Theory

[Jon Guy]

I am working on a theory regarding the writing on the wall, does anybody know of any published articles in the news papers, or any published police theory about Jack being a Jew prior to the double murder on 29 SEPTEMBER 1888?

My theory is Jack did write the message on the wall, and IF I am right I would make for a interesting insight into the killers mind. "The Juwes are the men that would be blamed for nothing."

Central to my theory is the killer was not Jewish, but was angered by the thought that he might be considered to be Jewish. If it was published or word got out that the police were investigating Jews it would have prompted Jack to write the message on the wall. Not only that but it seemed to be taunting police in true Jack the Ripper fashion.

So if Jack the Ripper was not Jewish, but wanted the throw the police of his scent why wouldn't he keep quiet about not being Jewish? The answer is simple, I believe that Jack was a psychopath with Narcissistic tendencies. Also anti-Semitism has a long tradition in Europe it is possible that Jack had a prejudice against Jews. If this is true Jack would become angered at the thought that a Jew might take credit for his "work."

Thoughts?

I`m nearly with you, Dahler.
I can see the killer being anti-semitic (it would fit in with him being the horrible little man he was) hence the abuse thrown at Schwartz, and the GSG could just have been an incitement to riot (which is what Arnold and Warren thought).

[Rosella]

I don't think the police would have publicised any theories at the time, would they, as everyone from Sir Charles Warren down, was terrified that the East End was going to go up like a tinderbox, (or do you mean memos etc that may have been kept quiet at the time but were published many years later?) John Pizer alias 'Leather Apron' was investigated of course, but you mean, others besides him?

I agree that the Ripper, if a local, could well have been anti Semitic. Anti Jewish feeling had been on the rise for several years due to the influx of Eastern Europeans etc fleeing from pogroms. He could well have enjoyed the thought of causing a riot and I do feel that the location of Stride's death and Eddowes, near Jewish social clubs, was probably no coincidence.

[Jon Guy]

I don't think the police would have publicised any theories at the time, would they, as everyone from Sir Charles Warren down, was terrified that the East End was going to go up like a tinderbox, (or do you mean memos etc that may have been kept quiet at the time but were published many years later?).

Yes, I was referring to the internal reports regarding the GSG.

John Pizer alias 'Leather Apron' was investigated of course, but you mean, others besides him?

Mrs Long`s "foreigner"

I agree that the Ripper, if a local, could well have been anti Semitic. Anti Jewish feeling had been on the rise for several years due to the influx of Eastern Europeans etc fleeing from pogroms. He could well have enjoyed the thought of causing a riot and I do feel that the location of Stride's death and Eddowes, near Jewish social clubs, was probably no coincidence.

Agreed.
Although, I would be surprised if it turned out that the killer had planned to kill in Mitre Sq and Berner St.

[Abby Normal]

Indeed, Rosella, they were expecting more murders but DB was the only the second letter received by the authorities, and predicted that the murders would soon recommence, which they did 2 or 3 days later. The author even asked that the letter be held back until he had commenced his work again.

The letter threatens to clip the ladies ear, which happened, even though Nichols and Chapman had no facial mutilations.

Lots of coincidences here. Too many for me, at least to put it to bed as just a hoax.

totally agree. I can see one maybe two coincidences but 3?
Plus I don't think a hoaxer would open himself up to be so easily found out to be a hoax with so detailed info offered up.

Also,certain high level police later distancing themselves from dear boss, strikes me as similar to the Drs distancing themselves from the American dr looking for specimens story and that the ripper could have had medical background.
Its a natural reaction against making your profession/yourself look bad.

[Rosella]

The Dear Boss letter was the first letter signed Jack the Ripper, not the second. It was written on September 25th.

'I love my work and want to start again. You will soon hear of me with my funny little games' and 'I want to get to work right away if I get a chance' are hardly predictions! Anyone expecting more murders to occur in this series could write that. No great detailed descriptions occur.

As I said, the Saucy Jacky's postcard was probably written after news of the double event reached the newspapers.

As for 'clipping the lady's ears off' and sending them to the police (the DB letter) why didn't he do it? Why stop at an earlobe in the midst of the facial mutilations?

Taking the ears would have been a matter of moments. Then parcel them up and post them to Scotland Yard a la Lusk's kidney. That would really have given the police something to think about!

Sorry, but we'll have to agree to disagree. I can see nothing in either communication that points to them coming from the killer.

[Jon Guy]

Hi Rosella

The Dear Boss letter was the first letter signed Jack the Ripper, not the second. It was written on September 25th..

I was referring to DB as the "second letter" because it was the second of all the letters received by the authorities purporting to come from the killer. DB wasn`t just another letter amongst all those flooding in, it was the second. The first received been the "Boro road" letter.

'I love my work and want to start again. You will soon hear of me with my funny little games' and 'I want to get to work right away if I get a chance' are hardly predictions! Anyone expecting more murders to occur in this series could write that. No great detailed descriptions occur..

The author, if genuine, was hardly going to write I will be at work on Saturday night !!!

As I said, the Saucy Jacky's postcard was probably written after news of the double event reached the newspapers...

Maybe. But how did the author of SJ know that the first one squealed ?
This detail is only mentioned in Schwartz`s police statement, and not in the newspaper version.

As for 'clipping the lady's ears off' and sending them to the police (the DB letter) why didn't he do it? Why stop at an earlobe in the midst of the facial mutilations?...

It was more than the lobe that was cut off (see attached sketch).
Why stop at that ? The author tells us in SJ that he didn`t have time to get ears for police (which sits well with the fact that we all know time was very tight for the killer in Mitre Sq). Note that he doesn`t write he didn`t have time cut the ears off, he says he didn`t have time to get them for the police.
Where was the ear found ? It was found later at the morgue, amongst her clothing. How would the ear get there if it was somehow sliced off by accident whilst preforming the facial mutilations ? I`d suggest it was dropped on Eddowes and in the ensuing madness the killer forgot about it or couldn`t find it.

Sorry, but we'll have to agree to disagree. I can see nothing in either communication that points to them coming from the killer.

You will be amongst the majority on this issue.
I think there`s only a few of us who think the killer wrote DB and SJ.

[Abby Normal]

Hi Rosella



I was referring to DB as the "second letter" because it was the second of all the letters received by the authorities purporting to come from the killer. DB wasn`t just another letter amongst all those flooding in, it was the second. The first received been the "Boro road" letter.



The author, if genuine, was hardly going to write I will be at work on Saturday night !!!



Maybe. But how did the author of SJ know that the first one squealed ?
This detail is only mentioned in Schwartz`s police statement, and not in the newspaper version.



It was more than the lobe that was cut off (see attached sketch).
Why stop at that ? The author tells us in SJ that he didn`t have time to get ears for police (which sits well with the fact that we all know time was very tight for the killer in Mitre Sq). Note that he doesn`t write he didn`t have time cut the ears off, he says he didn`t have time to get them for the police.
Where was the ear found ? It was found later at the morgue, amongst her clothing. How would the ear get there if it was somehow sliced off by accident whilst preforming the facial mutilations ? I`d suggest it was dropped on Eddowes and in the ensuing madness the killer forgot about it or couldn`t find it.



You will be amongst the majority on this issue.
I think there`s only a few of us who think the killer wrote DB and SJ.

I was going to respond to rosella until I saw your post.

I would just add that the DBs writers request to hold it back until he gets to work again underscores your point

The author, if genuine, was hardly going to write I will be at work on Saturday night !!!

[Bridewell]

But why a reasonable expectation ?

There had been two murders in a week, then nothing for three weeks and then the letter, and only the second letter to be sent in at this point.

It's not a reasonable expectation but it's a 'no lose' gamble. If the writer predicts another murder and it never happens the letter will be forgotten. If he predicts something which does come to pass the letter assumes an importance it may not deserve.

[Abby Normal]

It's not a reasonable expectation but it's a 'no lose' gamble. If the writer predicts another murder and it never happens the letter will be forgotten. If he predicts something which does come to pass the letter assumes an importance it may not deserve.

Hi Bridewell
The writer predicts wanting to kill again 3 effing times in the letter. As a cop I undersstand your frustration.

[minutia]

Or it could be that "Jack" enjoyed Sherlock Holmes as much as we do.

[dahler101]

Or it could be that "Jack" enjoyed Sherlock Holmes as much as we do.

This is a very real possibility. The FBI conducted a study finding that a high number of serial killers read pulp magazines a mystery novels, however the first publication was in 1887 and the Ripper was already an adult. So he might have read Sherlock Holmes but likely drew inspiration from an earlier publication.

[Rosella]

I wouldn't be surprised, (if he was a local and not an immigrant), if Jack grew up reading 'penny dreadfuls', including Varney the Vampire, stories of Spring Heel Jack etc.

[minutia]

Indeed! The entertainment of 1888 would have been ample fodder for the thrill seeking public and would have included performances of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and the debut of the Sherlock character in story in 1887. When I consider the character of JTR, I
Find myself having to venn diagram a basic question: “ Was he a stupid, impulsive and an extremely lucky killer?” (if yes, go to the lunatic suspects) or, as I lean toward—an extreme intellect-- A cross between Rod Steiger in “No way to treat a lady” and Hannibal Lecter. If yes, then he would certainly delight in Sherlock stories as the
Toyed with the perlice.
Similarities between actual events and the events in the 1st Sherlock story of “A study in Scarlet” are interesting.
For instance:
The Washing of hands in a basin
Deliberately wiping the knife on sheets (or apron)
and the writing left on the wall :
“Rache” (German for “revenge”) written on wall in blood by finger.
(Sherlock notes that the height of the writing gives an idea to height as it usually will be eye level of the suspect)
Of this German writing on the wall I quote Sherlock as he states:
….”It was simply a blind intended to put the police upon a wrong track, by suggesting
Socialism and secret societies. It was not done by a German. The A, if you noticed, was printed somewhat after the German fashion. Now, a real German invariably prints in the Latin character, so that we may safely say that this was not written by one, but by a clumsy imitator who overdid his part. It was simply a ruse to divert inquiry into a wrong
Channel.” (Cover Thrift ed. “A study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four.”p24)

This eerily echoes the questions on the Goulston Street writing.

Interesting, eh?!
So many classics, so little time
All the best to you, this beautiful Fall afternoon.