The Evidence

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In 1993, David Hayes presented a silk shawl approximately 7ft long and 2ft wide, with a Michaelmas Daisy pattern to Scotland Yard's Black Museum. Hayes claimed to be the great-great nephew of PC Amos Simpson who had removed the cloth from the body of Catherine Eddowes in Mitre Square after her death on the 30th of September 1888. The shawl had been handed down through the family ever since.

In 2007, Russel Edwards purchased the shawl and in 2014 submitted the material for DNA testing. Two strands of the cloth were taken and using DNA from Eddowes's three times removed granddaughter and a descendant of Kosminski's sister, the first test returned a 99.2% match, and the second strand returned a 100% match.

Many Ripper experts believed the shawl may have been contaminated over the years or that Kosminski paid to have sex with Eddowes, but whatever the truth may be, the fact that the shawl was not recorded so meticulously with Eddowes's other possessions at the time of her murder. If PC Simpson took and stashed the shawl before anyone else arrived, he knew he could be in serious trouble for withholding evidence, but Simpson was said to have been an honest officer with a good record and character.

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In 2011, Tony Williams claimed to have found a six-inch knife, a diary telling of an abortion he performed on Mary Ann Nichols three years before her murder, and three glass slides which he claims to have smears from a uterus on them in the belongings of his distant grandfather's possessions.

John Williams, or 'Uncle Jack' to his family, was a surgeon to Queen Victoria and was said to have been working on a cure for his wife's inability to have children. According to some theorists, he needed the wombs of women to aid in his investigations and experiments and this has been cited as his motive for attacking the victims.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This is not the knife found on the doorstep of Mr Christmas's Laundry at 253 Whitechapel Road by Thomas Coram, twenty-four hours after the double murders of Elizabeth Stride and Catharine Eddowes on the 30th of September 1888. 

The knife had a ten-inch blade and was covered in dry blood: the handle was wrapped in a blood-stained handkerchief and tied with a piece of string. Coram alerted a policeman who took the knife to Leman Street Police Station where it was secured and filed away.

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Approximately an hour and fifteen minutes after the murder of Catharine Eddowes in Mitre Square, PC Alfred Long discovered a piece of what turned out to be a piece of the victim's apron covered in blood and faecal matter in a doorway of the Model Dwellings in Goulston Street. Written in chalk above the piece of cloth were the following words:

 

 

 

 

 

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A copy of the writing on the wall sent to the Home office by Sir Charles Warren that he ordered to be removed for fear of anti-Semitic reprisals.

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​In 1992, a journal came to light after it had been given to Michael Barrett by his friend Tony Devereux, who in turn was given it by Barrett’s wife. The journal appeared to be a handwritten diary detailing the gruesome murders and mutilations of Jack the Rippers’ five canonical victims along with two other women that have not been identified. Although the author never names himself, the information included references to the life and times of James Maybrick and leads the reader to believe it was written by him. The diary was signed ‘Yours truly, Jack the Ripper’ and dated May 3rd, 1889. The diary caused a great deal of scepticism and interest as can be imagined, but when Barrett later said he had forged the document it seemed the truth had been found out. Then, in another twist, Barrett retracted his confession and so it went on, with believers and sceptics arguing the case back and forth.

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The last page of the diary.

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In 1993, the plot thickened even more, when Albert Johnson purchased a gold watch, on opening it, he discovered the initials of Mary Anne Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catharine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly, along with the words, J Maybrick and “I am Jack” scratched inside. The diary and watch went through a series of tests to authenticate and date the pieces, but these all proved inconclusive.

Coincidence or not? James Maybrick chose his family motto, which reads:

“Time reveals all.”

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​The Letters

Over the course of the Ripper murders, hundreds of letters were sent to the police, the press, and other individuals involved in the investigations. One of the earliest of these was the ''Dear Boss' letter dated 17th of September 1888. Many experts believe that most of the correspondence was hoaxes, either written by members of the press to boost newspaper sales or just sick individuals living out their fantasies in writing. 

Twenty-one-year-old Maria Coroner was the only person to be positively identified as an author when she was found to be sending mail signed 'Jack the Ripper,' she was charged with breach of the peace and admitted to being fascinated by the murder case.

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Dear Boss Letter

Sent: 25th September 1888

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​Saucy Jacky Letter

Sent: 1st October 1888

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From Hell Letter

Sent: 15th October 1888

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The Dear Boss Letter, The Saucy Jacky Letter, and the From Hell Letter are thought by some people to be the writing of Jack the Ripper, and although the handwriting is similar in style, most experts believe they were written by different authors, with some people thinking a journalist wrote the Dear Boss Letter. About two hundred and fifty letters, postcards, and telegrams remain and are kept at the National Archives in London. With several letters being posted on the same day and from different parts of the country, it is obvious that many pieces of correspondence were hoaxes. 

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The last known letter claiming to be from Jack the Ripper was sent to the Whitechapel Police on the 14th of October 1896,below is a translation.

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You will be surprised to find that this comes from yours as of old Jack - the - Ripper. Ha. Ha. If my old friend Mr Warren is dead you can read it. you might remember me if you try and think a little Ha Ha. The last job was a bad one and no mistake nearly buckled, and meant it to be the best of the lot curse it, Ha Ha Im alive yet and you’ll soon find it out. I mean to go on again when I get the chance wont it be nice dear old Boss to have the good old times once again. you never caught me and you never will. Ha Ha. you police are a smart lot, the lot of you could nt catch one man Where have I been Dear Boss you d like to know, abroad, if
you would like to know, and just come back. ready to go on with my work and stop when you catch me. Well good bye
Boss wish me luck. Winters coming
“The Jewes are people that are blamed for nothing Ha Ha
have you heard this before
Yours truly
Jack – the - Ripper