The Enduring Mystery of Jack the Ripper

This episode of Unsolved Histories, hosted by Joe Foster, delves into the infamous case of Jack the Ripper, a serial killer who terrorized the Whitechapel district of London in the late 19th century. The podcast examines the gruesome murders of five women, all prostitutes, discussing the killer's possible knowledge of human anatomy and the extensive investigations that failed to capture him. It also explores the victims' backgrounds, the speculation around the murderer's identity, the impact of the media, and the advancements in forensic science prompted by the case. Various suspects are discussed, including Montague John Druitt, Aaron Kosminski, Dr. Thomas Neill Cream, Francis Tumblety, and Walter Sickert, though none have been definitively proven to be Jack the Ripper. The episode concludes by reflecting on the killer's lasting influence on popular culture, forensic science, and the portrayal of serial killers in media.

Transcript

Joe: 0:02

Welcome to Unsolved Histories, the podcast where we delve into the mysteries and stories of the past. I'm your host, Joe Foster, and in today's episode, we're going to take a close look at one of the most infamous serial killers in history, Jack the Ripper. In the late 19th century, the streets of Whitechapel, a district in London's East End, were plagued by a series of gruesome murders. Five women, all of them prostitutes. The murderer's body was found brutally killed and mutilated in a way that suggested the murderer had some knowledge of the human anatomy. despite extensive investigations, the killer was never caught. And his identity remains a mystery to this day. The five canonical victims of Jack the Ripper are Mary Ann Nicholas, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Edowese, and Mary Jane Kelly. The murderers occurred between August and November of 1888, and the victims were all killed in a similar manner. Their throats were slashed, and their bodies were mutilated. Born on August 26, 1845, Mary Ann Nicholas, also known as Polly, Polly was the first of the canonical five victims. She was married and had five children, but separated from her husband, William Nicholas, in 1881. After the separation, she lived in various workhouses and boarding houses, often resorting to prostitution to make ends meet. On August 31st, 1881, Polly was found dead in Buck's Row, Whitechapel. Her throat had been deeply slashed. And her abdomen was mutilated with several deep cuts. It was this murder that triggered the beginning of the Jack the Ripper investigations. Annie Chapman was born on September 25, 1841. She was married to John Chapman and had three children. However after the death of one of their children, both Annie and John became heavy drinkers. Leading to their separation in 1884. Like Polly, Annie lived in various lodging houses and occasionally engaged in prostitution. On September 8th, 1888, Annie's body was discovered in the backyard of 29 Hanbury street. Her throat was slashed and her abdomen was extensively mutilated. The killer had also removed the, her uterus, fueling the speculation that Jack the Ripper has some knowledge of the human anatomy. Born on November 27th, 1843, Elizabeth Stride was a Swedish immigrant who moved to London in 1866. She married John Thomas Stride, but their marriage deteriorated due to her alcoholism and alleged infidelity. They separated in the late 1870s, and Elizabeth eventually turned to prostitution. On September 30th, 1888, Elizabeth was found dead in Dutzfield Yard, off Burner Street. Her throat had been slashed, but her body wasn't mutilated like the previous victims. This led to some, oh my goodness, this led to some to question whether her murder was committed by Jack the Ripper. Or if it was the work of a copycat. Catherine Edowes was born on April 14th, 1842. She had a common law husband, Thomas Conway, with whom she had three children. They separated in 1881 due to her alcoholism. Um, seems a common thing here. All these women are drunks. Um, After, they like to drink and they're prostitutes. Anyways, I digress. Afterward, Catherine lived with John Kelly in various lodging houses in the East End. On the same night as Elizabeth Stride's murder, September 30th, 1888, Catherine's body was discovered in Metree Square. Mytree Square. I don't know. I don't know. Her throat was cut and her body was mutilated in a manner consistent with the earlier Ripper murders. Her left kidney and part of her uterus had been removed, further supporting the theory that the killer had knowledge of the human anatomy. Mary Jane Kelly, the youngest and final. canonical victim, was born around 1863. Little is known about her early life, but it's believed she was married and widowed before moving to London. She lived with a man named Joseph Barnett before turning to prostitution. On November 9th, 1888, Mary Jane was found brutally murdered in her room at 13 Miller's court. Her throat was slashed. And her body was horrifically mutilated, with many organs removed and scattered around the room. The severity of this attack was far greater than the previous murders, making a grisly end to the canonical killings. The name Jack The Ripper comes from a letter allegedly written by the killer himself, sent to the police and newspapers in 1888. However, the authenticity of this letter, as well as several others attributed to the killer, has been questioned. With that in mind, let's get into these letters here. The most famous letters associated with Jack the Ripper case are the dear boss letter. The Saucy Jackie postcard, and the From Hell letter. These letters were allegedly written by the killer himself, but as stated before the authenticity has been the subject of much debate. The Dear Boss letter was sent to the Central News Agency on September 27, 1888. In this letter, the writer claimed responsibility for the murders. and referred to himself as Jack the Ripper for the first time. The letter included details of the murders, as well as taunts directed at the police. It also contained a chilling promise to keep killing and even mentioned the desire to clip the lady's ears off. A few days later, Catherine Edowes, one of the victims, was found with her earlobe cut, which seemed to lend credibility to the letter. The Saucy Jackie postcard was received by the Central News Agency on October 1st, 1888. It referred to the double murder of Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Edowes on September 30th, 1888. The postcard's writer claimed that the police had not found all the mutilations. on the victims and boasted about his ability to avoid capture. The From Hell letter was sent to George Lusk, the head of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee, on October 16, 1888. It was accompanied by a small box containing half a human kidney, which the writer claimed to have taken from one of the victims. Just as a reminder, Katherine Eddowes was missing a kidney. The letter's author described how he cooked and ate the other half of the kidney and taunted Lusk stating that he may yet send you the bloody knife that took it out if you only wait a while longer. The authenticity of these letters has been widely debated. Some argue that the letters could have been written by the killer as they contain accurate details of the crimes and demonstrate a similar writing style. However, others believe that the letters were a hoax, possibly created by journalists looking to sensationalize the story and sell more newspapers. It has also been suggested that some of the letters might have been written by different individuals. either trying to confuse the investigation or seeking attention. Handwriting analysis was not provided conclusive evidence. And the debate over the authenticity of the letters continues to this day. The murders of Jack the Ripper prompted one of the largest manhunt in British history. Despite this, the killer was never caught and his identity remains unknown. In the late 19th century, investigative methods were still relatively primitive compared to modern standards. The use of fingerprinting and DNA analysis was not yet available, and the police relied heavily on eyewitness accounts, interviews, and physical evidence found at the crime scenes. Detectives conducted door to door inquiries, searched for suspicious individuals, and gathered information from locals. They also consulted with medical experts to determine the killer's possible background and skill set. Several key figures were involved in the Jack the Ripper investigations, one being Sir Charles Warren, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner at the time. Warren faced criticism from his handling of the case and eventually resigned In November of 1888, Frederick Aberline, a skilled detective and an inspector. Aberline was a key investigator on the case and many of his notes reports, or many of his notes and reports have since been used to study the murderers. Edmund Reed, a local detective, uh, inspector Reed was involved in the investigation and had extensive knowledge of the white chapel area. Donald Swanson, a senior officer in the metropolitan police. Swanson was responsible for coordinating the Ripper investigation. And Dr. Thomas Bond, not James Bond. Thomas Bond was a police surgeon, assisted in several autopsy examinations of the victims, and provided his expert opinion on the killer's possible skills and motivations. The police faced numerous challenges during the investigation. Um, limited forensic methods and technology, the absence of advanced forensic techniques made it difficult to conclusively link physical evidence to the killer, inaccurate and unreliable eyewitness accounts, conflicting testimonies, and a lack of reliable witnesses made it challenging to build a clear picture of the suspect difficulty and tracking the killer's movements. The crowded and poorly lit streets of the white chapel provided ample opportunities for the killer to evade capture and the pressure from the public and the media, the high profile nature of the case and the media's sensationalized coverage added to the pressure on the police to solve the crimes quickly. Now the impact that the media had over this this case was they had a pretty significant role. Yeah. In shaping the Jack the Ripper case, newspapers provided extensive coverage of the murderers with detailed accounts and illustrations of the crime scenes. The sensationalism in reporting fueled public fear and fascination with the case, turning Jack the Ripper into an infamous figure. The media also played a part in dismantling the letters allegedly written by the killer. Including the Dear Boss letter that gave rise to the name Jack the Ripper. This further amplified the public's interest in the case, but it also led to numerous false leads and hindered the investigation. Additionally, the media's portrayal of the victims, the East End of London, and the police's perceived incompetence contributed to the overall narrative and legacy of the Jack the Ripper case. Over the years, countless suspects have been proposed as the identity of Jack the Ripper. Some theories point to, or some theories point to individuals with medical training, while others suggest the involvement of prominent figures or even a group of killers. I believe that's that last name's pronounced correctly. Montague was a barista and school teacher who committed suicide in December of 1888, shortly after the last canonical murder. Sir Melville, a high ranking police officer, named Druitt as a suspect in a private case. 1894 memorandum stating that the murderer was a sexually insane doctor who killed himself after the Kelly murder. However, Drewett wasn't a doctor and there was no concrete evidence linking him to the murderers. The timing of this suicide. Or the timing of his suicide and Melville's suspicion have kept Dritt's name attached to the case. Aaron Kosminski was a Polish Jewish immigrant who lived in the white chapel area during the time of the murders. He was admitted to an insane asylum in 1891, suffering from auditory hallucinations and paranoid schizophrenia. At the time, several officials believed that the killer was a local Jewish man. Aaron's mental illness and proximity to the crime scenes Made him a suspect in 2014, a controversial DNA study claimed to have found a match between Aaron and a swall allegedly belonging to one of the victims. However, the study has been widely criticized for its methodology and lack of peer review. Dr. Thomas Neil Cream was a Canadian doctor and convicted serial killer. He was executed in 1892 for poisoning four women in London. After his arrest, he was discovered that he had also committed similar crimes in Chicago. Some believe that Cream was in London during the time of the Ripper murders and had the medical knowledge consistent with the mutilations. However, records indicate that Cream was imprisoned in Illinois during the murders, making it highly unlikely that he was Jack the Ripper. Francis Tumblitty was an American quack doctor with a history of criminal activity. He was in London during the time of the murders and was arrested in November 1888 for an unrelated defense. Tumblitty's suspicious behavior and his alleged collection of female organs have led some to consider him a suspect. After his release on bail, Tambliti fled to the United States, and the murderers seemed to stop. Despite the circumstantial evidence, there is no definitive proof linking Tambliti to the killings. And Walter Sickert. That's Sick ert. No, yeah, Sickert. Not Cigarette. Okay. Walter Sickert was a prominent British painter who became a suspect in the 20th century after crime novelist Patricia Cornwell published a book implicating him in the murders. Cornwell believed that Sickert's paintings contained clues pointing to his guilt and that he had the necessary anatomy knowledge However, her theories have been widely criticized for their speculative nature and lack of concrete evidence. Many experts dismiss the idea that Sickert was involved in the Ripper murders. While these are some of the most popular suspects, While these are some of the most popular suspects, None of them have been definitively proven to be Jack the Ripper. The case remains unsolved, and it is likely that new theories and suspects will continue to emerge as people remain fascinated by this enduring mystery. I, for one, am pointing my finger at Francis Blitti. It's very suspect that he leaves and then the murders stop, but what do y'all think? So the case of the Jack the Ripper has left a lasting impact on popular culture and crimeology. It has inspired countless books, movies, documentaries, and theories. And continues to be a topic of fascination and debate. Why else would we be talking about on this podcast if it wasn't, right? The Jack the Ripper case occurred during a time when forensic science was in its infancy. The investigation showcased the limitations of the techniques and tools available at the time. As a result, it highlighted the need for advancements in the field. Some key impacts on forensic science include crime scene prevention. The Ripper case emphasized the importance of preserving crime scenes and avoiding contamination of evidence. Future investigations would benefit from greater attention to detail in collecting and preserving physical evidence. Use of forensic pathology. The case demonstrated the need for a better understanding of human anatomy and the application of forensic pathology. In the following years, the field of forensic pathology would grow, becoming an essential part of criminal investigations. And profiling. The inability of the inability to identify Jack the Ripper. led investigators to develop early concepts of criminal profiling, which would later evolve into a more systematic approach to understanding criminal behavior and identifying suspects. So, the role that the media played was pretty significant in shaping the narrative of the Jack the Ripper case. Some of the ways it influenced the case include the Sensationalism. Newspapers were eager to capitalize on the public's fascination with the gruesome murders. They often sensationalized the story, fueling fear and hysteria in the general population. Dismanation of information. The media served as the primary means of dismantling, dismantling, Information about the case. That is a difficult word. Uh, both accurate and accurate. This allowed the public to follow the investigation closely, but it also led to the spread of misinformation and speculation. Creating the myth. The media helped create the enduring myth of Jack the Ripper, by giving the killer a memorable name. Publishing the alleged letters from the murderer And emphasizing the mysterious and seemingly supernatural aspect of the case. The Jack the Ripper case has had a lasting impact on the portrayal of serial killers in popular culture. The mysterious killer, the enduring mystery of Ripper's identity, has made the figure a template for subsequent fictional serial killers. The concept of an unknown, enigmatic killer has been used in countless books, movies, and television shows. The brutal nature of the crimes, the gruesome mutilations inflected by Jack the Ripper have influenced the depiction of violence in crime fiction and media. This has led to a trend of increasingly graphic portrayals of violence in the genre, and the genius criminal. The fact that Jack the Ripper was never caught has contributed to the notion of the serial killer as a criminal mastermind. This idea had been explored in numerous works of fiction, with killers portrayed as intelligent and methodical, always staying one step ahead of law enforcement. Overall, the Jack the Ripper case has had a lasting impact on forensic science, media coverage of crime, and the betrayal of serial killers in popular culture. The fascination with this unsolved mystery endures, continuing to influence crime narratives and investigations more than a century later. The true identity of Jack the Ripper may never be revealed. But the case serves as a chilling reminder of the dark side of humanity and the challenges faced by investigators in the pursuit of justice. Thank you for joining us on this episode of Unsolved Histories. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast for more fascinating stories from the past. I'm Joe Foster, and I'll see you next time.