What exactly was Robert Graysmith's theory on who the Ripper was?

[DarkTaleProductions]

I've never read The Bell Tower, but I'm curious as to who he believed was the Ripper?

[Phil Carter]

Hello DTP,

Here is a resume of the book...

Graysmith's theory links the Ripper killings with two murders committed in San Francisco in the spring of 1895. The Ripper is John George Gibson, a Canadian-born Baptist preacher who resigned his parish in Scotland in 1887 and whose whereabouts are unknown until his arrival in the U.S. in December 1888, shortly after the lkast C5. Although a medical student was convicted and hanged for the San Francisco murders, Graysmith argues that only Gibson had the time and access to kill the two women, whose bodies were found in his new parish, the Emmanuel Baptist Church in San Francisco's Mission District.
The San Francisco victims were not prostitutes; and the killer didn't boast to the authorities of his crimes as JTR may have done.
At the 1895 murder trial, the prosecutor claimed that medical student and Sunday-school teacher Theo Durrant was a psychopath with the same motive that prompted and made into a monster JTR. Durant allegedly killed Blanche Lamont, mutilating her body and hid it in the bell tower of the scandal-plagued Emmanuel Baptist Church. The connection to this killing and that of another young woman at the church with the 1888 Whitechapel murders is faint. While Durrant still professed his innocence on the scaffold, Emmanuel Baptist's pastor, John ``Jack'' Gibson, was never investigated as a suspect, even though the scandal couldnt save his reputation. Pastor Jack apparently bore a strong resemblance to one of the police sketches of the serial killer. IMHO, The selective evidence doesn't provide even circumstantial proof.

Hope that helps.

best wishes

Phil

[DarkTaleProductions]

Thanks. Was just curious, really. As Zodiac is one of my favorite films and is about Graysmith's investigation (and obsession) with the Zodiac killer. But I guess I just love it cause of filmmaker David Fincher. Anyhow, one more question...

do you believe that Jack the Ripper could possibly have been a Catholic Priest or a Holy Man?

[Phil Carter]

Hello DTP,

Well, anything is possible. Personally, I wouldn't put my bank balance on it, but with JTR, anything, it seems, is possible.

best wishes

Phil

[DarkTaleProductions]

Thanks Phil. If it was a Holy Man or Priest, I wonder what could've provoked him to become Jack the Ripper. Perhaps, because the bible frowns upon prostitution, but I wonder what could've been the trigger point, if he actually was a Holy Man.

[Mike Covell]

I found this really cheap on Amazon just before Christmas and ordered it, it should be here this week. Looking forward to reading it.

[kensei]

Thanks Phil. If it was a Holy Man or Priest, I wonder what could've provoked him to become Jack the Ripper. Perhaps, because the bible frowns upon prostitution, but I wonder what could've been the trigger point, if he actually was a Holy Man.

Gee, doesn't the Bible kind of frown on murder too, and tell us to forgive, etc. etc.? You just never know with people.

Robert Graysmith has been lambasted to no end for his theories on various cases, and I doubt his ideas on the Ripper have merit, but I am one of his supporters when it comes to the Zodiac, which after all is a case he was personally involved in.

[DarkTaleProductions]

but I am one of his supporters when it comes to the Zodiac, which after all is a case he was personally involved in.

I second that.

[sdreid]

I applaud Graysmith's research on Zodiac but not his conclusion nor do I think "his" movie is the best on the case.

As for his Ripper book, I read it out of the library many years ago and think his theory is out there, as do most I believe. That said, there is a lot of well written information about the Durrant case as well as good illustrations

[Uncle Jack]

Didn't Graysmith's book on Zodiac come under scrutiny, with him being accused of fabricating and twisting certain facts to fit with his theory? I don't know much about it but I did read that somewhere.

EDIT - found the link to the website I read that questioned Robert Graysmith, calling him a scavenger!!: http://www.zodiackillerfacts.com/graysmith.htm