Myths Behind Jack The Ripper
Ehsan Maitra
Jack the Ripper, became the name of terror across the London during autumn of 1888. When he left one of his victim (woman) with mutilated gash from chest to abdomen. This most infamous serial killer of history was never apprehended nor identified. But most definitely he was real. As all of his 5 victims bore the design of his most unique and gruesome killing.
From August 7 to September 10, 5 prostitutes were violently murdered in the East end of London, White chapel district. All these women’s crime scenes horrified even the most hardened investigators. Investigations easily identified the connection among all these 5 killings. Since, these women’s bodies were diligently curved, cut and organs removed. As if performed by a surgeon, then left the mess all over the patient. As infamous killer Jack was dubbed as the ‘Ripper.’ Robin Odell wrote in his book ‘Ripper logy’, “He literally butchered his victims.” Several other murders were staged after in White chapel. But none of those were of such remark as the true Ripper’s.
As his existence was ever ghastly, also his motives were ever unknown. But his killing suggests that he knew the street and the people very well. Philologists say that, he was a narcissistic and pleasured himself in rich sadistic fantasy from his prey. Lack of recognition might have driven him to this as he might have been overlooked at his place. None of arrested suspects (over 100) were ever proven. Even Scotland Yard claimed of receiving numerous letters from anonymous, informing about the movements of ‘Jack the Ripper.’ Even few of them were from him.
By far the evidences suggest that, he was must have been a physician. All of his murders involved surgical knives which only top level medical authorities had access to during that time. In 1970, Dr. Thomas Stowell claimed that Sir William Gull’s (The royal physician) private papers revealed the Ripper’s true identity. But shortly after his death the papers were destroyed. The most recent claiming emerged from the story of Joseph Gorman’s Catholic grandmother Annie Crook of 1973. Who gave her bastard daughter (from a secret marriage) to Mary Jane Kelly to rise. Mary Kelly was the final victim of Jack the Ripper! Later in 1978, researcher Stephen Knight claimed that the father of the bastard child was Prince Albert Victor, Second in Line to the throne. Since, it was illegal for monarchs to marry a Catholic. He sought the help of Sir William Gull to avoid scandal and suggested to kill 4 others who knew the secret. Possibly he was never caught under the protection by the highest power of England. Surprisingly, the case dismissed, since there were no evidence of Sir William’s murder or any trace to Prince Victor’s illegal affair. Even Joseph Gorman admitted he made up the story soon after. Another theory suggests that, the Grandson of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert Victor went insane after contracting STD from a prostitute. Two of his letters interprets such claims and indicates he was restless. He had surgical training and supposes to join the military. Both of these directs around the same suspect or royal conspiracy. But very much criticized and not provable for lack of hard evidence.
Suddenly when his murders stopped in the fall of 1888. Citizens were left with questions that are yet to be answered centuries after. To this day there had been numerous appearance of Jack the Ripper in books, comics, movies, documentaries, historical tours etc. Still researches, including DNA test claims being verified. Featured topics in many Medias. Over 100 suspects under investigation. But he still remains unknown. Recently a museum titled to his name, opened in the Cable Street, London in August 2015. Myth, psycho, boogeyman or whatever his story might be. Jack the Ripper will always be the most infamous serial killer of
history.