Sweeny Todd and Jack the Ripper.

[Slimsid2000]

What possible conections (if any) could there be between the legendary demon barber of Fleet Street (Sweent Todd) and the real life serial killer Jack the Ripper?

[George Hutchinson]

Some people have started to believe that the fictional Todd really existed and others think that the factual Ripper was a myth. That's about as far as it goes. There is, as far as I am aware, no connection in any way whatsoever.

PHILIP

[Sam Flynn]

Sweeney was handy with a strop.

Jack was stroppy with his hands.

[Damien]

Hi

Sometimes I imagine the young ripper reading the novel about "Sweeney Todd", giggling and wallowing in pleasure...

But I think it`s rather my own personal fiction than reality...though I admittedly like it

Damien

[TheWickerMan]

Sweeney Todd was Jack the Ripper.

[AmandaG]

Both killers did their deeds in the city of London.

[smezenen]

Slimsid2000,
copied and pasted from Wilipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweeney_Todd


Sweeney Todd is a character who first appeared as the protagonist and main villain of a penny dreadful serial entitled The String of Pearls (1846-1847). Claims that Sweeney Todd was a real person[1][2] are strongly disputed by scholars,[3][4][5] although there are possible legendary prototypes, arguably making the story of Sweeney Todd an early example of an urban legend.[6]

The original version of the tale, The String of Pearls, is set in London in the year 1785 and concerns the strange disappearance of a sailor named Lieutenant Thornhill, last seen entering Sweeney Todd's establishment on Fleet Street. Thornhill was bearing a gift of a string of pearls (of the title) to a girl named Johanna Oakley on behalf of her missing lover, Mark Ingestrie, who is presumed lost at sea. One of Thornhill's seafaring friends, Colonel Jeffery, is alerted to Thornhill's disappearance by his faithful dog, Hector, and investigates his whereabouts. He is joined by Johanna, who wants to know what happened to her lover, Mark Ingestrie. Johanna's suspicions of Sweeney Todd's involvement lead her to dress up as a boy and enter Todd's employment, after his last assistant, Tobias Ragg, has been incarcerated in a madhouse. Eventually, the full grisly horror of Todd's activities are uncovered when the dismembered remains of hundreds of his victims are discovered in the crypt underneath St. Dunstan's church. Meanwhile, Mark Ingestrie, who has been imprisoned in the cellars beneath the pie shop and put to work as the cook, escapes via the lift used to bring the pies up from the cellar into the pie-shop. Here he makes the following startling announcement to the customers of that establishment:

"Ladies and Gentlemen — I fear that what I am going to say will spoil your appetites; but the truth is beautiful at all times, and I have to state that Mrs Lovett's pies are made of human flesh!"[8]
Mrs. Lovett is then poisoned by Sweeney Todd who is, himself, apprehended and hanged. For her part, Johanna marries Mark and lives happily ever after.

If Sweeny Tood did his deads in 1785 then he would be over 100 years old in 1888 and thus not the Ripper. Jack could have possibly read the story but that would be the only connection between the them.

[Suzi]

Perleasse!

We all-

Well hopefully we all - know that the story involving Sweeney, and the divine Mrs Lovett in their Fleet Street emporium was based 75% in fiction .(see post below)

I find it very disturbing that many people often make a muddle of Sherlock Holmes,Sweeney Todd and Jack the Ripper- combining them into some sort of 'Robin Hood Ye Olde Englande Romance'. Robin did exist and I'm sure was not the Richard Greene of our childhood- robbing the rich etc etc !

Of course Dick Turpin and Black Bess did exist- the ride to York may be a tad dubious but the guy lived- and later died for his crimes and was probably a highly unpleasant chararacter.

He has however become a figure of 'romance'

Now,Jack Sheppard, the famous cut-purse and jail-escaper seems to be missed out when it comes to 'characters 'who should be remembered for less heinous crimes and their ...shall we say 'cheekiness'. Just a read through Jack's escapades (!) warms the heart!!!

Suz x

[Gooner66]

We all-

Well hopefully we all - know that the story involving Sweeney, and the divine Mrs Lovett in their Fleet Street emporium was based 75% in fiction .(see post below)

I find it very disturbing that many people often make a muddle of Sherlock Holmes,Sweeney Todd and Jack the Ripper- combining them into some sort of 'Robin Hood Ye Olde Englande Romance'. Robin did exist and I'm sure was not the Richard Greene of our childhood- robbing the rich etc etc !

Of course Dick Turpin and Black Bess did exist- the ride to York may be a tad dubious but the guy lived- and later died for his crimes and was probably a highly unpleasant chararacter.

He has however become a figure of 'romance'

Now,Jack Sheppard, the famous cut-purse and jail-escaper seems to be missed out when it comes to 'characters 'who should be remembered for less heinous crimes and their ...shall we say 'cheekiness'. Just a read through Jack's escapades (!) warms the heart!!!

Suz x

Actually, although Dick Turpin did exist, Black Bess was a later addition to the story

Which I guess kinda proves your point

[caz]

Now,Jack Sheppard, the famous cut-purse and jail-escaper seems to be missed out when it comes to 'characters 'who should be remembered for less heinous crimes and their ...shall we say 'cheekiness'. Just a read through Jack's escapades (!) warms the heart!!!

Suz x

Hi Suzi,

A little bird told me almost a year ago that a new book on Jack Sheppard was being planned by a very reputable author in the true crime field. I've not heard anything since, but I do hope a publisher snapped this one up.

Love,

Caz
X

[Steve S]

I recall the film of 'Where's Jack' (Sheppard) with Tommy Steele....looking for a copy for my 18th cent collection...Think Lucy Moore did a good book on him & Jonathan Wild...'The Thieves Opera'
Steve

[Malcolm X]

uuuum...........probably a Peter Haining fake, after all; who else would know about this story except the killer.... this is a poor fake indeed!
and 186 Fleet st is wrong too, he cant see the clock of St Dunstans church from there