J is for Jack the Ripper.....
"Jack" as he came to be called--- also known as "The Whitechapel Murderer" and "Leather Apron". The sensationalized, unidentified serial killer that brought Victorian London to its knees.
Whitechapel became a place of dread and a feeding ground for macabre sensationalists. Public confidence in local authorities was shaken as one-by-one, "Jack" added another tragic soul to his list of conquests. His manner of execution was such that many remarked he must have had some medical training. Was he using these unfortunate women as a means of furthering some surgical 'fantasy'? Or, as a means of experimenting where he would have otherwise been shunned by other respected colleagues?
Whatever the reason for his dark and sadistic treatment of women, because he remained unnamed and free, "Jack" provided the imagination of the world with the epitome of evil. For, what fiction could ever be imagined that would equal the truth of these real horrors?
Even now, the unnamed man can only be described as a spectre, a shadow, a shapeless form without feature and, one assumes, without heart or conscience.
"Jack" as he came to be called--- also known as "The Whitechapel Murderer" and "Leather Apron". The sensationalized, unidentified serial killer that brought Victorian London to its knees.
It was not safe to be a woman in the East End during the 1880s, especially a woman of the night.
Whitechapel became a place of dread and a feeding ground for macabre sensationalists. Public confidence in local authorities was shaken as one-by-one, "Jack" added another tragic soul to his list of conquests. His manner of execution was such that many remarked he must have had some medical training. Was he using these unfortunate women as a means of furthering some surgical 'fantasy'? Or, as a means of experimenting where he would have otherwise been shunned by other respected colleagues?
Even now, the unnamed man can only be described as a spectre, a shadow, a shapeless form without feature and, one assumes, without heart or conscience.
And, as mysteriously as this dastardly figure materialized, he was at once, gone ... just as mysteriously.
Was this spectral figure fact? Or, fiction? Was it the workings of one man? Or, a collection of unconnected, yet coincidentally similar crimes? Whatever the answers to any of these questions might be, we may never know, for indeed "Jack" was both nimble.... and quick....
Ah Jack the Ripper - I once went on the Ripper walk - an excellent post. Sorry it's taken a while to catch up with some comments. I guess the A-Z writing thing takes over.
ReplyDeleteI must confess my jealousy. I would love to take the Ripper walk, being as full of morbid curiosities as I am.
ReplyDeleteAnd, no worries about catching up! I have a solid 2 days of reading to get through myself--- yes, the A-Z has definitely taken over :-)
"Jack was both nimble.... and quick...."
ReplyDeleteWonderfully ghastly line! Made me laugh and shudder.
LOL... Then it served its purpose :-)
ReplyDelete