Whitechapel - the Ripper murders Flashcards
Methods used to catch the Ripper: Following up direct leads from the public
Police relied on leads and tip offs from public. E.g. suggestion that nearby gang that stole money from prostitutes was to blame, but it was quickly rejected.
Methods used to catch the Ripper: Following up indirect leads gained from the press
Journalists sometimes published articles that contained potential leads and information. E.g. police followed up report in Manchester Guardian that suggested murderer was local man nicknamed ‘Leather Apron’, which was disproved because he had solid alibis for two of the murders.
Methods used to catch the Ripper: Following up on clues in the victims’ possessions
Estimated that over 300 ‘lines of inquiry’ were thoroughly investigated by the police. E.g. an investigation into the rings missing from Annie Chapman’s fingers.
Methods used to catch the Ripper: Increased police presence in Whitechapel
Chief Inspector Swanson published Home Office report that showed he had increased house-to-house searches, questioned over 2,000 lodging house residents, distributed over 8,000 handbills, and used neighbouring police divisions to help search the docks and opium dens for suspects.
Methods used to catch the Ripper: Careful observation
Police Code (Howard Vincent 1889) gave instructions on how constables should treat a crime scene, e.g. clear of onlookers, and not disturbing evidence
Methods used to catch the Ripper: Sketches and photographs
Doctor called to Catherine Eddowes crime scene made a complete sketch of her body and position but this was not yet routine practise.
Photographer was called to the Mary Kelly crime scene, who took a series of photos of the body and crime scene.
Methods used to catch the Ripper: Using evidence from post-mortems or autopsies
Doctors tried to make conclusions on who the killer might be from the injuries that the bodies had. E.g. Rees Llewellyn suggested killer was left handed and must have knowledge of anatomy and dissection. Police followed guidance for several weeks.
Methods used to catch the Ripper: Using coroners’ reports
Each victim examined by a coroner. E.g. Dr Wynne Baxter proposed injuries to Annie Chapman’s body must have been made by someone with surgical skills because her womb was removed intact.
Methods used to catch the Ripper: Criminal profiling
Information from coroners, autopsies, and the crime scenes were used to try and ‘profile’ the type of person the police should be looking for.
Methods used to catch the Ripper: Investigative methods
Some policemen wore disguises and there were reports of men dressed as prostitutes to lure the Ripper into a trap. Increase in plain-clothed detective work and increased patrols of the Whitechapel area as 20 extra inspectors were transferred to the area in 1888. Over 2,000 potential suspects and witnesses were interviewed.
Methods used to catch the Ripper: Bloodhounds
Two bloodhounds were brought to London and were used in some of the early investigations. However, the police failed to pay the owner who then refused to work with the police.
Problems faced by the police while trying to catch the Ripper: Lack of forensic techniques
It would be another 12 years until fingerprinting was used successfully and DNA evidence was not used until much later. Sketches and photographs were not used frequently enough to be useful.
Problems faced by the police while trying to catch the Ripper: Ripper Letters
Over 300 letters sent in to police by men claiming to be the murderer. Some were considered credible enough that they had to spend time and resources investigating them.
Problems faced by the police while trying to catch the Ripper: The press
Local press was highly sensationalised. By the end of 1888, some newspapers were reporting as many as 11 victims of the Ripper. This made the police seem incompetent and inactive.
Problems faced by the police while trying to catch the Ripper: Police force rivalries
Commissioner Warren ordered a message found scrawled on a wall in chalk be washed away despite being an important clue, fearing it would lead to a violent backlash on the Jewish population. However he also likely did it so that the City of London Police couldn’t see and use it. The rival forces rarely shared information and were reluctant to work together.
