Jack the Ripper is a serial killer who has remained at the forefront for the public’s imagination for more than a century. His gruesome acts inspired books, movies and many amateur investigators. The nature of these murders and the absence of a motive will make them both more terrifying and intriguing. Jack the Ripper refers to the murderer responsible, in 1888, for the deaths a number of women in London’s Whitechapel District. These deaths were called “The Whitechapel Murders”, the “East End Murders”, among other names in the subsequent media frenzy. Although London was the scene of many murders, five victims are generally identified as being the victims. Mary Nichols. Annie Chapman. Mary Kelly. Catherine Eddowes. Mary Kelly. These five women shared many commonalities, which made them the preferred “type” killer. All five of them were prostitutes who lived and worked at Whitechapel (Jenkins). It is not clear why these prostitutes were chosen as victims. Police initially thought the suspect was a woman who had fallen for a perceived insult. While this could be true, it is unlikely that they were not victims of the opportunity. Whitechapel was a place where few people were on the streets at the time. The murders of Whitechapel occurred in the early hours of the morning or late into the night. Due to the illegality and occupation of these women, it was only them who were operating on the streets at this time of night. You will rarely find a job that makes someone more vulnerable than this one, which was easy to exploit. These murders were investigated by a wide range of detectives, who looked into every lead. Despite all the resources and manpower that police had, there is not much concrete evidence to prove Jack the Ripper was actually the culprit. There is however a framework that suggests the suspect likely fits into. Police believe that the nature the mutilations suggests that they are searching for someone with basic anatomy knowledge. The killer may have lived within Whitechapel, or in close proximity to it. The district would have been his favorite hunting ground because of its easy access. The police concluded that the brutality of these murders cannot have been fully masked. The police believe that the killer showed signs of abuse and psychopathy. In reality, hundreds spent hours combing through release records at neighboring asylums. Over the years, hundreds were suggested for suspects, from executed serial killings to the royal Family (BBC). Most of these suspects don’t fit the majority or all of the evidence. Montague George Chapman, Carl Feigenbaum and Montague Jean Druitt are all worth investigating.
Montague Jean Druitt is a favourite suspect in the Jack the Ripper deaths for over 100 years purely due to the circumstances of the death. Druitt was a London-based barrister who had been educated at college. Many believe his father was an operating surgeon. This led to some believing that he acquired Jack the Ripper’s surgical knowledge as a child. Druitt was located in the Whitechapel area’s southeast, but his home was far away. Although his work provided him with some opportunities, it is clear that he would have struggled to return home by train after such a horrific crime. Druitts death was the final piece of evidence. Montague Jean Druitt was found dead in the Thames on December 31, 1888. His pockets were filled up with stones and he had obviously been in the Thames river for a while. His pocket contained a train ticket, which police believe placed his death on or around Dec. 1. This date corresponds roughly with Mary Jane Kelly who was murdered on November 9th. Druitt’s identity was immediately suspected by investigators involved in the Whitechapel murders. It was too important to ignore a suicide occurring at the same time as the murders. Druitt is not the killer. Although his suicide was suspiciously timed, it was more due to Druitt’s dismissal from a high-ranking school teaching position than his guilt over committing murder. There is not much evidence against him after that. It was clear that he was neither a local or violent person and that there is no motive. Druitt was most likely just a distraught man who lost his job and took his own lives. George Chapman may be a more credible suspect. Chapman is likely to be guilty of the Whitechapel Murders because of several coincidences in his story. George was born in Poland, and trained as an internist before moving to London. George immigrated from Poland in the 1887-1888 period and began work as a barber. It is not possible to pinpoint exactly where George was when the murders occurred, but it was only months later that it was confirmed that the victim had been working at a Whitechapel barbershop. This isn’t proof that George was actually in the area at the time of the murders but it does prove that there was a connection. George spent the following years cycling from London to America, passing through many wives. His fourth wife Maud Marsh, died in 1902 after a bizarre routine. The strange illness that caused his death had already led to the deaths of all his other lovers. Her family was suspicious about the trend after Maud’s death and sought out a doctor. Upon exhumation, the doctor found poisonous traces in Maud and George’s wives. George was convicted and executed after this discovery. After George’s suicide, it was the news media that speculated on the possible connection to Whitechapel murders. He met all the requirements: he was a Whitechapel resident, trained surgeon, and a bona-fide murderer. These accusations are shaky because Chapman used a different method to commit the murders. While poisoning is an awful crime, it is far worse than the Ripper’s frenzied rage or mutilation. Chapman might have been capable but these seem not to have fit his method of operation.
Carl Feigenbaum (a German sailor who worked for the Norddeutscher Lloyd Line) was one of many suspects in Whitechapel’s murders. Although it is unclear which ship Carl sailed aboard, there were many ships from this company in London on the same dates as the murders. Carl likely spent most of his time in London at Whitechapel, a district that is just a few minutes from the port. The evidence doesn’t stop there. Carl was therefore in close proximity to the murder victims. Carl was convicted for stabbing to death a woman who had provided him lodging in 1894. He had been wandering the country for years, crossing states like Illinois and Wisconsin. He ended up back in New York City, where he slept on benches until he was offered accommodation by a kind woman who allowed him to get up again. Julianna Hoffman was the name of her daughter and they lived together in an apartment with their teenage son and Carl Feigenbaum. This arrangement lasted only a few minutes before Carl attacked Mrs. Hoffman and stabbed her with a large knife directly in front. The police almost immediately caught him and took him into custody. The long knife that he used to kill him was stained with blood from other murders. He was innocent throughout the trial and was soon sentenced to execution. Feigenbaum’s lawyer immediately made shocking confessions after his execution. The lawyer believed his client was responsible for the Whitechapel Murders. Feigenbaum admitted to his lawyer to a single disease that manifests in the desire to kill and mutilate all women who fall in my path. Feigenbaum claims that such times are when he can’t control himself. Feigenbaum had a house, and despite appearing to be a penniless tramp (Vanderlinden). It is difficult to determine whether the claims of the lawyer are true. It’s possible that he was motivated to gain press attention or improve his public image. Feigenbaum is the most likely candidate for the Ripper-like figure due to the coincidences in Feigenbaum’s confirmed murder and Ripper’s.
Over the last century, countless people have tried to find clues to the Whitechapel Murders. This includes amateur investigators as well as forensic pathologists. Although the suspect has yet to be found, and it is unlikely that he will ever be identified, all of these hours spent looking for clues are not futile. Jack’s obsession with finding clues was a key factor in uncovering them. There are hundreds of possible suspects, each with different degrees of possibility. Some of these suspects standout as being genuinely Jack the Ripper. There are many examples: Montague George Chapman (George Chapman), Carl Feigenbaum and Montague Montague Johnson Druitt. Further analysis revealed that Carl Feigenbaum is a plausible and almost certain solution to this age-old mystery.
Works cited
John Philip Jenkins wrote… “Jack the Ripper.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., 8 Dec. 2017, www.britannica.com/biography/Jack-the-Ripper.
Jones, Richard. “The Jack The Ripper Suspects.” Jack the Ripper – History, Victims, Letters, Suspects., N.D www.jack-the-ripper.org/suspects.htm.
Vanderlinden, Wolf. Casebook: Jack the Ripper – Main, N.D www.casebook.org/suspects/carl-feigenbaum.html.
“History-Historical Figures: Jack the Ripper (? ).” BBC, BBC, N.D www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/ripper_jack_the.html.
