prostitutes in the East End. These murders were marked by brutal butchery. Suggesting a sociopathic and hateful mind committed these murders and most citizens couldn’t comprehend that. The Ripper inspired a fear that Victorian England had not seen the likes of before. He gruesomely “mutilated and disemboweled women, removing organs such as kidneys and uteruses, and his crimes seemed to portray an abhorrence for the entire female gender.” (History.com) The murdered women were…
Mary Nichols – Murdered August 31
Annie Chapman – Murdered September 8
Elizabeth Stride – Murdered September 30
Catherine Eddowes – Murdered September 30
Mary Kelly – Murdered November 9
Fascinatingly, there was only ever one clue found after the murders that were committed by Jack the Ripper. A constable came across Catherine Eddowes bloodstained apron. Eddowes was the second victim in a night of double murders by Jack the Ripper. Her murder was different because the killer had also mutilated her face. Above the blood stained apron was a message scrawled in chalk. The police then released a letter from the killer, and he was given the moniker Jack the Ripper. Unfortunately, it was later discovered that the letter wasn’t actually from the killer but was instead written by a journalist.
People continue to investigate the Jack the Ripper murders today. Some have even come to the conclusion that Jack the Ripper never even existed. The name itself was coined by a journalist and therefore it is possible that these murders were grouped under Jack the Ripper. When in reality multiple culprits were to blame for the deaths.
These facts suggest that Jack the Ripper may be nothing more than a myth. Interestingly, eleven separate murders, from April 3, 1888 to February 13, 1891, were categorized as the White Chapel Murders by London Metropolitan Police. And opinions generally vary on if these murders were all committed by the same culprit. However, five of the eleven Whitechapel murders, are widely believed to be the work of Jack the Ripper.
In my opinion, it’s hard to believe that 5 murders happened that close together and similarly and it wasn’t the work of a serial killer, such as Jack the Ripper.
For whatever reason people are still interested in Jack the Ripper more than 130 years after the murder occurred. I know, I am! There are movies, books, TV series, and even historical tours. Learn more about our Jack the Ripper Tour in London here.
