Brief Look at Jack the Ripper

Whitechapel

Between the period of 1888 and early 1890's there were numerous brutal murders that took place in London's Whitechapel district. Due to over populated conditions in the area poverty and unemployment levels increased driving crime rates to high levels. A lot of women had to resort to prostitution and the estimated figures showed around 1200 prostitutes occupying the streets of Whitechapel.

The Murders

Of the murders that took place many of the victims were women and prostitutes who were killed in numerous ways. Although never proven, investigators and specialists at the time believed that a select few of these were connected and could have been carried out by the same person. These were ones that were left with their body parts mutilated, especially their genital areas, and vital internal organs removed as well as their throats being slashed. Experts believed that these were the work of one man named Jack the Ripper.

Letters

The man was never identified and acquired the name Jack the Ripper because of a mysterious letter that was sent to the London Central News Agency by a person that claimed to be the murderer. A series of similar letters followed and were sent to various places from people also claiming to be the murderer. The authenticity of these letters still remains a debatable case to this day.

Identity

Because of the sheer volume of murders that took place within this period, it was difficult to establish which ones were the work of the serial killer Jack the Ripper. Experts did however, relate five murders to be carried out by Jack the Ripper. All these victims had their throat areas cut and had different sorts of incisions on their bodies and missing organs with the exception of one victim. Many believed that Jack the Ripper was interrupted during this murder and therefore fled before getting a chance to perform the incisions. There were witnesses who claimed to have seen the victim accompanied by a man before her death but the descriptions given to help with identification were inconsistent.

Many believed that Jack the Ripper may have been an educated person with good knowledge of the human anatomy. Some suspects had professions in the field of medicine, science and surgery.

Some even believed that Jack the Ripper was actually several people and not just one killer. Regardless of how many were involved, it was certain that Jack the Ripper must have had a good knowledge of the Whitechapel area because he was able to carry out the murders and disappear quickly without being seen in such a populated and overcrowded area. Police believed that Jack the ripper was a local resident who knew the side streets and back alleys like the back of his hand.

One thing for sure is that Jack the Ripper's true identity may never be surfaced because the details of people who resided in the Whitechapel area were never officially recorded.

For more information on Jack The Ripper, the murders and professional guided walking tours of the Whitechapel area please visit Ripping Yarns Jack the Ripper Tours.