Jack the Ripper's Letters
During the Autumn of Terror dozens, if not hundreds, of letters
were sent to the police and local press purporting to be written by the
Whitechapel fiend. Most of them were deemed to be fakes written by either
newspaper men trying to start a story
or fools trying to incite more terror. A select few, however, have been
given credence by experts. They have been transcribed below.
'Dear Boss' letter
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
'From Hell' letter -- On
October 15th George Lusk, the
president of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee, received a
three-inch-square cardboard box in his mail. Inside was half a human
kidney preserved in wine, along with a letter which read as follows.
From hell.
Mr Lusk,
Sor
I send you half the Kidne I took from one woman and prasarved it for you tother piece I fried and ate it was very nise. I may send you the bloody knif that took it out if you only wate a whil longer
signed
Catch me when you can Mishter Lusk
6 October 1888 -- this letter was received by a local paper and is believed to have been intended for either Israel Shwartz or Joseph Lawende, both of whom believe to have witnessed the Ripper and gave descriptions of the man they saw to the police
.
You though your-self very clever I reckon when you informed the police.
But you made a mistake if you though I dident see you. Now I known you
know me and I see your little game, and I mean to finish you and send your
ears to your wife if you show this to the police or help them if you do I
will finish you. It no use your trying to get out of my way. Because I
have you when you dont expect it and I keep my word as you soon see and
rip you up. Yours truly Jack the Ripper.
PS You see I know your address
30 September 1888 -- this was written (supposedly) by the same
hand as
the Dear Boss letter.
I was
not codding dear old Boss when I
gave you the tip, you'll hear
about Saucy Jacky's work tomorrow double event this time number one
squealed a bit couldn't finish straight off. ha not the time to get ears
for police. thanks for keeping last letter back till I got to work
again.
Jack the Ripper
No Date Available -- Catharine
Eddowes was found murdered near the Minories on 30 September. '1st and
2nd inst.' means the first and second of the month (October).
Beware I shall be at work on the 1st and 2nd inst. in the Minories at
12 midnight and I give the authorities a good chance but there is never a
policeman near when I am at work. Yours Jack the Ripper.
No Date Available -- Prince William Street was only
yards from the main road between Aigburth and the office of the Cotton
Exchange.
What fools the police are. I even give them the name of the street
where I am living. Prince William Street.
29 October 1888 -- this letter
was sent to Dr. Openshaw.
Old
boss you was rite it was the left kidny i was goin to hoperate agin
close to you ospitle just as i was going to dror mi nife along of er
bloomin throte them cusses of coppers spoilt the game but i guess i wil be
on the jobn soon and will send you another bit of innerds
Jack the Ripper
O have you seen the devle with his
mikerscope and scalpul a-lookin at a kidney with a slide cocked up.
No Date Available -- one of the verses sent to police.
Eight little whores, with no hope of heaven,
Gladstone may save one, then there'll be seven.
Seven little whores beggin for a shilling,
One stays in Henage Court, then there's a killing.
Six little whores, glad to be alive,
One sidles up to Jack, then there are five.
Four and whore rhyme aright,
So do three and me,
I'll set the town alight
Ere there are two.
Two little whores, shivering with fright,
Seek a cosy doorway in the middle of the night.
Jack's knife flashes, then there's but one,
And the last one's the ripest for Jack's idea of fun.
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Mail to: Stephen P Ryder