Jack the Ripper Essay, Page 1
On August 31, 1888, at 3:45 a.m. the body of a woman was found in Whitechapel. Her
throat was cut, deeply enough that her spinal cord had been severed. Her abdomen was cut open
so much that her skin could be lifted and laid down as a flap to expose her internal organs, some
of which were missing. Upon further inspection, the coroner learned her genitals had also been
mutilated, with two small stab wounds.
On September 8, 1888, at 6:10 a.m. Scotland Yard learns of another murder. The victim
was a female, found with her throat cut, and disembowelled. The morning of September 30th
would bring a new feeling of unease to Scotland Yard. Two women were found murdered, one
of which only had her throat cut. The other, however had facial mutilations so severe that it was
nearly impossible to make an identification. Like the previous victims, her throat was cut, and she
had been disembowelled. The killer took her uterus and left kidney. Near her body, a bloody
piece of her apron, as well as an inscription on the wall reading "The Juwes are the men who will
not be blamed for nothing" were found.
Up until this point Scotland Yard was unable to indicate a possible profession the killer
may have worked in, as there was no need for a knowledge of the human anatomy. After this
murder, however, Scotland Yard began to look for a qualified surgeon, or a surgical student, as
the missing organs were difficult to find and remove quickly, unless there was a prior knowledge
Then, on November 9, 1888, a fifth woman was found in her home. Her throat was cut,
and once again her entire body was mutilated. These women were all prostitutes, or
"unfortunates" as they were called at the time, who lived in lodging houses and workhouses.
Fifteen other murders were committed around the same time which tend to be attributed
to him as well. Howeve...