An authorship analysis of the Jack the Ripper letters (Andrea Nini, 2018)

[Michael W Richards]

Fascinating and comprehensive study of the linguistics and language used in the Ripper letters. It's interesting that the study claims 'Dear Boss' (27/09/1888), 'Saucy Jacky' (01/10/1888) & 'Moab and Midian' Letters (05/10/1888) were all by the same hand but doesn't feel the same about the 'From Hell' letter (15/10/1888). Which proposes something quite interesting. Yet, the 'From Hell' letter - not signed as Jack The Ripper even though it did claim it as his "trade name" - was the only one which also contained part of a human kidney which was confirmed as being female and suffering from brights disease. Later examination also showed it was pretty much a perfect fit for the kidney cut out from Eddowes. I believe the kidney sent to Lusk was that of Catherine Eddowes.

Which begs the question could the 'From Hell' letter be genuine - and the others the work of an enterprising journalist - perhaps Mr Bulling himself? I also believe the 'From Hell' letter to be genuine. I believe it was written with such language and mis-spellings as to try and throw the reader (and police) off the scent. Harder words were spelt fine but easy words were mis-spelt. Why? Ponderings....

I certainly agree with the part in bold above erobitha, too elaborate to be a hoax. And sent to Lusk, not the Police. I think that in that small detail we may see something revealing, albeit only relating to Kates murder at this point.

A brief hello to an old friend of mine here, Its nice to see you Simon. Even If only your typed thoughts.

[Aethelwulf]

Anyone know which letters this press report is referring to?

"Jack the Ripper's" Whereabouts
London, Dec. 31.
The police have received and traced to their origin letters which lead them to believe that "Jack the Ripper" is living in the vicinity of Dury (sic) Lane.

[Simon Wood]

Hi Abby,

Bulls*it Baffles Brains.

Regards,

Simon

[Abby Normal]

Good to know that the 3-B Rule is alive and well.

whats the 3-b rule?

[mpriestnall]

3-B rule or not 3-B rule that is the question...

[Simon Wood]

Good to know that the 3-B Rule is alive and well.

[Abby Normal]

Fascinating and comprehensive study of the linguistics and language used in the Ripper letters. It's interesting that the study claims 'Dear Boss' (27/09/1888), 'Saucy Jacky' (01/10/1888) & 'Moab and Midian' Letters (05/10/1888) were all by the same hand but doesn't feel the same about the 'From Hell' letter (15/10/1888). Which proposes something quite interesting. Yet, the 'From Hell' letter - not signed as Jack The Ripper even though it did claim it as his "trade name" - was the only one which also contained part of a human kidney which was confirmed as being female and suffering from brights disease. Later examination also showed it was pretty much a perfect fit for the kidney cut out from Eddowes. I believe the kidney sent to Lusk was that of Catherine Eddowes.

Which begs the question could the 'From Hell' letter be genuine - and the others the work of an enterprising journalist - perhaps Mr Bulling himself? I also believe the 'From Hell' letter to be genuine. I believe it was written with such language and mis-spellings as to try and throw the reader (and police) off the scent. Harder words were spelt fine but easy words were mis-spelt. Why? Ponderings....

hi ero
From Hellmentions nothing about trade name-signs off with-catch me when you can.
But I also believe it more than likely genuine. Ive never bought the argument that it was prank from a medical student or anything along those lines-it would be extremely difficult to obtain a human kidney.
The mention of eating it also is interesting as post mortem serial killers are the type that engage in cannibalism as is now known.. Would hoaxer back then know that?
The overall letter has a ring of truth to it to me-not signing off like all the others as jack the ripper, sending to a local vigilance committee member(did the ripper assume lawenda and company-watching him before he murdered eddowes- were members??)

Howver. I don't think he was trying to disguise anything or throw off the scent intentionally when he wrote it. To me it looks like he may have written it while drunk-the sloppiness, large flourishes to the letters, misspellings etc.

[erobitha]

Fascinating and comprehensive study of the linguistics and language used in the Ripper letters. It's interesting that the study claims 'Dear Boss' (27/09/1888), 'Saucy Jacky' (01/10/1888) & 'Moab and Midian' Letters (05/10/1888) were all by the same hand but doesn't feel the same about the 'From Hell' letter (15/10/1888). Which proposes something quite interesting. Yet, the 'From Hell' letter - not signed as Jack The Ripper even though it did claim it as his "trade name" - was the only one which also contained part of a human kidney which was confirmed as being female and suffering from brights disease. Later examination also showed it was pretty much a perfect fit for the kidney cut out from Eddowes. I believe the kidney sent to Lusk was that of Catherine Eddowes.

Which begs the question could the 'From Hell' letter be genuine - and the others the work of an enterprising journalist - perhaps Mr Bulling himself? I also believe the 'From Hell' letter to be genuine. I believe it was written with such language and mis-spellings as to try and throw the reader (and police) off the scent. Harder words were spelt fine but easy words were mis-spelt. Why? Ponderings....

[Callmebill]

A fascinating post. Perhaps we should search for a dialect that uses 'keep back' as an expression - that would involve running strings through period publications

[jerryd]

Thanks Jerry
this guy sounds like a glorified Packer to me. maybe justifying his existence as head of a vigilance committee

That and heading up the Skeleton Army in Whitechapel.

[Abby Normal]

Abby,

Yes, the Three Nuns incident during the double event.

Thanks Jerry
this guy sounds like a glorified Packer to me. maybe justifying his existence as head of a vigilance committee

[jerryd]

Hi Jerry
wasn't backert also the guy that was coming up with all those dodgy stories about talking to a suspicious character in a hotel/pub? something like that?

Abby,

Yes, the Three Nuns incident during the double event.

[Abby Normal]

There was another letter very similar to Dear Boss, Saucy Jack and especially Moab and Midian that was written in october of 1889. Interestingly it was addressed to Albert Bachert, again, and denied claims (most likely to the Pinchin torso) just as M&M denied claims to the Whitehall torso.

Whitechapel, Oct. 11, 1889
Dear Boss,
I write you these few lines to let you know, as you are the boss of the vigilance committee, that the last job was not me. You might have known it was not me, for I would not have made such a botch of it. Never mind, young man; you can keep your lamps open for the 18th of October. I am on the job again. There's no blood knocking around or I would let you see some. Never mind; look out, old man, you're a brave sort. You thought you had me once. Yours in haste,
Jack the Ripper.

A side note about Bachert is another letter was received by him (Eastern Hotel POP letter) that the original was destroyed and due to Bacherts skills in engraving he transcribed the letter in similar handwriting.

Woodford Times (Essex)
Friday, 19 July 1889

LETTER FROM "THE RIPPER."

As a corroboration of the above theory, and justifying the action of the Thames police, a letter was received a few days ago by Mr. Albert Backert [Bachert], Whitechapel, as chairman of the vigilance committee, commencing: "Eastern Hotel, Pop-." And then thickly penning the words out. Mr. Backert states that he was urged to treat the matter as a practical joke; but in view of the writer "Jack the Ripper," threatening to re-commence operations about the middle of July, and Wednesday morning's murder, inquiries have been made, with the result that it has been discovered that there is an Eastern Hotel in the East India Dock-road, Poplar, which is within a stone's throw of the docks, and where a number of sailors put up. It is thought probable that the murderer may have been on a voyage during the interval between the Miller's-court murder and the one which on Wednesday renewed the horrors which have shocked the world.

The Spectator
July 27, 1889

As a preliminary, however, he tried to obtain from Baeckert a specimen of the handwriting in which the letter signed Jack the Ripper was written. Though he failed in this owing to the letter having been destroyed, Baeckert who was an engraver by trade and so was accustomed to imitate what he had seen reproduced for what it might be worth a specimen of the writing as he remembered it.

Hi Jerry
wasn't backert also the guy that was coming up with all those dodgy stories about talking to a suspicious character in a hotel/pub? something like that?

[jerryd]

There was another letter very similar to Dear Boss, Saucy Jack and especially Moab and Midian that was written in october of 1889. Interestingly it was addressed to Albert Bachert, again, and denied claims (most likely to the Pinchin torso) just as M&M denied claims to the Whitehall torso.

Whitechapel, Oct. 11, 1889
Dear Boss,
I write you these few lines to let you know, as you are the boss of the vigilance committee, that the last job was not me. You might have known it was not me, for I would not have made such a botch of it. Never mind, young man; you can keep your lamps open for the 18th of October. I am on the job again. There's no blood knocking around or I would let you see some. Never mind; look out, old man, you're a brave sort. You thought you had me once. Yours in haste,
Jack the Ripper.

A side note about Bachert is another letter was received by him (Eastern Hotel POP letter) that the original was destroyed and due to Bacherts skills in engraving he transcribed the letter in similar handwriting.

Woodford Times (Essex)
Friday, 19 July 1889

LETTER FROM "THE RIPPER."

As a corroboration of the above theory, and justifying the action of the Thames police, a letter was received a few days ago by Mr. Albert Backert [Bachert], Whitechapel, as chairman of the vigilance committee, commencing: "Eastern Hotel, Pop-." And then thickly penning the words out. Mr. Backert states that he was urged to treat the matter as a practical joke; but in view of the writer "Jack the Ripper," threatening to re-commence operations about the middle of July, and Wednesday morning's murder, inquiries have been made, with the result that it has been discovered that there is an Eastern Hotel in the East India Dock-road, Poplar, which is within a stone's throw of the docks, and where a number of sailors put up. It is thought probable that the murderer may have been on a voyage during the interval between the Miller's-court murder and the one which on Wednesday renewed the horrors which have shocked the world.

The Spectator
July 27, 1889

As a preliminary, however, he tried to obtain from Baeckert a specimen of the handwriting in which the letter signed Jack the Ripper was written. Though he failed in this owing to the letter having been destroyed, Baeckert who was an engraver by trade and so was accustomed to imitate what he had seen reproduced for what it might be worth a specimen of the writing as he remembered it.

[Sam Flynn]

My pleasure, Abby.