Monday 1st Oct 1888 - A Letter from The Killer?
Good morning from Whitechapel on Monday 1st October 1888. This morning's Daily News has published "Dear Boss" letter. The letter was received last week but not released to the public. The contents refer to the death of Annie Chapman as follows: "I am down on whores and I shant quit ripping them till I do get buckled. Grand work the last job was." But what has prompted the release of this letter is that it was received two days before yesterday morning's attacks. It stated that the killer would begin again very soon (which came true) & it made another promise which seems to have happened. With worrying accuracy: "The next job I do I shall clip the ladys ears off" - And Catherine Eddows had her ear sliced through. At the bottom of the letter it signs off with a name. Hoax or not, this killer from today will be known as "JACK THE RIPPER".
Good evening from Whitechapel on Monday 1st Oct 1888. Today's papers are filled with pages on the new terrors. Here's The Star: Newspaper coverage has completely exploded. The Star's editions alone today carry 14,000 words on the Whitechapel Murders. "THE terror of Whitechapel has walked again, and this time has marked down 2 victims, 1 hacked and disfigured beyond discovery. Again he has got away clear; and again the police, with wonderful frankness, confess that they have not a clue. They are waiting for a seventh and an eighth murder. Meanwhile, Whitechapel is half mad with fear. The people are afraid even to talk with a stranger. The spirit of terror has got fairly abroad. To begin with it is clear that the BURKE and HARE theory is all but destroyed. There is no suggestion of surgical neatness. The theory of madness is enormously strengthened. Crafty blood-thirst is written on every line of Sunday morning's doings."
The rapid walk from Berner-street to Aldgate, to find a fresh victim, the reckless daring of the deed." The paper then presents a very reasonable and logical effort to profile the killer himself and understand his manner: "It is probable that his hands only would be smeared by his bloody work, and that after doing the deed he would put on gloves. He probably does not inhabit lodging-houses or hotels, but a private house where he has special facilities. Perhaps chemicals and a wash-hand stand communicating directly with a pipe for getting rid of bloody hands and clothes. He must be inoffensive, probably respectable in manner and appearance, or else women could not have been decoyed by him." But then a more fanciful notion: "Two theories are suggested to us - that he may wear woman's clothes, or may be a policeman." It's extremely damagaing to implicate a policeman but "We expect nothing of them. The metropolitan force is rotten to the core. Meanwhile, we suggest (1) more Vigilance Committees, (2) the shadowing of East-end unfortunates, (3) further rewards. Bloodhounds ought to have been kept in readiness, and should certainly have been used yesterday morning." It asks if "The senseless system of fixed points, instead of ranging over a given area, has been modified in view of the case."
7.00pm
A red-smeared postcard has been handed to the boss at the central news office. It has the same handwriting as Thursday's letter. "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." Referring to Thursday's letter. It is completely true that Elizabeth Stride screamed three times before he slit her throat. An eye-witness saw it. Witness Israel Schwartz spoke to police last night, but could a hoaxer have got this information to include in the letter?
"thanks for keeping last letter back till I got to work again." The press and police had not published the last letter. Little credence had been given to the letter last week. But it said that murders would start again. Three days later they did. But could a hoaxer reference events less than 24 hours ago, and what of the letter's promise of the victim's ears being clipped?
The Star covers the letters as a definite hoax, however and heads that particular bit of coverage as "Jack the Ripper's" Joke. "A practical joker, who signed himself "Jack the Ripper," wrote to the Central News last week," it begins. "Intimating with labored flippancy that he was going to commence operations again in Whitechapel shortly. This morning the same agency received a postcard smeared apparently with dirty blood. It was written with red chalk." The paper notes, "It is the duty of journalists to keep heads cool, and not inflame men's passions" but then goes on to say: "As the nights grow darker and longer the facilities for murderous action will become enormously increased." Worthy of note is this particular sighting of a strange suspect, which they consider (as headlined); "Worth Inquiry. A gentleman living not far from the British Museum says: - In the room above mine there is an American lodging. He professes to be a doctor, but does not look like one. If one judged by his looks, he might be - well, a perfect ruffian. No one knows anything about him. He never does any work, and always seems rather hard up, although he pays his rent regularly. He must wear something over his boots that enables him to walk silently, for no one ever hears him come in. At intervals he disappears for a time. On Saturday he went out, and has not been back since."