Murder in Whitechapel
GHASTLY MURDER IN THE EAST END the headlines cried. On August 31, 1888, Jack the Ripper began the story that would go on to become a legend of its time. Little is truly known about Jack the Ripper, but the mystery, folklore, and debate has been of public interest ever since those first headlines printed. He is even known as the first "Media Murderer", largely in thanks to the sensational coverage and widespread frenzy. Although it is speculated he was responsible for over 10 murders in Whitechapel, modern scholars now widely accept "the cannonical five" to be his only victims. Explore the murder locations to learn more about the events that captured imagination of the world.
Letters From Jack
Given the unprecedented media and public involvement in the Whitechapel murders, police recieved hundreds of letters regarding the killings. Many of them were written as is to be the killer himself, but were nothing more than pranksters. Three of these, however, stand out among the rest. The "Dear Boss" letter and postcard were long investigated due to their supposed declaration of Catherine Eddowes death, before it happened. Years later, however, a journalist claimed to have falsified the letters to keep people excited.
The From Hell letter is arguably the most disturbing and noteworthy of the three most prominent Jack the Ripper messages. This is mainly due to how the letter arrived… inside a small box, accompanied by half of a human kidney. Coincidentally, Catherine Eddowes' killer had removed one of her kidneys. Dr. Thomas Openshaw, the physician who examined the kidney, concluded that it had come from a woman about 45 years of age, who also suffered from Bright's Disease. This disease is a failing of the kidneys as a result of heavy drinking. Catherine Eddowes was 46 at the time of her murder and was known to drink quite heavily.
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