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I thought this letter to the editor on October 6th was quite interesting....If anyone knows about this story I would be delighted to learn more....
"Sir - I have read the various scientific theories of the Whitechapel murders published in your columns during the last few days, also your able article, on September 10, after the murder of Annie Chapman, and I ask you to allow me to supplement those theories by quoting the facts of a case which came under my own observation some years ago. I had a young friend who had just returned home from college, and whose parents resided in the country. He was a fine, handsome young fellow, and, being an only son, his parents were very proud of him. After he had been home a few weeks, he received an invitation to visit some friends in London. His father readily consented, and he came here, and stayed two months. While on that visit he was allowed to do very much as he liked, and being young, and easily beguiled, he contracted a disease from which he never recovered, and which ultimately caused his death. When he returned home he confided his secret to me, and I entreated him to see a medical man at once, but he would not do so, preferring to treat with a "quack" in London, who advertised in the country papers.
Things went on in this way for nearly a year, and, of course, instead of getting better, he gradually got worse, until he ultimately became a perfect wreck, and I was reluctantly compelled to tell his father the true facts of the case, and that gentleman at once procured the best advice in his power, but the disease had thoroughly penetrated his system, and the physician could do him very little good.
At last dangerous symptoms began to develop themselves, for about every three weeks he would become morose, and his whole thoughts were concentrated on murder. He had informed me that the woman from whom he had contracted the disease was about 22 years of age, and it is a singular thing that, although his whole animosity was confined to womenkind, he never attempted to injure an elderly or middle aged lady, but if his sisters (aged respectively 20 and 22) came near him, he would fly at them like a tiger, and curse them, swearing that they had been his ruin. It was just the same if he saw young ladies of that age passing along the street he would snatch up a knife, or any weapon he could get hold of, and swear he would murder them. He had a delusion that they were all prostitutes, and that he had a mission to exterminate them wholesale; and yet, when he recovered from this mania, he was quite unconscious of his acts, and would be as affectionate and gentle to his sisters and their young lady friends as if nothing unusual had happened; but while the mania was strong upon him he showed astounding cunning, and had to be watched day and night, or there is no doubt that he would have executed his supposed mission by wholesale slaughter. Al last he became worse, and one day he attacked his favourite sister, and injured her so seriously that his friends were compelled to place him in a lunatic asylum, where he died a raving maniac.
Now, Sir, I am not a medical man, therefore I am not in a position to say whether this was a case of monomania, homicidal mania, or epilepsy; but with your kind permission I would like to point out a similarity between his case and that of the monster now committing the atrocious crimes in our midst. I have said that the woman who ruined my friend was about 22, and that when the mania was upon him he considered all girls of that age prostitutes, and that his revenge would only be complete by exterminating them wholesale. Is it not singular that the whole of the unfortunate women butchered in Whitechapel are about the same age? - viz., from 35 to 45? Can it be possible that this fiend has suffered in the same way as my friend, and has sworn a deadly revenge against all unfortunates of that age? Of course, I am presuming that he is a monomaniac, and doing his horrible work single handed.
Again, my friend always endeavoured to obtain a knife for his contemplated butchery, and constantly swore that the first victim he met he would disembowel. The knife has been the weapon chosen for the Whitechapel tragedies, only, unfortunately, it has successfully accomplished its diabolical work. You will notice that the attacks of my friend were periodical, (every three weeks), and almost the same thing occurs in the present murders. I have mentioned these facts to show you that, although my friend was prevented from carrying out his designs, there is not the least doubt but that he would have done so had he been a free agent in the matter; therefore, I think that in many particulars his case is analogous to the series of hideous murders lately committed. I see that the police are making vigorous search in the lodging houses of Whitechapel. I wonder if they have ever thought it possible that the assassin may have taken refuge in one of the vaults of the churches in that neighbourhood? One thing is certain, they need not look for him in lodging houses.
I noticed a letter headed "East End Atrocities" in your issue of October 3, signed A.F.H., M.D., and although I agree with a portion of what he says, I certainly cannot see why the details given at the coroner's inquest should be kept secret, for, allowing that the publication of every detail does put the criminal on his guard, it at the same time puts the whole facts before the public, and brings many things to light which may ultimately lead to the arrest of the said criminal. Germany may like secrecy, but, as a rule, John Bull likes to know what is going on around him. As regards every penny a liner, butcher boy, &c., having his theory on these murders, I suppose, as I cannot write M.D. after my name, I must consider myself classed as one of these; however, as the greater part of this letter deals with facts I am quite content to let "poor, rational medical men" lay aside hypotheses and supply theories to the above facts, which I do not profess to understand."
I am, &c.,
Carlisle street, N.W., October 5.
Best regards all
I thought this letter to the editor on October 6th was quite interesting....If anyone knows about this story I would be delighted to learn more....
"Sir - I have read the various scientific theories of the Whitechapel murders published in your columns during the last few days, also your able article, on September 10, after the murder of Annie Chapman, and I ask you to allow me to supplement those theories by quoting the facts of a case which came under my own observation some years ago. I had a young friend who had just returned home from college, and whose parents resided in the country. He was a fine, handsome young fellow, and, being an only son, his parents were very proud of him. After he had been home a few weeks, he received an invitation to visit some friends in London. His father readily consented, and he came here, and stayed two months. While on that visit he was allowed to do very much as he liked, and being young, and easily beguiled, he contracted a disease from which he never recovered, and which ultimately caused his death. When he returned home he confided his secret to me, and I entreated him to see a medical man at once, but he would not do so, preferring to treat with a "quack" in London, who advertised in the country papers.
Things went on in this way for nearly a year, and, of course, instead of getting better, he gradually got worse, until he ultimately became a perfect wreck, and I was reluctantly compelled to tell his father the true facts of the case, and that gentleman at once procured the best advice in his power, but the disease had thoroughly penetrated his system, and the physician could do him very little good.
At last dangerous symptoms began to develop themselves, for about every three weeks he would become morose, and his whole thoughts were concentrated on murder. He had informed me that the woman from whom he had contracted the disease was about 22 years of age, and it is a singular thing that, although his whole animosity was confined to womenkind, he never attempted to injure an elderly or middle aged lady, but if his sisters (aged respectively 20 and 22) came near him, he would fly at them like a tiger, and curse them, swearing that they had been his ruin. It was just the same if he saw young ladies of that age passing along the street he would snatch up a knife, or any weapon he could get hold of, and swear he would murder them. He had a delusion that they were all prostitutes, and that he had a mission to exterminate them wholesale; and yet, when he recovered from this mania, he was quite unconscious of his acts, and would be as affectionate and gentle to his sisters and their young lady friends as if nothing unusual had happened; but while the mania was strong upon him he showed astounding cunning, and had to be watched day and night, or there is no doubt that he would have executed his supposed mission by wholesale slaughter. Al last he became worse, and one day he attacked his favourite sister, and injured her so seriously that his friends were compelled to place him in a lunatic asylum, where he died a raving maniac.
Now, Sir, I am not a medical man, therefore I am not in a position to say whether this was a case of monomania, homicidal mania, or epilepsy; but with your kind permission I would like to point out a similarity between his case and that of the monster now committing the atrocious crimes in our midst. I have said that the woman who ruined my friend was about 22, and that when the mania was upon him he considered all girls of that age prostitutes, and that his revenge would only be complete by exterminating them wholesale. Is it not singular that the whole of the unfortunate women butchered in Whitechapel are about the same age? - viz., from 35 to 45? Can it be possible that this fiend has suffered in the same way as my friend, and has sworn a deadly revenge against all unfortunates of that age? Of course, I am presuming that he is a monomaniac, and doing his horrible work single handed.
Again, my friend always endeavoured to obtain a knife for his contemplated butchery, and constantly swore that the first victim he met he would disembowel. The knife has been the weapon chosen for the Whitechapel tragedies, only, unfortunately, it has successfully accomplished its diabolical work. You will notice that the attacks of my friend were periodical, (every three weeks), and almost the same thing occurs in the present murders. I have mentioned these facts to show you that, although my friend was prevented from carrying out his designs, there is not the least doubt but that he would have done so had he been a free agent in the matter; therefore, I think that in many particulars his case is analogous to the series of hideous murders lately committed. I see that the police are making vigorous search in the lodging houses of Whitechapel. I wonder if they have ever thought it possible that the assassin may have taken refuge in one of the vaults of the churches in that neighbourhood? One thing is certain, they need not look for him in lodging houses.
I noticed a letter headed "East End Atrocities" in your issue of October 3, signed A.F.H., M.D., and although I agree with a portion of what he says, I certainly cannot see why the details given at the coroner's inquest should be kept secret, for, allowing that the publication of every detail does put the criminal on his guard, it at the same time puts the whole facts before the public, and brings many things to light which may ultimately lead to the arrest of the said criminal. Germany may like secrecy, but, as a rule, John Bull likes to know what is going on around him. As regards every penny a liner, butcher boy, &c., having his theory on these murders, I suppose, as I cannot write M.D. after my name, I must consider myself classed as one of these; however, as the greater part of this letter deals with facts I am quite content to let "poor, rational medical men" lay aside hypotheses and supply theories to the above facts, which I do not profess to understand."
I am, &c.,
Carlisle street, N.W., October 5.
Best regards all
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