Ripper Notes

"Ripper Notes: The Legend Continues" looks at the enduring mystery of the Jack the Ripper murders with essays covering the myths from the past that still survive today as well as the way modern enthusiasts keep the case alive. Wolf Vanderlinden starts things off with an in-depth look at Carl Feigenbaum, a convicted murderer whose own lawyer thought he was Jack the Ripper. Dan Norder tackles the concept of copycat killings and uncovers evidence that the Whitechapel murderer changed his methods to live up to his own legend. John Bennett examines top hats, black bags and other icons of the Jack the Ripper myth. Craig Hansen criticizes unrealistic attempts to romanticize the life of Ripper victim Mary Jane Kelly. Andrew Spallek investigates rail service between Blackheath and London to see if suspect Montague J. Druitt can be placed in the East End around the times of the murders. Jonathan Menges dissects recent claims that DNA has proven Dr. Hawley Crippen innocent of the death of his wife. Bernard Brown examines the Thomas Street Murder of 1894. In addition to the regular news briefs and book reviews, there is also detailed coverage of the 2007 Ripper conference, the Trial of James Maybrick and Frogg Moody's Ripper-themed rock opera. Profusely illustrated with rarely-seen images, Ripper Notes is a nonfiction anthology series covering all aspects of the Jack the Ripper case and other murders of Victorian era.

"Ripper Notes: America Looks at Jack the Ripper" is a collection of essays about the notorious Whitechapel serial killer and related topics. It leads of with a newly discovered and never before republished 1892 interview with Assistant Commissioner Robert Anderson of Scotland Yard. Anderson was a very important figure in the investigations, and made statements later in life that the killer had been identified and put into an asylum. This article is accompanied by a short analysis showing why that is unlikely. Wolf Vanderlinden then gives an in-depth look at the suspects in the 1891 death of prostitute Carrie Brown in New York City, a case long connected by many to the earlier string of Ripper killings in the East End of London. This is followed by coverage of the 2004 U.S. Ripper Conference, including essays by John Hacker ("Jack the Ripper and Technology: Ripperology in the Twenty-First Century") and Stan Russo ("The Strange Case of Dr. Hewitt," which questions why some suspects are treated more seriously than they probably should be) adapted from their presentations there. A number of shorter pieces by various authors follows. Ripper Notes is a nonfiction anthology series covering all aspects of the Jack the Ripper murder case.

"Ripper Notes: Suspects & Witnesses" is a collection of essays about the famous unidentified serial killer Jack the Ripper and related topics, focusing on a number of people who have been accused of the crimes. Andrew J. Spallek starts things off with a comprehensive look at the reasons why Montague John Druitt was named as the top suspect by a high-ranking police official at the time, as well as new information that has been discovered since then. Stewart P. Evans, author of several of the most respected books on the case and a former police officer, takes an in-depth professional look at George Hutchinson, who is sometimes considered a suspect because of the puzzling aspects of the witness statement he gave of a man seen with Mary Jane Kelly, the last of the Ripper's known victims, shortly before her death. Leanne Perry follows with details on Kelly's former lover Joseph Barnett, also believed by some to have been her killer, and the job he lost as a fish porter at Old Billingsgate Market. Wolf Vanderlinden tackles another high profile suspect, Dr. Francis Tumblety, while trying to get to the truth about some of the stories of his life that have always been considered to be damning evidence against him but appear to be quite different from how they have been previously portrayed. Jeffrey Bloomfield comes next with the life and crimes of Dr. Thomas Neill Cream, the man whose executioner claimed was trying to admit to being Jack the Ripper while being hanged for the poisoning deaths of prostitutes in London's East End. Don Souden critically examines all the major witness to see how reliable they were in offering clues to the murderer's identity. Des McKenna compares the two different versions of Tom Slemen's claims that Claude Reignier Conder should be considered to be Jack the Ripper. Tom Wescott then brings the main section to a close with a bang by revealing a largely forgotten contemporary suspect who has not been mentioned in print since the 19th century. There are also short pieces on various claims that the killer was locked up in an asylum and not prosecuted because of being insane, a look at the current state of Ripperology, and reviews of recent books. Ripper Notes is a nonfiction anthology series covering all aspects of the Jack the Ripper case.

Hugely respected, extensively quoted and widely regarded as the 'bible' of Ripper studies, The Complete Jack the Ripper A to Z is the ultimate reference for anyone fascinated by the Jack the Ripper mystery. This new, rewritten, up-to-date edition includes sources and well over 100 photographs.The Complete jack the Ripper A-Z has an entry for almost every person involved in the case, from suspects and witnesses to policemen and journalists, plus the ordinary people who became caught up in the unfolding drama.Written by three of the world's leading authorities on the case, it takes a completely objective look at theories old and new, describes all the key Ripper books and gives potted biographies of many of the authors.Whether you are new to the mystery of Jack the Ripper or an experienced 'Ripperologist' The Complete Jack the Ripper A-Z will keep you turning the pages. Fascinating and entertaining reading in its own right, it is the essential reference to have beside you when you venture into the dark alleys of Victorian Whitechapel.

In the autumn of 1888, a serial killer known as Jack the Ripper stalked the East End of London. He was never identified, but hundreds of people were accused. Some were known to the authorities at the time, and others were named by later researchers. The truth about them, and the reasons why they came under suspicion, is often lost in a plethora of opinions and misinformation. For the first time, this book presents the evidence against 333 suspects. They include the publican who painted his dog, the first woman sentenced to the electric chair, the writer of the Red Flag, the man with a thousand convictions, Britain’s oldest Prime Minister, and many others. People from all walks of nineteenth century life, representing many different nationalities and professions. United by a link, however tenuous, to the most famous murderer in history.

Discover the truth behind the myth in The Complete Jack the Ripper by Paul Begg and John Bennett. Whitechapel, 1888: a spate of brutal murders becomes the most notorious criminal episode in London's history. The killer, chillingly nicknamed 'The Whitechapel Murderer', 'Leather Apron' and, most famously, 'Jack the Ripper', is never brought to justice for the slaughter and mutilation of at least five women in the slums of East London. But the mystery is deepened by a letter sent "From Hell" to Scotland Yard, accompanied by half of a preserved human kidney... In this comprehensive account of London's most infamous killer, the foremost authorities on the case explore the facts behind the most grisly episode of the Victorian era. Setting the scene in the impoverished East End, the authors' meticulous research offers detailed accounts of the lives of the victims and an examination of the police investigation. The Complete Jack the Ripper is the definitive book by Paul Begg and John Bennett, exploring both the myth and reality behind the allusive killer. Paul Begg and John Bennett are researchers and authors, widely recognized as authorities on Jack the Ripper. Paul Begg's books include Jack the Ripper: The Facts, Jack the Ripper: The Definitive History, and he is a co-author of The Jack the Ripper A to Z. John Bennett has written numerous articles and lectured frequently on Jack the Ripper and the East End of London. He has acted as adviser to and participated in documentaries made by television channels worldwide and was the co-writer for the successful Channel 5 programme Jack the Ripper: The Definitive Story. He is author of E1: A Journey Through Whitechapel and Spitalfields and co-author of Jack the Ripper: CSI Whitechapel.

A vivid reimagining of Jack the Ripper's personal story intertwines his 1888 murders of five prostitutes with the investigation of an Irish journalist who is caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse against a backdrop of London's seamy Whitechapel District.