Whitechapel

Listen to this story at any of the murder sites, during dusk for a realistic atmosphere

Between the months of August and November, in 1888, the Whitechapel area of East London witnessed a series of horrific murders, which remain unsolved to this day.

The unknown serial killer called himself Jack the Ripper in taunting letters sent to the police. He stalked the dimly lit, fog blanketed streets of East London with a single, brutal ambition… MURDER. Under the cover of darkness, he lurked in the shadows, awaiting his prey... the street women of Old London Town… the despicable diary of death tells his story:

FRIDAY 31st AUGUST, 1888, last seen leaving the "Frying Pan" Public House in Brock Lane, MARY NICHOLS was drunk and looking for her next customer. She was to meet her grisly end, found lying in a pool of blood on the old cobblestones of Bucks Row - the first victim of the beast who was to become England's most notorious killer.

SATURDAY 8th SEPTEMBER 1888, shortly before 6.00 a.m. in a backyard on Hanbury Street, ANNIE CHAPMAN'S mutilated body was found lying exposed in the cool morning air. The mysterious monster had struck again.

SATURDAY 30th SEPTEMBER 1888, A day of double murder in London. Jack was at large, his blade "nice and sharp and ready". At 1.00 a.m. in Duffield's Yard, Berner Street, the body of ELIZABETH STRIDE was discovered, cut from ear to ear. Had Jack been disturbed? Almost caught blood-red handed? Again he had evaded capture, shrinking back into the shadows cast by dim gas lamps and the glow of a deathly full moon.

He reappeared to claim another victim in Mitre Square, Aldgate. Merely 10 minutes on foot from Berner Street, through the narrow alleyways. At 1.45 a.m. CATHERINE EDDOWES bloodied corpse was found, silently slaughtered by the fearsome, and now, clearly practiced killer.

It was on this fearful night that a chalked message appeared on a wall in Goulston Street, the message read "The Juwes are the men that will not be blamed for nothing” A sinister confession perhaps? Or a false accusation?

FRIDAY 9th NOVEMBER 1888, the month of October had passed with no further clues. Perhaps the murders had ceased? Sadly Jack would strike for a fifth and final time in a frenzied yet clinical assault. MARY KELLY, a young Irish girl, led astray by the East End way of life, of drink and prostitution, met Jack at number 13 Miller’s Court; he had more time to indulge in his brutal blood lust this time, slaying the pretty 25 year old behind closed doors. She was the Rippers last victim and the attack was so dreadful, police believed that the killer's taste for macabre murder and thirst for blood had finally been satisfied.

With the last entry in the diary of death complete, the devil in disguise crept silently back into the shadows. Baffled detectives were left to puzzle over half clues and suspects. Theories and arguments still rage to this day, as to the true identity of Jack the Ripper. His final mocking blow at the police was taunted in a letter he wrote.... "How can they catch me now? I love my work and want to start again....soon" Good Luck, Yours Truly “Jack the Ripper”.

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