The public opinion

[chudmuskett]

Hi I would like to hear others thoughts on the overall feel of the public in and around the area of these crimes at the time of the murders. I feel that there is a chance that the ideas of this time as we know it (or don't know it) is actually an unacurate perception that fits into our 20th century way of thinking? I myself feel that there was fear but in a sort of fun way as in watch out for the bogey man sort of way and Jack the Ripper was seen by some as morbid facination rather than a threat. Is this just because I have watched too many movies on the subject or is it true? On the other hand the public used alot of drink and drugs so did they really care? I dont know, what do you think?

[lynn cates]

methods

Hello Chud. This is a good idea for a thread.

It seems to me that there are 2 ways to get an answer here.

1. By trawling the period newspapers.

2. Reading personal diaries.

In #1, it seems that most horror was felt in the Chapman killing. Perhaps its novelty? It also seems to be the case that public horror waned after about 2 weeks past each event.

For #2, I read a personal diary from 1888. The chap made the inane remark that the killings would likely go on until the perpetrator were apprehended.

Cheers.
LC

[Rubyretro]

I think that it depends who you were, Chudmuskett...if you were a bloke or
'an honest woman' then morbid fascination.

If you were a poor prostitute then fear....deadened by drink.

[Tom_Wescott]

Hi I would like to hear others thoughts on the overall feel of the public in and around the area of these crimes at the time of the murders.

Hi Chud, long time, no see. Stephen Ryder published a very interesting book exactly along these lines some years back. It's called 'Public Reactions to the Jack the Ripper Murders' and presents a number of 'letters to the editor' from members of the public to various newspapers regarding the murders.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[K-453]

Here are two dissertations about the topic, hope it helps:

Rippercussions : Public Reaction to the Ripper Murders in the Victorian Press

http://www.casebook.org/dissertations/rippercussions.html

Rippermania: Fear and Fascination in Victorian London

http://www.casebook.org/dissertations/dst-rippermania.html

It depended on living in the East End or the West End. In the West End, there was some fascination, although the women there were afraid, too.

I'm on my way reading through the Press Reports section, and to my surprise the East Enders mostly reacted with brutality. After each murder, there were turmoils and brawls, and everybody looking suspicious was brutally harrassed.

Also to my surprise, an astonishing number of men thought it funny to bully women by pretending they were Jack the Ripper.

But there was fascination, too. Think of the people in Hanbury Street, who let sightseers look out of their windows for a penny.

[DVV]

Hi Chud, long time, no see. Stephen Ryder published a very interesting book exactly along these lines some years back. It's called 'Public Reactions to the Jack the Ripper Murders' and presents a number of 'letters to the editor' from members of the public to various newspapers regarding the murders.

Tom Wescott

That's certainly the kind (in terms of angles and approach) of ripper books I enjoy, rather than reading the inquests and the same documents again and again.

[chudmuskett]

Thanks for the posts. Interesting how things change over time.