"Ripper Notes: Murder by Numbers" is a collection of essays about the famous unidentified serial killer Jack the Ripper and related topics. Wolf Vanderlinden's questions the conventional wisdom about the time of death of Annie Chapman, the second of Jack's generally accepted victims, by a careful examination of the medical evidence and contradictions in witness testimony. Amanda Howard compares serial killers like Andrei Chikatilo, the BTK strangler, Albert Fish and the Green River Killer to see what they might tell us about the Ripper case. Also, Jeffrey Bloomfield gives the details on two forgotten cases of prostitutes murdered in London a few years before the more famous 1888 killings, Bernard Brown discusses the police officer who thought he almost caught the Whitechapel murderer, Des McKenna asks whether witnesses confused two different women as being Mary Kelly (generally considered the last Ripper victim) and Robert J. McLaughlin reports on a Punch & Judy-like theatre performance based upon the murders. There are also several short pieces looking at the latest news in Ripperology, the boom in books about the case, and similar topics. Ripper Notes is a nonfiction anthology series covering all aspects of the Jack the Ripper case.

Ripper Notes: Murder by Numbers

History

Norder, Dan

Vanderlinden, Wolf

Bloomfield, Jeffrey

World

Inklings Pr

"Ripper Notes: Suspects &amp; 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.

Ripper Notes: Suspects & Witnesses

Evans, Stewart P.

"Ripper Notes: Death in London's East End" is a collection of essays about the famous unidentified serial killer Jack the Ripper and related topics. Jennifer Pegg starts things off by documenting some of the major errors and discrepancies in the book "Uncle Jack" by Tony Williams and Humphrey Price, including a Victorian era document which appears to have been altered to try to implicate their suspect. Wolf Vanderlinden explores whether Inspector Walter Andrews of Scotland Yard really did go to America to chase Dr. Francis Tumblety in connection with the Whitechapel murders or if he was actually there to try to collect evidence for the Parnell Commission, which was trying link Irish leader Charles Parnell with terrorists. Robert Clack follows with a comprehensive look into the 1901 murder of prostitute Mary Ann Austin in the same lodging house that Ripper victim Annie Chapman was kicked out of 13 years earlier; this essay includes copious police reports, inquest testimony, a number of period illustrations and a suspect who may be linked to the earlier killings. Don Souden then debunks a number of tall tales that grew up around the case, including the ideas that victim Mary Kelly had a son living with her and that Catherine Eddowes knew who the Ripper was. Bernard Brown comes next with a short piece on a man called Inspector Death who worked in the East End. Andrew J. Spallek closes the main section by providing readers with directions on finding the burial sites of Jack the Ripper's victims. In addition, there is a look at some other possible victims of the killer, coverage of the 2006 Ripper conference, book reviews, news briefs and more. Ripper Notes is a nonfiction anthology series covering all aspects of the Jack the Ripper case.

Ripper Notes: Death in London's East End

Clack, Rob

"Ripper Notes: Written in Blood" is a collection of essays about the famous unidentified serial killer Jack the Ripper and related topics. Julie Stangeland starts things off with a look at a rarely-seen photograph of the Whitechapel division of London's Metropolitan Police in which, the author argues, Inspector Frederick Abberline can be identified here for the first time. David A. Green then names John Barlas, a Victorian decadent poet and anarchist who was locked up in asylums for the rest of his life shortly after the Whitechapel murders, as the previously unknown lunatic Ripper suspect described in a contemporary newspaper account. Vance McLaughlin follows with a look at three early serial killers in the United States who wrote messages to police and their victims' families. John Bennett reports on his first-hand examination of a 'Dear Boss' letter signed Jack the Ripper and dated September 17, 1888, but that may be a modern hoax slipped into the National Archives to mislead researchers. Tom Wescott has two essays: the first compares the wounds on Polly Nichols, the first canonical Ripper victim, to other area murders, and the second examines the various individuals named "McCarthy" living on Dorset Street in London's East End to try to determine which was the landlord of victim Mary Jane Kelly. Don Souden then argues that John McCarthy was not just a grocer but also Kelly's pimp, and Stephen P. Ryder contributes some Victorian letters to the editor discussing the problems of pimps of prostitution. Dan Norder presents four period paintings to see if a conclusion can be made about which, if any, was featured in "The Fisherman's Widow" print found in Kelly's room at the time of her death. Wolf Vanderlinden reports from the 2006 Jack the Ripper conference in Baltimore, Maryland; Kelly Robinson reviews a production of Chris George and Erik Sitbon's "Jack - The Musical" in Charlotte, North Carolina; and various writers critique a number of recent Ripper books and DVD. Profusely illustrated with photos and engravings from the Victorian era, Ripper Notes is a nonfiction anthology series covering all aspects of the Jack the Ripper case.

Ripper Notes: Written in Blood

Wescott, Tom

"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: The Legend Continues

SHARP, ALAN