Jack The Ripper
I think there is no need for a broad introduction as almost everyone heard of the famous serial killer from the 19th Century, Jack The Ripper.
The attacks attributed to Jack The Ripper involved female prostitutes. All of victims lived and worked in the East End of London. Characteristics of the Ripper attacks were throats cut prior to abdominal mutilations; some victims had organs removed which led the investigators to believe that the killer had surgical knowledge.
The killing didn’t really caught the attention until October 1888, when letters were received my the media outlets and the Scotland Yard. One of the letters came with hald of a preserved kidney, which supposedly belonged to one of the victims. You can imagine how things went crazy from then on, but it is worth mentioning that the letters were believed to be sent by false impersonators of the killer. Many police files went missing over time, so at this point, of course there are thousand of pages out there with theories, assumptions, and speculative ideas.
Nevertheless, Jack The Ripper remains in history as one of the first famous serial killers, which hunt authorities even to this day.
We will write a more extensive article, describing the events of that time, but for now we think that maybe you’ll find the letters supposedly The Ripper sent, interesting and worth reading.
Besides the letters in this post, you should know that the FBI also did a Criminal Investigative Analysis of the Ripper murders, and we think it’a a great addition in understanding the Ripper murders.
The Dear Boss Letter
The ‘Dear Boss’ received on September 27th, 1888 at the Central News Agency. Whether the letter is authentic or not, it is the first written reference in which the name ‘Jack The Ripper’ was used.
The envelope
Transcription:
Dear Boss,
I keep on hearing the police have caught me but they wont fix me just yet. I have laughed when they look so clever and talk about being on the right track. That joke about Leather Apron gave me real fits. I am down on whores and I shant 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 like glue and I cant use it. Red ink is fit enough I hope ha. ha. The next job I do I shall clip the ladys ears off and send to the police officers just for jolly wouldn’t you. Keep this letter back till I do a bit more work, then give it out straight. My knife’s so nice and sharp I want to get to work right away if I get a chance. Good Luck.
Yours truly
Jack the Ripper
Dont mind me giving the trade name
PS Wasnt 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
The “Saucy Jacky” Postcard
Received on October 1st, 1888 at the Central News Agency, the handwriting is similar to that of the “Dear Boss” letter. The postcard makes direct reference to both the previous letter and the murders that happened the night before, which are the main arguments of the letter’s authenticity.
Others believe a hoaxer could have gleaned details of both the previous letter and the murders in an early morning paper of October 1st.
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Transcription:
I was not codding dear old Boss when I gave you the tip, you’ll hear about Saucy Jacky’s work tomorrow double event this time number one squealed a bit couldn’t finish straight off. ha not the time to get ears for police. thanks for keeping last letter back till I got to work again.
Jack the Ripper
‘From Hell’ Letter
On October 16th George Lusk, the president of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee, received a three-inch-square cardboard box in his mail and inside was half a human kidney preserved in wine, along with a letter.
Medical reports carried out by Dr. Openshaw found the kidney to be similar to the one removed from Catherine Eddowes, though his findings were inconclusive.
Transcription:
From hell.
Mr Lusk,
Sor
I send you half the Kidne I took from one woman and prasarved it for you tother piece I fried and ate it was very nise. I may send you the bloody knif that took it out if you only wate a whil longer
signed
Catch me when you can Mishter Lusk
The Opensaw Letter
Received on 29 October, 1888, by Dr. Openshaw, who performed the medical examination on the portion of kidney received by George Lusk in conjunction with the From Hell letter.
It is worth mentioning that very few researched believe the letter is an authentic one.
Transcription:
Old boss you was rite it was the left kidny i was goin to hoperate agin close to you ospitle just as i was going to dror mi nife along of er bloomin throte them cusses of coppers spoilt the game but i guess i wil be on the jobn soon and will send you another bit of innerds
Jack the Ripper
O have you seen the devle with his mikerscope and scalpul a-lookin at a kidney with a slide cocked up.
The Peter McClelland letter
Dated September 17th, 1888, the letter was only recently discovered by Peter McClelland in a sealed report envelope in the British Public Record Office in 1988. Many believe it to be a recent hoax placed surreptitiously in the records.
Transcription:
Dear Boss
So now they say I am a Yid when will they lern Dear old Boss! You an me know the truth dont we. Lusk can look forever hell never find me but I am rite under his nose all the time. I watch them looking for me an it gives me fits ha ha I love my work an I shant stop until I get buckled and even then watch out for your old pal Jacky.
Catch me if you Can
Jack the Ripper
Sorry about the blood still messy from the last one. What a pretty necklace I gave her.
During the Autumn of Terror some hundreds letters were sent to the police and local press, all purporting to be written by Jack The Ripper. Most of them were deemed to be fakes, while many people also believe them all to be hoaxes.
Other experts believe some (specifically the Dear Boss letter, Saucy Jacky postcard, and From Hell letter) are genuine.
The FBI Criminal Investigative Analysis
You probably will be surprised to know that even the FBI, after a century I might add, wrote a criminalistic analysis of the Ripper murders.
You can read it below:
For more documents about serial killers, visit this page.
Sources: