The Enduring Mystery of Jack the Ripper
LEMMiNO・46 minutes read
In the late 19th century, London was the world's largest city, known for trade and finance. The horrific Jack the Ripper murders in London's East End shocked the world, with various suspects and theories surrounding the infamous killer's true identity.
Insights
- The murders committed by Jack the Ripper in late 19th century London sparked fear and frustration among the public due to the killer's ability to evade detection, leading to criticism of the police for their perceived incompetence and ineffective efforts in capturing the perpetrator.
- Various suspects, including Lechmere and Joseph Barnett, emerged in connection to the Ripper murders, but the true identity of Jack the Ripper remains a mystery, clouded by rumors, inconclusive evidence, and conflicting accounts, highlighting the complexity and uncertainty surrounding the case despite widespread speculation and public interest.
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Recent questions
Who was Jack the Ripper?
An unidentified serial killer in 19th century London.
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Summary
00:00
"Jack the Ripper: London's 19th Century Terror"
- In the late 19th century, London was the world's largest city, known for trade and finance.
- In 1888, a series of brutal murders by Jack the Ripper shocked the world in London's East End.
- The first victim, Martha Tabram, was found stabbed 39 times on August 7, 1888, estimated dead at 02:30.
- Despite a witness hearing a cry of "Murder!" the night before, no suspects were identified.
- The second victim, Mary Ann Nichols, was found with her throat cut and abdomen slashed on August 31, 1888.
- Nichols was identified as a prostitute, similar to Tabram, and the murders were believed to be connected.
- The third victim, Annie Chapman, was found disemboweled on September 8, 1888, with missing body parts.
- Chapman was last seen alive by a witness at 05:30, with conflicting testimonies on the time of death.
- Witnesses heard voices and noises near the murder site, adding to the confusion of the timeline.
- Dr. Phillips admitted a possible miscalculation in the time of death, suggesting Chapman died around 05:30.
16:18
"London Murders Spark Public Fear"
- The killer managed to evade detection and arrange the victims' possessions.
- The public grew anxious and frustrated with the police's perceived incompetence.
- Efforts of the London police were criticized for being ineffective.
- The police faced overwhelming odds due to the perpetrator's tactics.
- The events of September 30 unfolded with two murders in close proximity.
- Elizabeth Stride was found with her throat cut in Dutfield's Yard.
- Catherine Eddowes was discovered with severe injuries in Mitre Square.
- Witnesses provided descriptions of potential suspects seen with the victims.
- Speculation arose about a possible connection between the two murders.
- Letters claiming responsibility for the murders were received, sparking public interest and debate.
32:01
"Jack the Ripper: Unsolved Mystery of London"
- The kidney found was believed to belong to the victim, with the other half allegedly fried and eaten by the author of a letter.
- Chief Inspector John Littlechild praised the letters as a smart journalistic piece, while Assistant Commissioner Robert Anderson dismissed them as the work of an enterprising journalist.
- Chief Constable Melville Macnaghten suspected a journalist's involvement in the letters but lacked solid evidence against any specific individual.
- The letters received widespread attention, dominating public discourse and newspaper space throughout October.
- On November 9, John McCarthy, a merchant and landlord, discovered the mutilated body of Mary Jane Kelly in Room 13 of Miller's Court.
- The police found Kelly's body severely mutilated, with her face hacked beyond recognition, abdomen emptied of viscera, and throat severed to the bone.
- Mary Jane Kelly, the victim, was identified as a tenant of Miller's Court, with much of her life shrouded in mystery and possibly using a fake identity.
- Kelly had cohabited with Joseph Barnett until shortly before her murder, separating due to Barnett's disapproval of her prostitution.
- Conflicting accounts exist regarding Kelly's interactions on the night of her murder, with sightings and interactions with various individuals.
- The Ripper's identity remains a mystery, with various suspects and theories, including the possibility of a female perpetrator or a man disguised as a woman.
48:12
Unsolved Jack the Ripper Murders: Suspects and Theories
- The murders of Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes occurred on a Sunday, the only day when Lechmere, a suspect, would have been free from work.
- All the murders were committed around weekends and public holidays, raising questions about the killer's choice of timing.
- Lechmere's mother lived near Berner Street, where two of the murders took place, leading to speculation that he may have been involved.
- Lechmere claimed to work for Pickfords, a delivery firm, but there are no records of his employment, potentially linking him to the murders.
- Joseph Barnett, who lived with Mary Jane Kelly, lost his job, leading to speculation that his guilt over Kelly's return to prostitution may have driven him to commit the murders.
- Barnett disapproved of Kelly's prostitution, which may have led to her brutal murder, possibly as an act of revenge.
- Barnett was interrogated by the police but ultimately released without charge, despite suspicions surrounding him.
- The locked door at the crime scene of Mary Jane Kelly raised questions about how the killer could have locked it behind him, with various theories proposed.
- Aaron Kosminski, a Polish Jew, was identified as a suspect by high-ranking officers, but inconsistencies in the evidence cast doubt on his involvement.
- Francis Tumblety, an eccentric American physician, was also considered a suspect due to his criminal history and hatred towards women, although evidence linking him to the murders is lacking.
01:03:15
Francis Tumblety: Suspect in Jack the Ripper Case
- Francis Tumblety, an American who never returned to England, was in London during the Ripper murders and was suspected due to his collection of wombs, but his connection is dubious and based on unreliable sources like Charles Dunham, a known liar and forger.
- Tumblety, described as older and taller than most witness accounts, had imitation rings similar to those stolen from a Ripper victim, but the evidence linking him to the crimes remains inconclusive.
- Despite suspicions by Chief Inspector John Littlechild, Tumblety's potential involvement in the Ripper murders is clouded by rumors and lack of concrete evidence, highlighting the complexity and uncertainty surrounding the true identity of Jack the Ripper amidst numerous suspects.
