Jack The Ripper

The year is 1888, the stage being the area of The Whitechapel District of London. But suddenly, a string of murders terrorize the town in a way never seen before. The culprit being a madman with no clear motive. The world's most notorious serial killer: Jack The Ripper. While most believe that the Ripper claimed the lives of only 5, now referred to as the Canonical Five, there are some people who believe he claimed the lives of up to 11 women. At this time, literacy was growing among the general population.

Before we continue, I would like to say that, if you are under the age of 13, please stop reading!

On August 31st 1888, at 3:40pm, the body of Mary Ann Nichols was found on Buck's Row by a man named Charles Cross. Police would eventually arrive. The woman was found on her back, her throat slashed and....she was disemboweled. It had been determined, for some reason, that she had been dead for only 30 minutes meaning that the killer was, likely, nearby when Cross found the body. On September 8, 1888, the body of Annie Chapman was found on 29 Hanbury Street. Her body was discovered by John Davis. Annie was found on her back, her throat was slashed but this time, the violence escalated in that the killer took out her organs. Dr. George Baxter Phillips came up with the idea that the killer had anatomical knowledge by the manner in which Annie Chapman's organs were taken. This was the 1st clue, that the killer could likely be a doctor. On September 27, in the same year, the Central News Agency receives a letter from the killer. It says:

"Dear Boss, I keep on hearing the police have caught me, but they won't fix me just yet. I have laughed when they work so clever, and talk about being on the right track. The joke about Leather Apron gave me real fits. I am down on whores; I can't quit ripping them till I do get buckled. Grand work the last job was. I gave the lady no time to squeal. How can they catch me now? I love my work, and want to start again. You will soon hear of me with my funny little games. I saved some of the proper red stuff in a ginger beer bottle over the last job to write with, but it went thick as glue and I can't use it. Red ink is fit enough I hope. Ha ha! The next job I do I shall clip the ladies' ears off and send to the police officers just for jolly, wouldn't you? Keep this letter till I do a bit more work, then give it out straight. My knife is so nice and sharp, I want to get to work as I get a chance, Good Luck.

Yours truly

Jack The Ripper

Don't mind me giving the trade name. Wasn't good enough to post this before I got all the red ink off my hands. Curse it, no luck yet. They say I'm a doctor now. Ha ha ha!"

This letter wasn't released to the public until October 1st. Once the public knew this, the name stuck around and the killer from that point on went by the famous moniker, Jack The Ripper.

On September 30th 1888, at 1:00am, the body of Elizabeth Stride was found on Berner Street by a man named Louis Diemschutz. This time, only her throat was cut, none of the other tricks. This led police to think that Jack The Ripper was interrupted when Louis approached. For some reason, they thought that she was also dead for 30 minutes when examined at 1:15am. Shockingly, just 45 minutes after the discovery of Elizabeth Stride's body, another body was found on Mitre Square. A woman named Catherine Eddowes was the SECOND victim in the same night! Her body was severely mutilated, including her face. Her organs and her left kidney were removed. It's here where the police would discover one of the few solid clues in the entire case: A piece of Catherine Eddowes' apron found near the crime scene. It was found by Alfred Long in the doorway of an apartment block near Goulston Street, a street east to the Eddowes' murder site. Near this apron, a message was written in chalk.

"The Juwes are the only men who will be blamed for nothing!" Meaning that the Juwes would do everything and yet, would not blamed for it.

However, the crucial detail is the fact that it was found East of the Eddowes' murder site in the direction of Elizabeth Stride's murder site, the murder that occurred 45 minutes prior. This meant that the killer WILLINGLY entered an area that was filled with police. This could suggest the killer lived in this area. The next day, the police received a letter by Jack The Killer, it was dated October 1st and was written in the same handwriting. It said:

"I was not codding, dear old boss, when I gave you the tip. You'll hear about Saucy Jackie's work tomorrow, double event this time. Number one squealed a bit, had not the time to get ears for police. Thanks for keeping last letter back till I got to work.

Jack The Ripper"

This couldn't have been anyone else other than Jack The Ripper as the 2 murders were not publicly announced yet.

On October 16th, 1888, George Lusk received a letter. Lusk was the head of the Mile End Vigilance Committee, a group of business men to assist the police. The letter received was signed..."From Hell" and came with a box of half a human kidney. It first, it was thought that this was Catherine Eddowes' missing kidney but then, it turned out to be a prank by a medical student.

On November 9th, 1888, the body of the 5th and final Canonical victim was found. Mary Kelly, was found at 13 Millers Court in her bed by her landlord's assistant who was seeking rent. This murder was by far the most gruesome as her body was not only disemboweled but she was "Virtually Skinned Down"!

Here is what her landlord has to say," The sight that we saw, I cannot drive away from my mind. It looked more of a devil's work than of a man." And with that, we arrive at the end of the Five Canonical Victims but as stated before, there could be up to 11 victims.

People wondered if anyone caught a glimpse of this monster. and it would seem that some did. He was mostly described in appearance as

"Perfectly sane, frighteningly normal, and yet, capable of extraordinary cruelty."

The End

I hope you all liked this story and were interested in it. Like this story and share. It would mean the world to me.