What were the Whitechapel Murders?
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What were the Whitechapel Murders?
The Whitechapel Murders were a series of killings between August and November 1888, where a killer known as 'Jack the Ripper' targeted women.
Who was Mary Ann Nichols?
Mary Ann Nichols was the first victim of the Whitechapel Murders. The other suspected victims were Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly.
Define sensationalist newspapers in the Whitechapel Murders.
Sensationalist newspapers were newspapers that presented information in a way that was shocking or exciting rather than serious or factually accurate. They reported a lot of misinformation on the Whitechapel Murders, increasing the public's fear of the killer.
True or False?
On 27th September 1888, London's Central News Office received the Dear Jack letter.
False.
The London's Central News Office received the Dear Boss letter. The letter included details of upcoming murders and included the name 'Jack the Ripper.' The Met released the letter to the public on 3rd October 1888.
What three methods of observation did the Metropolitan Police use during the Whitechapel Murders?
The three methods of observation that the Metropolitan Police used were:
Observing the crime scene
Observing the victim
Post mortem
How accurate were the crime scene sketches of the Whitechapel Murders published in newspapers?
Crime scene sketches of the Whitechapel Murders in newspapers were very inaccurate. The sketches were often heavily exaggerated to sell more newspapers.
Define a coroner's report in terms of the Whitechapel Murders.
Coroners write reports about what they find on a person's body after death. They determine the time and cause of death. In the Whitechapel Murders, police ignored witness information about Annie Chapman because it went against the coroner's report.
How many lodging house residents did the police interview during the Whitechapel Murders?
The police interviewed over 2,000 lodging house residents during their investigations. This did little to help the police catch the Whitechapel murderer.
True or False?
Police officers dressed as prostitutes to catch Jack the Ripper.
True.
The police believed that dressing up as prostitutes would set a trap for the Whitechapel murderer. Many constables refused to shave off their moustaches.
What was the rivalry between the Metropolitan Police and the City of London Police about?
The rivalry stemmed from the Metropolitan Police's desire for the City of London Police to merge with them in the 1830s. The government allowed the City of London Police to function independently from the Met.
State two reasons why Commissioner Warren removed the writing from Goulston Street after the Catherine Eddowes' murder.
The two reasons why Commissioner Warren removed the writing from Goulston Street were:
The message would cause more Anti-Semitism in Whitechapel
He wanted to give the Met an advantage in their investigations over the City of London Police
Define hoaxes in terms of the Whitechapel Murders.
A hoax is a trick or something else that is intended to deceive someone. The newspapers' constant reporting encouraged hoaxes. This spread misinformation about the murders.
Who was Frederick Abberline?
Frederick Abberline was the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) inspector assigned to the Whitechapel Murders. Abberline received over 300 letters and postcards from people claiming to be 'Jack'.
How many years after the 'Jack the Ripper' murders was fingerprinting available to the police?
Fingerprinting was available to the police 12 years after the 'Jack the Ripper' murders.
How was a lack of forensics an issue in the Whitechapel Murders?
A lack of forensics was an issue in the Whitechapel Murders. The only chance of getting a prosecution was catching the murderer in the act of killing.
Who were the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee?
The Whitechapel Vigilance Committee were a group of Whitechapel businessmen who aimed to catch the Whitechapel murderer themselves.
Define hob-nail boots in the Whitechapel Murders.
The hob-nail boots had nails fixed into the bottom to make it last longer. Members of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee walked the streets with hob-nail boots to create as much noise as possible at night to prevent murders.
Did the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee help or hinder the investigation into the Whitechapel murders?
Hinder.
The committee used their own money and people to monitor the streets of Whitechapel. However, their actions created confusion and disrupted police efforts.