Which suspect has the most tragic or intriguing backstory?

[Marcel Prost]

Hello everyone,
I’m new to Casebook and really glad to be here. I’ve been interested in the Jack the Ripper case for a long time, especially concerning the suspects who have tragic or intriguing backstories. I find Montague Druitt particularly fascinating. His story taps into the mystery’s deeper themes: class tension, mental illness, and Victorian repression.

For me, Druitt stands out: an educated barrister and schoolteacher whose declining mental health, family history of insanity, and suicide soon after the last C5 murder make his story absolutely haunting.

Druitt’s story is almost too neat, which is part of what makes it feel literary and seductive. He may not be the Ripper, but he may be the most narratively satisfying suspect, embodying the mystery and madness at the heart of the case. His story fits the classic trope of the tortured, respectable man with a dark secret.

I’d love to hear your thoughts: in your opinion, which suspect has the most intriguing or tragic story, and why? Do you think someone else embodies the “Victorian gothic” element of the case more than Druitt does?

Looking forward to joining the discussions and learning from you all.

Best regards,
Marcel Prost

[Enigma]

Welcome to the boards Marcel.

You pose an interesting question. Usually all the focus is on the misfortune the victims had endured.

Personally, I do not have a favoured suspect. In my opinion, JtR was someone who never came under suspicion and unless some investigation miraculously finds solid evidence, he never will be identified. Until then, all we have is speculation.

In response to your question, I have to concur. Druitt is rather tragic. A man who was well educated, a fine sportsman and who was dismissed from his employment in questionable circumstances and shortly thereafter died by his own hand.

Regards,
Gazza

[I1ariusz]

Hello Marcel,

For me it's David Cohen or Aaron Davis Cohen - agressive lunatic who died in 1889 and was suspected to be the Ripper by late and genius Martin Fido. And what's most interesting about him is that we really don't know anything from his history. He is like a ghost - almost non-existent. It's funny to think that the real Ripper could be behind the name which does not really tell us anything about him. Just like Jack the Ripper nickname. He is an anonymous and pitiful monster (or just sad and miserable man) who almost dissapeared from cards of history. When you think of it - poor and possibly homeless man in his early twenties who is so psychotic that he dies couple of months after admition to the asylum. Similar story we could tell about Aaron Kosminsky, who is the most likely suspect, i think.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Hello Marcel and welcome to Casebook.

Druitt has been the suspect that I’ve favoured of the ones named for many years. So many have been named but only a very few in my opinion are worth further consideration. Druitt, Anderson’s suspect, Bury etc. For me the two with the most tragic/intriguing backstory are Druitt and Tumblety. I don’t think that Tumblety was the ripper but he was certainly an interesting character who had an eventful (to say the least) life. With Druitt, as you say, we have someone from the higher echelon of society. His family were connected by marriage to one of MacNaghten’s best friends, he is mysteriously sacked from the Blackheath school, his role as Treasurer to Blackheath cricket club comes to an end and it’s stated that he’s gone abroad, he dies in circumstances that, at the least, raises questions, his brother lies at the inquest. Not to mention getting mentioned by Macnaghten in his memorandum. So yes, intriguing for me and tragic as all suicides are. Was he the ripper? Who knows?