The Letters
On September 27th, 1888, a letter was sent to the London Central news agency. The staff ignored the letter for two days before they gave it to the Metropolitan police on September 29th.
The letter was addressed to: The Boss, Central News Office, London, City
“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. 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”
On October 1, 1888, a postcard known as the “Saucy Jacky” signed “Jack the Ripper” was sent to the Central News Agency in London. It made reference to the “Dear Boss” letter and, although its authenticity was not verified, it was published with the hope that the handwriting might be identified.
The “Saucy Jacky” postcard was both postmarked and received on October 1, 1888, shortly after the murders of Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes on September 30th. The “Saucy Jacky” writer referred to these murders as the “double event,” and had detailed knowledge of these murders.
The postcard said that “number one squealed a bit couldn’t finish straight off.” The body of Elizabeth Stride was found with the throat cut, but otherwise unmutilated, suggesting that the murderer had been interrupted or scared off. Less than an hour later, the second victim, Catherine Eddowes, was murdered.
The postcard mentioned that he “Had not time to get ears off for police.” This is a reference to the fact that part of Catherine Eddowes’s ear was cut off and found at the crime scene.
The police later claimed that both the “Saucy Jacky” postcard and the “Dear Boss” letter were hoaxes written by a journalist. In 1931, journalist Fred Best of The Star newspaper claimed that he and colleague Tom Bullen had written all of the letters signed “Jack the Ripper” in order to “keep the business alive.”
In 2018, forensic linguistic analyst, Andrea Nini, argued that there was compelling linguistic evidence connecting the “Saucy Jacky” postcard and the “Dear Boss” letter, suggesting that they were written by the same person.
Both the “Saucy Jacky” postcard and the “Dear Boss” letter were later ‘taken’ from the police files. The “Dear Boss” letter was recovered in 1987, but the “Saucy Jacky” postcard is still missing.
October 1, 1888
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. Had not time to get ears off for police thanks for keeping last letter back till I got to work again.
Jack the Ripper
On October 16th, the president of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee, George Lusk, received a three-inch-square cardboard box in his mail. Inside was half a human kidney preserved in wine, along with a letter known as the “From Hell” letter.
Medical reports carried out by Dr. Openshaw found the kidney to be very similar to the one removed from Catherine Eddowes, though his findings were inconclusive either way.
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
On 6 October 1888 the next letter was received by a local paper and is believed to have been intended for either Israel Schwartz or Joseph Lawende, both of whom believe to have witnessed the Ripper and gave descriptions of the man they saw to the police. There is no copy of this letter.
Few researchers believe this letter to be real.
{Transcription)
“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
There is no date available or copy of the next letter that was received. Catharine Eddowes was found murdered near the Minories on 30 September. '1st and 2nd inst.' means the first and second of the month (October).
Few researchers believe this letter to be real.
(Transcription)
“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”
There is no date or a copy of the letter available. Prince William Street was only yards from the main road between Aigburth and the office of the Cotton Exchange.
Few researchers believe this letter to be real.
(Transcription)
“What fools the police are. I even give them the name of the street where I am living. Prince William Street.”
On 29 October 1888 a letter was sent to Dr. Openshaw; the doctor who performed the medical examination on the portion of kidney received by George Lusk in conjunction with the ‘From Hell’ letter.
Few researchers believe this letter to be real.
(Transcription)
“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.”
