“I keep on hearing the police have caught me but they wont fix me just yet. I have laughed when they look so clever and talk about being on the right track.”
(Jack the Ripper?)
Without doubt, one of the most widely known serial killers is Jack the Ripper. Never caught, this mysterious figure is also believed by many to have written to the press.
Believed to have been responsible for between four and eight horrific murders in London (although experts usually attribute six of these murders to the Ripper) in 1888, the public reaction to these murders was one of mass hysteria.
The supposed Ripper communications printed during this time were responsible for much of this hysteria, leading many people to believe that the letters were fake, created by an unknown hand, primarily to sell newspapers.
However, some of these letters do contain details which indicate knowledge of the murders, and hint at further events (which were to occur) as well as being taunting and self-congratulatory in style.
The infamous “Dear Boss” letter, recieved by the Central News Agency of London on 27th September 1888 is probably the most famous example of these letters.
Dear Boss,
I keep on hearing the police have caught me but they wont fix me just yet. I have laughed when they look so clever and talk about being on the right track. That joke about Leather Apron gave me real fits. I am down on whores and I shant quit ripping them till I do get buckled. Grand work the last job was. I gave the lady no time to squeal. How can they catch me now. I love my work and want to start again. You will soon hear of me with my funny little games. I saved some of the proper red stuff in a ginger beer bottle over the last job to write with but it went thick like glue and I cant use it. Red ink is fit enough I hope ha. ha. The next job I do I shall clip the ladys ears off and send to the police officers just for jolly wouldn’t you. Keep this letter back till I do a bit more work, then give it out straight. My knife’s so nice and sharp I want to get to work right away if I get a chance. Good Luck. Yours truly
Jack the Ripper
Dont mind me giving the trade name
PS Wasnt good enough to post this before I got all the red ink off my hands curse it No luck yet. They say I’m a doctor now. ha ha.
In a short email interview with Trevor Marriott, retired murder squad detective and author of Jack the Ripper, The 21st Century Investigation, I asked a few basic questions as to his opinions on the origins of the so-called “Ripper letters.”
1) Firstly, and most importantly, do you believe that the Ripper letters are genuine?
No, None of them.
2) Do you think that the letters helped to make the case as famous as it is?
The only letter which made the case famous was the letter received by the Central News Agency signed Jack the Ripper which was believed to have been written by a man from the press, since then that name has made the case what it is today.
3) Do you think that these letters would be treated differently by today’s police and media? if so, how?
In every high profile unsolved murder case the police receive many anonymous letters. The read them they retain them to handwriting and forensic tests if need be. On some occasions letters such as this are genuine.
4) Do you think that the newspapers deliberately sensationalised these letters? Could they have been dealt with differently?
Even today newspapers sensationalise a story, that’s what sells newspapers.
5) Do you think it was ethically correct to print the letters? Was it in the public interest? or did it merely fan the flames of hysteria?
They printed some in the hope that someone might recognise some of the handwriting.
(My questions in italics)
Although there is every chance that these letters are fake, they still raise interesting points regarding the ethical issues surrounding their release to the public, and their effect on an already hysterical population.
The following short film explores the first Ripper letter, and appears courtesy of the Jack the Ripper London Tour Company.
Red Ink Letters 