Jack the Ripper: Who He Really Was

What really happened in the year of 1888, in the year of Jack the Ripper? Will we ever know? The murders are and were very much a source of controversy, now and then. This case was probably one of the most mysterious murders of all time. Many investigations have been conducted, but still there is no absolute explanation. Many people have many different theories but, unfortunately, most of them are not very well supported with ultimate facts or evidence. They cannot explain what really occurred in the year of 1888. Most say he's the most infamous serial killer of all time. Who really was Jack the Ripper?

In the year of 1888, many murders occurred in Whitechapel London. Although, none as fascinatingly gruesome as the Ripper murders. The first victim to fall hand to the supposed Jack the Ripper was Mary Nicholls. The dead prostitute was found between 3:40 and 3:45 a.m. August 31, 1888, around Buck's Row by Charles Cross. The body was found mutilated and beaten, like most of the other murder victims (Ryder).

The murders continued going as Annie Chapman, September 8. Elizabeth Stride, September 30. Catherine Eddowes, September 30, and Mary Jane Kelly, November 9. There is one interesting thing about the murders of Stride and Eddowes. Unlike most of the other Ripper victims, there was no mutilation done to Stride's body. Elizabeth is believed to be the luckiest victim of Jack the Ripper because he was interrupted before getting a chance to mutilate the body. This murder is an explanation for the double murder that night. Eddowes' murder, occurring on the same day as Stride's, was supposedly a reaction from Jack the Ripper to the interruption of his work on Stride's body. There was supposed high mutilation to the body. Intestines were cut out, victims' throat was slit, and body carvings appeared to be present. According to documented records from the Metropolitan Police Department, a kidney, supposedly Eddowes', was mailed to the Police Department. They studied the organ but never came to a complete conclusion, since the technology was very unadvanced in the 1800's.

The last and most gruesome murder was the one of Mary Jane Kelly. Unlike the other prostitute victims, Mary was youthful and somewhat pretty. But as most of the murders were committed outside in a neutral environment, Mary was found in a room she had been renting (Ryder). There was said to have been extensive amounts of damage to the body. The murder was believed to be the worst of the five Ripper murders. Obviously, the murderer had a lot of time on his hands. He managed to cut most of the body parts off, hack off her facial features and slit her throat. The mutilation goes into much more detail not mentioned in this research article.

As stated in the beginning, many theories have been tested and exercised dealing with the Ripper murders. Many cannot be proven and some are said to not even be eligible. One of the most common and famous theories in the Ripper case is the Royal Conspiracy Theory. According to the webmasters of Casebook.org, Stephen Ryder and Johnno, Prince Albert was said to have suffered from a disease called syphilis that cause mental distress and retardation. Supposedly, this disease drove him insane. His insanity drove him to murder the five prostitutes. Apparently, the prince's family knew he was the murderer and only felt obliged to control him until after the double murder.

The crimes the prince had committed worried his mother and she asked the prince's doctor what she should do. Finally, the family agreed to put the prince into a mental institution. While in the facility, the prince's insanity grew intense and he grew a strong desire to kill. It was said that the prince then escaped and killed Kelly, but not before long until he was captured again and died in the facility (Ryder). Probably the most interesting thing about this theory is that there are double theories in the theory. The other theory being a bit more interesting but not very eligible because investigators and historians have found many flaws. According to an interview with Jennifer Wallace of Christiansforcannabis.com, Prince Albert Victor was having intimate relationships with one of the prostitutes. The prince's mother was not very happy with the emotions the prince showed to the prostitute. She was also worried for the future of her kingdom. She then asked the prince's doctor, Dr. Gull, to help her. The doctor agreed to help her protect the kingdom and said that he would take care of the situation, although, these are not his exact words. So, in this theory, the prince's doctor is the supposed murderer.

Another theory in this case is one that says that Ripper was a doctor who received so many patients diagnosed with STD's that he went insane and killed the five prostitutes from Whitechapel London. This is also a common theory believed world-wide. Seeing as it does fit the situation.

The next theory in the case is a very interesting but incorrect one. Investigators and historians have found many flaws but others have also found many true and supporting facts, although, most of these people are biased. This is the theory of the Freemasons. According to Stephen Ryder, the Freemasons were a group of people who hated Jewish people and other races. This would have something to do with the writings on the wall, if the writing wasn't put there by someone else. There are many different views for this story. Supposedly, the murders were ritual killings done by the Freemasons (Ryder).

The last theory that was chosen in this case is probably the most amusing theory to most people. According to Stephen Ryder in light of Jill the Ripper, "The notion that Jack the Ripper might no in fact be a man at all, but rather a woman, was one postulated by Inspector Abberline himself at the time of the killings. According to Donald McCormick, author of The Identity of Jack the Ripper, published in 1959, Abberline raised the theory in a conversation with his mentor, Dr. Thomas Dutton after the murder of Mary Kelly. Testimony given by Caroline Maxwell, who live in the area, was central to the argument". The Jill the Ripper theory proposed that the murderer was not a man, but a female. Supposedly, a midwife "would be perfectly common to be seen at all hours of the night." And secondly, the authorities were looking for a man the whole time of the investigation, which would leave a woman more time to commit more murders without being revealed (Ryder).

Probably the most struggling part of researching this topic was not being able to explain some confusing facts. Such as, where did the chalk writing come from on the wall, if not from the Freemasons? Were the Ripper notes written by the media, or were they really from the murderer? How would the media know when the next murder would occur, unless, the whole thing was a scam? Lastly, what was his motive, if there was one, or if he even needed on?

A lot of aspects are left to experiment in the Ripper case, but according to Andy Aliffe in an interview conducted by Ryder, "Do you have any pet theories of your own as to the Ripper's identity?". Andy Aliffe replied, "It could be any of the top five to date, (In depth research might reveal more) but I usually quote Don Rumbelow when asked this question. 'On the day of judgment, when all things are known to all men, and we ask for Jack the Ripper to step-forth from the Pearly Gates, and he does, we will all say Who Are You?'. It will be someone who isn't known already, a nobody, or several nobodies" (Ryder). So until the day when there is a break through, and someone can actually say for sure who Jack the Ripper is, the world is left to ponder the same questions for now.

Stephen P. Ryder, "Casebook, Jack the Ripper." URL:
(http://casebook.org/)