The Uniqueness of The Whitechapel Murders

[Howard Brown]

Certianly, many serial murder skeins since the time of The Ripper dwarf the number of victims tallied by Jack.

Equally sick,evil, twisted, diabolical....give it a name... sorts of men have given the Saucy One a run for his money in that department as well.

What then is unique about him or the Case in general...at this point in time...to one and all ?

[Stephen Thomas]

What then is unique about him or the Case in general...at this point in time...to one and all ?

Dear Howard

It's because this case is an historical mystery.

If someone had been tried and hanged, nobody today would be interested.

Plus, there are conspiracy theory/cover up angles to argue about.

What fun.

[Howard Brown]

That the Case's main character is anonymous is definitely a main factor Stephen.

Yet cases of serial murder by unknown person(s) in Germany at the time of the WM in Britain got a mere fraction of the interest.

I should have aimed the question and will do so now towards younger Ripperologists or perhaps older individuals who are developing an interest in Ripperology.

Thanks for your input Stephen.

[Stephen Thomas]

That the Case's main character is anonymous is definitely a main factor Stephen.



It's the ONLY factor, Howard.

Like I said.

[Howard Brown]

Thats one vote for anonymity being the primary reason. Thanks Stephen.

How about the atmosphere of the times ?

The press coverage and victim photos ?

[JTRSickert]

Howard,

Aside from the allure of the mystery of the identity of the murderer, these killings are probably one of the very few examples of a serial killer where the murder sites are all within walking distance of each other. I haven't done a Ripper walk (yet), but I do know it only takes maybe approx. a couple hours (maybe less!!) to do a whole run of the area, from murder site to murder site

[Nemo]

I would have thought that many people's introduction to the Ripper would be through fictional writing and films

I think the supposed "supernatural" aspects of the Ripper and his crimes appeals to many

Although many murderers surpass the Ripper in certain aspects of their crimes, few match his audacity in killing on the street in such a fashion in a localised area while an active police hunt was underway

He appears to be "thumbing his nose" at the police and the population - challenging anyone to catch him

An unsolved murder may have a bit of a mystery to it - a murder in which a woman is mutilated on the street and some of her organs taken away - well, there are big How & Why questions there as well as the Who

[Adam Went]

Definitely this sort of built up image the public has of Jack the Ripper in his long, black trench coat, top hat and carrying his gladstone bag disappearing into the darkness of the night is one of the most enduring images of probably anything in the last century and a bit.....

I think the Victorian era itself has a lot to do with it though. Those were the days before movie stars and sports stars existed - the famous people in society were the rich business owners and upper class society in general. These days, it's all about the big movie stars....ugh.

Times don't always change for the best....

Cheers,
Adam.