Why are we so fascinated with the tale of Jack the Ripper? After all, he was a brutal serial killer with no regard for human life. Yet so many books, movies, and TV shows have been dedicated to this faceless killer, that he has become a legend. Though over a hundred years have passed since he stalked the streets of East London, the case is still being studied by scholars and novices alike, to this day uncovering new theories and clues as to the identity of the ripper.
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When we hear the name Jack the Ripper, foggy streets, dark alleys, and terrified prostitutes come to mind, but many wonder why the police never caught him. The residents of the East End accused the police of being incompetent and gossip surfaced that the Queen was covering up the crimes of her own nephew, but in reality, the investigation methods used at the time didn't give the police a great advantage.
Jack the ripper attacked his victims within a single square mile of London's poor East End. He was believed to have actually lived in the area, which explains how he disappeared so quickly before the blood on his clothing was noticed by passersby in the crowded streets. But even with the advantages of the Ripper residing in and stalking his victims within a limited area of London, the murders occurred in a time before forensic science and fingerprinting. Unfortunately, the only way for the police to prove someone committed a murder was by catching them in the act or through their own confession.
With a serial killer on the loose, the fears of the citizens escalated. They mobbed the police with suggestions for catching the serial killer. One man offered the use of his bloodhounds, but then recanted when they were unable to pay for the services of his hounds. The police even received letters recommending that photographs be taken of the victim's eyes, with the belief that the last image (the Ripper) formed on the retinas of a dying person's eyes remained impressed upon them! Many citizens were angry that the government did not issue a reward, and refused to cooperate until one was established. In a time of political and social upheaval, the press fed on the crimes for means of social change in the poor East End, spreading its somber conditions to the world. The newspapers became the voice of the discontent citizens. As the Ripper claimed more victims, the failure of the police made the headlines, and frequent articles questioned if the crime was unsolved because the victims were mere prostitutes.
