Explore JtR - Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to some of the more
commonly asked questions regarding Jack the Ripper.

Doctor George Bagster Phillips

Q - What are the "Whitechapel Murders"?
A - This is the general name used by Scotland Yard to designate their official file (MEPO 3/140) of 11 unsolved murders within the Whitechapel district (East End) of London, spanning from Emma Elizabeth Smith (attacked 3 April, died 4 April, 1888) to Francis Coles (attacked and died 13 february, 1891). While this volume records 11 murders, this is no indication that all 11 were killed by Jack the Ripper.

Q - Who was Jack the Ripper?
A - Jack the Ripper is recognized as a sexual serial killer, who committed his crimes during Autumn 1888. He killed, then typically committed post-mortem mutilations on his victims. In some cases, organ(s) were removed from the victim. His victims were prostitutes of the lowest order in the East End of London. During the more than 110 years since the murders, there have been over 100 people suspected of being Jack the Ripper.  Some of these individuals are suspected based on decent circumstantial evidence (Dr Francis Tumblety); some have been suspected based on a lack of knowledge of the case (Alfred Gray); and, there are those who seem to have been suspected merely out of spite (Leopold II, King of the Belgians).  But so far, no suspect has withstood the test of time, either because of new evidence which surfaced showing the suspect could not have been Jack the Ripper or because the argument/theory supporting the suspect was shown to be sufficiently flawed as to essentially remove that person from being suspected, (although not necessarily completely removed from being suspected). And on occasion, an old suspect does remerge under new arguments/theories. To date, there is no hard evidence to directly relate anyone to the killings.

Q - Are there any pictures of Jack the Ripper?
A - Photos or sketches of some of the individuals who have been or are suspected of being Jack the Ripper are available and are often provided within many of the books on Jack the Ripper, especially The Jack the Ripper A to Z by Begg, Fido & Skinner.

Q - Did Jack the Ripper where a top hat, cloak and/or carry a black bag, as portrayed often enough?
A - No eyewitness ever described such an attire. The black bag comes from Mrs. Mortimer who saw Leon Goldstein innocently walking down Berner Street during the early morning of 30 September. He was carrying a black bag, but it was filled with empty cigarette boxes, and he was merely passing through at the time. The media, however, reported this, which was passed along by the ill-informed and has become one of the more popular myths regarding Jack the Ripper. Eyewitnesses have provided the following descriptions:

    Mrs Long: dark coat, deerstalker, around forty years old, a little taller than the victim (Annie Chapman 5'-0").
    PC Smith: dark clothes, dark deerstalker, newspaper parcel, clean shaven, 28 years old, 5'-7" tall.
    William Marshall: dark pants, peaked sailor-like cap, possibly clean shaven, middle aged, 5'-6" tall.
    Israel Schwartz:
      (first man) dark jacket and trousers, black cap with a peak, brown moustache, about thirty years old, about 5'-5" tall.
      (second man) dark overcoat, old black hard felt hat with a wide brim, clay pipe in his hand, 35 years old, 5'-11" tall.
    James Brown: long coat almost down to the heels, average build, about 5'-7" tall.
    Joseph Lawende: a loose salt & pepper coat, reddish neckerchief, grey cloth cap, medium build, fair moustache, 30 years old, 5'-7" or 5'-8" tall.
    George Hutchinson: long dark coat with astrakhan collar & cuffs, dark jacket & trousers, light waiste coat, dark felt hat (possibly fidora or stetson style), small parcel wrapped in oil cloth, slight moustache, 34 or 35 years old, 5'-6" tall.
Q - How many did Jack the Ripper kill?
A - At times Jack the Ripper is accredited with killing only 3 or up to as many as 13 with his time of operating ranging from 3 months up to as long as 5 years. Typically Jack the Ripper is accredited with having killed those victims known as the Canonical Five, during the Autumn of 1888, each of whom were killed within about one-half mile of each other; albeit, that is not the deciding factor for their inclusion.
    Martha Tabram is not listed as a canonical victim, but arguments have been presented which favour her as such: She was last seen at about 11:45PM, Monday, 6 August heading up Geroge Yard. She was found dead at around 4:45AM in a stairwell of the Geroge Yard Buildings. She had no organ removed, there are questions about a wound which might show mutilation, and she was repeatedly stabbed thirty-nine times.

    Mary Ann Nichols (Polly) was last seen at about 2:30AM, Friday, 31 August at the corner of Osborn Street & Whitechapel Road. She was found dead at around 3:40AM about one-half mile East in Buck's Row. Polly is only one of two canonical victims who did not have an organ removed.

    Annie Chapman (Dark Annie) was last seen at about 5:30AM, Saturday, 8 September near #29 hanbury Street. She was found dead at around 6:00AM in the backyard of #29 hanbury Street. Annie is the only canonical victim to have been killed after day break.

    Elizabeth Stride (Long Liz) was last seen at about 12:45AM, Sunday, 30 September outside of Dutfield's Yard. She found dead at around 1:00AM within its gates. Liz is the only canonical victim who was not mutilated, one of two who did not have an organ removed, and the only one who was killed South of Whitechapel Road. Some arguments have been presented that discount her as a victim.

    Catherine Eddowes (Kate) was last seen at about 1:34AM, Sunday, 30 September at the corner of Church Passage & Duke Street. She was found dead at around 1:44AM in the South-West corner of Mitre Square. Kate is the only canonical victim who was killed within the jurisdiction of the City Police.

    Mary Jane Kelly (Marie Jeanette) was last seen at about 2:15AM, Friday, 9 November entering her room at Miller's Court. She was found dead at around 10:45AM laying on her bed. Mary Jane is the only canonical victim who was killed indoors, and had the most extensive mutilations, which some theorists have used to claim that she was the intended target.
Q - Did Jack the Ripper always kill at night?
A - No. While many of his victims were killed at night, Annie Chapman was killed after sun rise on 8 September 1888. Additionally, new arguments have surfaced, suggesting that Mary Jane Kelly was killed between 0900-0930 A.M., 9 November 1888.

Q - Did Jack the Ripper use some sort of vehicle (eg., carriage) to commit the crimes and then escape?
A - There is no evidence to date to properly support this idea; yet, enough theories take advantage of this notion, and it is usually associated with a royal connection/conspiracy of some sort. A proper review of the time lines readily shows that Jack the Ripper did not need the use of any sort of vehicle to transport himself from one location to another, and the medical evidence does show that the victims were killed where they were found.

Q - Is there any truth to the "Royal Conspiracy?"
A - No. While Walter Sickert's self-alleged illegitimate son, Joseph Gorman Sickert, still maintains this view, there is no evidence to properly suggest that this is correct in any fashion. Donald Rumbelow (author Jack the Ripper: The Complete Casebook) has provided enough evidence to show that this conspiracy did not take place; Joseph Sickert, himself, who collaborated with Stephen Knight, (author Jack the Ripper: The Final Solution), recanted, stating he made up the Masonic story; Sir William Gull was 72 years old at the time and had suffered a stroke with slight parlaysis on the right side in 1887; J.K. Stephen became a suspect only when Michael Harrison (author The Life Of the Duke of Clarence and Avondale 1864-1892) became aware that Prince Albert Victor ('Eddy') was not in London during most of the murders; and, British law governing marriage of royalty could have easily annulled Eddy's alleged marriage, and the supposed Catholic child would not have to have been recognized, (i.e., murder would not be required as British Law would have resolved the alleged problem); and, there is no information to show that any of the victims knew each other, let alone that they conspired to extort blackmail from having witnessed the supposed marriage. Additionally, there is no Masonic history, legend, or ritual regarding the word, 'Juwes', which is most likely a mis-spelling of Jews.

Q - Why were the official records of the murders not publicly available till 1988?
A - British law requires that such records will not be publicly released for 100 years; this also includes lunatic assylum records, etc. Only some of the records were made available in 1988, as the case was not officially closed until 1892. However, the Scotland Yard files were made available to the public via the Public Records Office, Kew, as early as 1976.

Q - Was it foggy during the times Jack the Ripper killed as portrayed often enough in movies?
A - No. The weather records clearly show there was no fog during any of the times when the canonical five (at least) were killed.

Q - Why are people interested in studying Jack the Ripper?
A - This is an individually answered question, but some of the more common reasons include:
    It's one of the most publicized and longest unsolved murder mysteries.
    A desire to learn more about Victorian England.
    A desire to learn more about London Police (Metropolitan & City) - their history and procedures.
Q - What books on Jack the Ripper would be good to read for information on the case?
A - The following list (while not necessarily complete nor given in any particular order) will provide an excellent start, as well as a good refresher:
    The Man Who Hunted Jack the Ripper: Edmund Reid and the Police perspective
    (Stewart P. Evans)
    The Complete History of Jack the Ripper (Philip Sudgen)
    The Jack the Ripper A to Z (Paul Begg, Martin Fido, Keith Skinner)
    Jack the Ripper: The Complete Casebook (Donald Rumbelow)
    Jack the Ripper: The Uncensored Facts (Paul Begg)
Q - Can this case ever be solved?
A - Some believe, no - it won't be solved; albeit, some do think this case is still solvable and that we are still near enough to when the murders took place to be able to resolve this mystery.

Many THANKS to the people who have contributed to this page:
Phillips image - Courtesy of Illustrated Police News via Alex Chisholm.

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