Ripper Records: An Archive of Jack the Ripper and the 1888 Whitechapel Murders

Items

• "Jack the Ripper's Bedroom"
  A painting by German impressionist artist Walter Sickert that depicts his interpretation of Whitechapel murders' killer Jack the Ripper. Some investigators suspected (and continue to suspect) that Sickert could have been Jack the Ripper, though no DNA evidence exists to prove his involvement in the case.
• "The Whitechapel Murder: The Inquest and Verdict"
  This article clipping from "The Standard" reports the events of the inquest into Ripper victim Mary Jane Kelly's murder in November 1888. It recounts updates on the London Metropolitan Police's progress in the case, as well as testimony from the coroner and witnesses (many of whom were neighbors of Kelly's at Miller's Court). Testimony from Ripper suspect Joseph Barnett was included in this inquest as well, helping to bring about a final verdict that the body at Miller's Court did in fact belong to Kelly.
• "The Whitechapel Murder: The Inquest; Further Details"
  This article clipping from "The Reading Observer" details the inquest into the murder and crime scene of Mary Jane Kelly, which presented evidence for Joseph Barnett's suspected involvement in the murder. The article also presents evidence from other witnesses in the inquest, many of whom were acquaintances of the victim. Barnett lived with Kelly until shortly before her death and has been considered a suspect or person of interest in the case since November 1888.
• "The East-End Murders"
  This clipping from "The (London) Times", a conservative newspaper, reports on developments in the investigation of Catherine Eddowes' murder. It mentions specifically new evidence collected by the London Metropolitan Police from witnesses and the coroner's report that will be presented at inquest.
• "East End Outrages: Another Brutal Murder. Mutilation of the Victim, Panic in Whitechapel, Special Details"
  This article clipping from "The Observer", a liberal London newspaper, reports the murder of the second of the five canonical Ripper victims, Annie Chapman. It shares many details of the crime scene, the timeline of the murder and subsequent investigation, and interviews with some who knew Chapman.
• "Sir Charles Warren's Resignation"
  An article clipping from "The Essex County Standard", a conservative Tory newspaper, which hints that the resignation of London Metropolitan Police (Scotland Yard) Chief Commissioner Warren in November 1888 could have been related to the unsolved case of Whitechapel murders attributed to Jack the Ripper.
• "Dear Boss" letter
  A letter, written in red ink, mailed to the Central News Agency between September 25-27, 1888, and then sent to Scotland Yard (London Metropolitan Police), claims responsibility for the murder of Annie Chapman and includes details from the crime scene that were not known by the public. The content of the message and threats of future victims implied that the author of the note could be the real killer. The famous pseudonym "Jack the Ripper" comes from the signature line on this letter.
• 'With the Vigilance Committee in the East-End'
  An illustration from 'The Illustrated Police News' that satirizes the investigation efforts of the police (harassing the homeless in the East End of London) with the investigations of an East End militia, the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee (trailing a suspect assumed to be Jack the Ripper).
• "Blind-Man's Buff"
  A political cartoon in the British satirical magazine "Punch" that depicts a blindfolded policeman cluelessly surrounded by criminals in London's East End. A caption reads "Blind Mans' Buff. (As played by the Police.) 'Turn round three times, and catch whom you may!'" The cartoon also includes a poem reading "Lurking crime Haunts from of old these dens of darksome slime. There, where well-armed authority fears to tread, Murder and outrage rear audacious head, Unscanned, untracked."
• "Latest Details of the Whitechapel Murders"
  The front page of one of the earliest British tabloids, reporting on the lack of evidence available in the Jack the Ripper case after a few weeks of investigation.
• "Two More Whitechapel Horrors: When Will the Murderer Be Captured?"
  The front page of one of the earliest British tabloids' illustrating the "fifth and six" Whitechapel murders (those of Stride and Eddowes), as well as police investigation of the crime scene.
• "The London Murder Scare"
  The front page of one of the earliest British tabloids, "The Illustrated Police News", reporting on Scotland Yard's lack of progress in solving the Whitechapel murders case.
• "Anonymous letter to City of London Police about Jack the Ripper"
  This anonymous letter was sent to the City of London Police in October 1888, accusing "Jekyll and Hyde" actor Richard Mansfield of committing the Jack the Ripper murders.