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'''Jack the Ripper''' was the nickname that the British press gave to a notorious [[serial killer]] who murdered and mutilated at least five, possibly six, and as many as fourteen women in and around the Spitalfields and Whitechapel parishes of the East End slums of [[London]] in 1888 - an area covering just over one square kilometer (half a square mile). The name "Jack the Ripper" was derived from a letter and postcard sent to the Central News Agency on 27 September and 1 October, 1888 respectively.   

'''Jack the Ripper''' was the nickname that the British press gave to a notorious [[serial killer]] who murdered and mutilated at least five, possibly six, and as many as fourteen women in and around the Spitalfields and Whitechapel parishes of the East End slums of [[London]] in 1888 - an area covering just over one square kilometer (half a square mile). The name "Jack the Ripper" was derived from a letter and postcard sent to the Central News Agency on 27 September and 1 October 1888 respectively.   

The killer has traditionally been considered to have been left handed, but some today think that this may have been based more upon negative connotations of left handed people in that time than fact. <ref>http://www.casebook.org/dissertations/rip-left.html</ref> It is likely that his victims were first strangled before he used his knife, which could also account for the fact that not a single one was heard to cry out. <ref>Three witnesses reporting hearing a cry of "Murder!" coming from the direction of Mary Jane Kelly's room at 4am on the morning of her murder, but nobody went to investigate.</ref>  There has also been conjecture as to whether or not he had medical knowledge or training, or at the very least, an understanding of human anatomy.  

The killer has traditionally been considered to have been left handed, but some today think that this may have been based more upon negative connotations of left handed people in that time than fact.<ref>http://www.casebook.org/dissertations/rip-left.html</ref> It is likely that his victims were first strangled before he used his knife, which could also account for the fact that not a single one was heard to cry out.<ref>Three witnesses reporting hearing a cry of "Murder!" coming from the direction of Mary Jane Kelly's room at 4am on the morning of her murder, but nobody went to investigate.</ref>  There has also been conjecture as to whether or not he had medical knowledge or training, or at the very least, an understanding of human anatomy.  

==The Victims==

==The Victims==

There are 5 victims that are considered the "canonical" victims.  These were all considered victims at the time, and are still considered victims by the majority of [[Ripperologist|Ripperologists]].  They are:

There are 5 victims that are considered the "canonical" victims.  These were all considered victims at the time, and are still considered victims by the majority of [[Ripperologist]]s.  They are:

* Mary Anne "Polly" Nichols, born 1845, murdered 31 August, 1888.

* Mary Anne "Polly" Nichols, born 1845, murdered 31 August 1888.

* Annie Chapman, born 1841, murdered 8 September, 1888.  

* Annie Chapman, born 1841, murdered 8 September 1888.  

* Elizabeth Stride, born 1843, murdered 30 September, 1888.  

* Elizabeth Stride, born 1843, murdered 30 September 1888.  

* Catharine Eddowes, born 1842, also murdered later the same day.  

* Catharine Eddowes, born 1842, also murdered later the same day.  

* Mary Jane (or Marie Jeanette) Kelly, born 1863, murdered 9 November, 1888. She was the only victim to be murdered indoors and upon whom the Ripper spent a considerable amount of time. <ref>Begg P & Fido M, The Jack the Ripper A to Z, Headline, 1991, pp 29-33</ref><p>

* Mary Jane (or Marie Jeanette) Kelly, born 1863, murdered 9 November 1888. She was the only victim to be murdered indoors and upon whom the Ripper spent a considerable amount of time.<ref>Begg P & Fido M, The Jack the Ripper A to Z, Headline, 1991, pp 29-33</ref>

The murder of Frances Coles (1865 - 1891), on 14 February, 1891, in similar circumstances, resulted in renewed fears that the Ripper had returned, although both the police at the time and current researchers believe that one Thomas Sadler, a violent sailor whose ship was in dock at the time, was responsible for her death. He was tried for the crime, but acquitted.

 

 

The murder of Frances Coles (1865 - 1891), on 14 February 1891, in similar circumstances, resulted in renewed fears that the Ripper had returned, although both the police at the time and current researchers believe that one Thomas Sadler, a violent sailor whose ship was in dock at the time, was responsible for her death. He was tried for the crime, but acquitted.

==The "Jack the Ripper" Letters==

==The "Jack the Ripper" Letters==

Evidence against Kosminski being the Ripper is the fact that Swanson's notes appear at times to confuse Kosminski with Cohen, especially concerning the date of death of the suspect, the fact that Macnaughten considered Druitt to be the main suspect, with Kosminski as an afterthought, plus the fact that he noted an incorrect date of incarceration. Additionally, the gap of over a year between the last murder (9 December 1888) and Kosminski's final incarceration in February 1891 would point against his involvement, as it is felt unlikely that his family could have have shielded him for so long and that his extreme schizophrenia would have prevented him from striking again during that period. However, until new evidence is found, he remains, along with Ostrog, the most likely candidate to wear the sobriquet of "Jack the Ripper".

Evidence against Kosminski being the Ripper is the fact that Swanson's notes appear at times to confuse Kosminski with Cohen, especially concerning the date of death of the suspect, the fact that Macnaughten considered Druitt to be the main suspect, with Kosminski as an afterthought, plus the fact that he noted an incorrect date of incarceration. Additionally, the gap of over a year between the last murder (9 December 1888) and Kosminski's final incarceration in February 1891 would point against his involvement, as it is felt unlikely that his family could have have shielded him for so long and that his extreme schizophrenia would have prevented him from striking again during that period. However, until new evidence is found, he remains, along with Ostrog, the most likely candidate to wear the sobriquet of "Jack the Ripper".

===Aaron Davis Cohen===  

===Aaron Davis Cohen===

Cohen (1865 - 1889) was brought before the Thames Magistrates Court on 7 December 1888, charged as "a lunatic, wandering at large." he was sent to the Whitechapel Workhouse Infirmary for observation, where the medical superintendent, Dr Larder, described him as "violent, noisy and difficult to manage and that he had threatened other patients." He was also reported to have attempted suicide, damaged infirmary fittings and would shout and dance around, if left unrestrained. He was sent to Colney hatch Lunatic Asylum on 21 December. On 28 December, he was classified as being dangerous and separated from the other patients there. He died on 20 October, 1889, of "exhaustion of mania and pulmonary phthisis."

Cohen (1865 - 1889) was brought before the Thames Magistrates Court on 7 December 1888, charged as "a lunatic, wandering at large." he was sent to the Whitechapel Workhouse Infirmary for observation, where the medical superintendent, Dr Larder, described him as "violent, noisy and difficult to manage and that he had threatened other patients." He was also reported to have attempted suicide, damaged infirmary fittings and would shout and dance around, if left unrestrained. He was sent to Colney hatch Lunatic Asylum on 21 December. On 28 December, he was classified as being dangerous and separated from the other patients there. He died on 20 October 1889, of "exhaustion of mania and pulmonary phthisis."

Evidence for Cohen being the suspect is that no other person matching Cohen's description and that of "Anderson's Suspect" (a poor Polish Jew) was admitted to any other London asylum or infirmary during the period and his date of incarceration ties in with the end of the Ripper murders. In addition, as Swanson had suggested, he died shortly after his incarceration at Colney Heath. However, although both Anderson and MacNaughton refer to the suspect being a Polish Jew, both name him unequivocally as Aaron Kosminki. In addition, Swanson believed that the date of the identification of Anderson's suspect took place after Cohen's death.

Evidence for Cohen being the suspect is that no other person matching Cohen's description and that of "Anderson's Suspect" (a poor Polish Jew) was admitted to any other London asylum or infirmary during the period and his date of incarceration ties in with the end of the Ripper murders. In addition, as Swanson had suggested, he died shortly after his incarceration at Colney Heath. However, although both Anderson and MacNaughton refer to the suspect being a Polish Jew, both name him unequivocally as Aaron Kosminki. In addition, Swanson believed that the date of the identification of Anderson's suspect took place after Cohen's death.

{{cquote|...a mad Russian doctor and a convict and unquestionably a homicidal maniac. This man was said to have been habitually cruel to women, and for a long time was known to have carried about with him surgical knives and other instruments; his antecedents were of the very worst and his whereabouts at the time of the Whitechapel murders could never be accounted for.}}

{{cquote|...a mad Russian doctor and a convict and unquestionably a homicidal maniac. This man was said to have been habitually cruel to women, and for a long time was known to have carried about with him surgical knives and other instruments; his antecedents were of the very worst and his whereabouts at the time of the Whitechapel murders could never be accounted for.}}

The police were already searching for Ostrog during October and November of 1888, although not in connection with the murders, and his description (5'11, dark brown hair, grey eyes, normally dressed in a "clerical" suit) matches closely to that of the man who ask a local shopkeeper's daughter for the address of George Lusk. She provided the address without a street number and the parcel containing the kidney, which Lusk received, was addressed the same way.

The police were already searching for Ostrog during October and November 1888, although not in connection with the murders, and his description (5'11, dark brown hair, grey eyes, normally dressed in a "clerical" suit) matches closely to that of the man who ask a local shopkeeper's daughter for the address of George Lusk. She provided the address without a street number and the parcel containing the kidney, which Lusk received, was addressed the same way.

Theorists feel that until more details regarding his movements during the time of the murders comes to light, Ostrog remains the most likely suspect to have been Jack the Ripper.

Theorists feel that until more details regarding his movements during the time of the murders comes to light, Ostrog remains the most likely suspect to have been Jack the Ripper.

{{Reflist}}

{{Reflist}}

==External Links==

==External links==

* [http://www.casebook.org Casebook] A huge repository of Jack the Ripper information.

* [http://www.casebook.org Casebook] A huge repository of Jack the Ripper information.