From Hell Letter
Jack the Ripper Correspondence Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
London, England
TIME PERIOD
October 1888
VICTIMS
4 confirmed
On 15 October 1888, a letter postmarked from London was sent to George Lusk, chairman of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee, allegedly authored by the unidentified serial killer known as Jack the Ripper. The letter, which claimed to be from the murderer, included half of a human kidney and stated that the other half had been fried and eaten by the sender. This correspondence followed a series of brutal murders of at least four women in the Whitechapel and Spitalfields districts, with the first victim, Mary Ann Nichols, murdered on 31 August 1888. The kidney was later examined and found to belong to an individual suffering from Bright's disease, adding a layer of intrigue to the case. As of now, the authenticity of the "From Hell" letter remains debated among investigators, with it being one of the few letters from the time that has received serious consideration, amidst a flood of approximately 1,000 other claims related to the Ripper case.
The "From Hell" letter is believed by some to be a genuine communication from Jack the Ripper, particularly due to its gruesome content and the inclusion of a human kidney, which was linked to a medical condition. Others speculate that it could have been a hoax, given the volume of letters sent to authorities claiming to be from the killer, with many lacking credibility. The authenticity of the letter remains a topic of debate among historians and Ripperologists, with some suggesting it could provide clues to the killer's identity or motives.
The Infamous "From Hell" Letter: A Chilling Correspondence
In the autumn of 1888, a letter arrived in the hands of George Lusk, chairman of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee, that would forever etch itself into the dark annals of history. This correspondence, known as the "From Hell" letter, came with a gruesome delivery: half of a human kidney. The author claimed to be none other than Jack the Ripper, the notorious murderer who had terrorized the Whitechapel and Spitalfields districts of London, leaving a trail of at least four mutilated women in his wake. Lusk's committee had been striving to aid the police in their efforts to unmask this elusive killer, but nothing could prepare them for the macabre message that arrived on October 16, 1888, postmarked the day before.
The Arrival of the Letter
The kidney arrived with a note that read:
From hell
Mr Lusk,
Sor
I send you half the Kidne I took from one women prasarved it for you tother piece I fried and ate it was very nise. I may send you the bloody knif that took it out if you only wate a whil longer.
signed
Catch me when you can Mishter Lusk
The organ was examined, revealing that it belonged to someone who had suffered from Bright's disease. The sender brazenly claimed to have cooked and eaten the other half of the kidney, taunting Lusk with the promise of more horrific deliveries.
The Ripper Murders
The saga of Jack the Ripper began with the murder of Mary Ann Nichols on August 31, 1888, which brought intense media scrutiny to the "Whitechapel murderer." The grotesque manner in which the victims' bodies were mutilated led to widespread fear of a "ripper" or "high rip" gang. The moniker "Jack the Ripper" emerged after the "Dear Boss" letter was received by Central News Ltd on September 27, 1888. Signed "Yours truly, Jack the Ripper," the letter threatened further atrocities and was initially dismissed as a prank until events proved otherwise. The subsequent double murder of Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes coincided with the letter's arrival at Scotland Yard, compelling the authorities to consider its authenticity.
Analysis and Investigation
The "From Hell" letter stood out amid a deluge of correspondence claiming to be from the Whitechapel Murderer—a total that reached an estimated 1,000 letters. Despite skepticism from Scotland Yard, which was inundated with false leads and hoaxes, some experts have argued for the letter's authenticity. Unlike other missives, it was neither signed "Jack the Ripper" nor did it share handwriting characteristics with the "Dear Boss" letter and "Saucy Jacky" postcard. The delivery directly to Lusk, bypassing official channels, suggested a personal vendetta against Lusk or the Whitechapel community.
The Kidney's Origin
The key feature that distinguished this letter was the accompanying kidney, preserved in spirits. Medical opinion at the time suggested it could have been a hoax orchestrated by medical students. Lusk himself suspected as much and only reported the letter after persuasion from his associates. However, contemporary analysis by Dr. Thomas Openshaw of the London Hospital indicated the kidney belonged to a sickly alcoholic woman who had died within three weeks, a detail that aligned with the fate of victim Catherine Eddowes. Yet, these conclusions remain contentious, with historian Philip Sugden cautioning that the only certainty is the kidney's human origin and its removal from the left side of the body.
Suspects and Theories
Suspicion also fell on an individual described by shopkeeper Emily Marsh who encountered a peculiar man asking for Lusk's address. This man, tall, slim, with a dark beard and Irish accent, added another layer to the mystery but was ultimately dismissed as another crank amid the chaos of the investigation.
Forensic handwriting experts have scrutinized the letter's penmanship, noting its numerous spelling and grammatical errors. Some suggest these were deliberate deceptions by an educated individual, while others argue it reflects the work of a genuinely deranged mind. On the History Channel's "MysteryQuest," forensic expert Michelle Dresbold identified distinctive handwriting features pointing to authenticity, linking the linguistic style to known suspect Francis Tumblety, an itinerant Irish-American quack doctor with a history of mental illness and animosity towards women. Although arrested as a suspect, Tumblety was released for lack of evidence and died in 1903 in the U.S.
Cultural Impact
The Jack the Ripper murders, the first internationally publicized serial killings with an unidentified perpetrator, have captured the public imagination for decades. The "From Hell" letter itself inspired the graphic novel "From Hell" by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell, later adapted into a film starring Johnny Depp. This cultural fascination underscores the lasting impact of the Ripper's reign of terror and the enduring mystery surrounding his identity.
Sources
For further reading and a deeper dive into this chilling chapter of history, please refer to the original Wikipedia article: From Hell letter.
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From Hell Letter Received
George Lusk receives the 'From Hell' letter, claiming to be from the Ripper.
Police Investigation Intensifies
Scotland Yard increases efforts to find the Ripper amid public outcry and media frenzy.
Final Murder
Mary Jane Kelly is murdered, marking the last of the canonical Ripper victims.
Investigation Stalls
Despite extensive investigations, the Ripper remains unidentified, leading to public frustration.
First Murder
Mary Ann Nichols is murdered, marking the start of the Ripper killings.
Dear Boss Letter
The 'Dear Boss' letter is received, signed by 'Jack the Ripper', escalating public fear.
Double Murder
Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes are murdered on the same night, heightening panic.
Saucy Jacky Postcard
A postcard claiming to be from the Ripper is sent, further taunting the police.
From Hell Letter Sent
The 'From Hell' letter is postmarked, sent with half a preserved kidney to George Lusk.
On 15 October 1888, a letter postmarked from London was sent to George Lusk, chairman of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee, allegedly authored by the unidentified serial killer known as Jack the Ripper. The letter, which claimed to be from the murderer, included half of a human kidney and stated that the other half had been fried and eaten by the sender. This correspondence followed a series of brutal murders of at least four women in the Whitechapel and Spitalfields districts, with the first victim, Mary Ann Nichols, murdered on 31 August 1888. The kidney was later examined and found to belong to an individual suffering from Bright's disease, adding a layer of intrigue to the case. As of now, the authenticity of the "From Hell" letter remains debated among investigators, with it being one of the few letters from the time that has received serious consideration, amidst a flood of approximately 1,000 other claims related to the Ripper case.
The "From Hell" letter is believed by some to be a genuine communication from Jack the Ripper, particularly due to its gruesome content and the inclusion of a human kidney, which was linked to a medical condition. Others speculate that it could have been a hoax, given the volume of letters sent to authorities claiming to be from the killer, with many lacking credibility. The authenticity of the letter remains a topic of debate among historians and Ripperologists, with some suggesting it could provide clues to the killer's identity or motives.
The Infamous "From Hell" Letter: A Chilling Correspondence
In the autumn of 1888, a letter arrived in the hands of George Lusk, chairman of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee, that would forever etch itself into the dark annals of history. This correspondence, known as the "From Hell" letter, came with a gruesome delivery: half of a human kidney. The author claimed to be none other than Jack the Ripper, the notorious murderer who had terrorized the Whitechapel and Spitalfields districts of London, leaving a trail of at least four mutilated women in his wake. Lusk's committee had been striving to aid the police in their efforts to unmask this elusive killer, but nothing could prepare them for the macabre message that arrived on October 16, 1888, postmarked the day before.
The Arrival of the Letter
The kidney arrived with a note that read:
From hell
Mr Lusk,
Sor
I send you half the Kidne I took from one women prasarved it for you tother piece I fried and ate it was very nise. I may send you the bloody knif that took it out if you only wate a whil longer.
signed
Catch me when you can Mishter Lusk
The organ was examined, revealing that it belonged to someone who had suffered from Bright's disease. The sender brazenly claimed to have cooked and eaten the other half of the kidney, taunting Lusk with the promise of more horrific deliveries.
The Ripper Murders
The saga of Jack the Ripper began with the murder of Mary Ann Nichols on August 31, 1888, which brought intense media scrutiny to the "Whitechapel murderer." The grotesque manner in which the victims' bodies were mutilated led to widespread fear of a "ripper" or "high rip" gang. The moniker "Jack the Ripper" emerged after the "Dear Boss" letter was received by Central News Ltd on September 27, 1888. Signed "Yours truly, Jack the Ripper," the letter threatened further atrocities and was initially dismissed as a prank until events proved otherwise. The subsequent double murder of Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes coincided with the letter's arrival at Scotland Yard, compelling the authorities to consider its authenticity.
Analysis and Investigation
The "From Hell" letter stood out amid a deluge of correspondence claiming to be from the Whitechapel Murderer—a total that reached an estimated 1,000 letters. Despite skepticism from Scotland Yard, which was inundated with false leads and hoaxes, some experts have argued for the letter's authenticity. Unlike other missives, it was neither signed "Jack the Ripper" nor did it share handwriting characteristics with the "Dear Boss" letter and "Saucy Jacky" postcard. The delivery directly to Lusk, bypassing official channels, suggested a personal vendetta against Lusk or the Whitechapel community.
The Kidney's Origin
The key feature that distinguished this letter was the accompanying kidney, preserved in spirits. Medical opinion at the time suggested it could have been a hoax orchestrated by medical students. Lusk himself suspected as much and only reported the letter after persuasion from his associates. However, contemporary analysis by Dr. Thomas Openshaw of the London Hospital indicated the kidney belonged to a sickly alcoholic woman who had died within three weeks, a detail that aligned with the fate of victim Catherine Eddowes. Yet, these conclusions remain contentious, with historian Philip Sugden cautioning that the only certainty is the kidney's human origin and its removal from the left side of the body.
Suspects and Theories
Suspicion also fell on an individual described by shopkeeper Emily Marsh who encountered a peculiar man asking for Lusk's address. This man, tall, slim, with a dark beard and Irish accent, added another layer to the mystery but was ultimately dismissed as another crank amid the chaos of the investigation.
Forensic handwriting experts have scrutinized the letter's penmanship, noting its numerous spelling and grammatical errors. Some suggest these were deliberate deceptions by an educated individual, while others argue it reflects the work of a genuinely deranged mind. On the History Channel's "MysteryQuest," forensic expert Michelle Dresbold identified distinctive handwriting features pointing to authenticity, linking the linguistic style to known suspect Francis Tumblety, an itinerant Irish-American quack doctor with a history of mental illness and animosity towards women. Although arrested as a suspect, Tumblety was released for lack of evidence and died in 1903 in the U.S.
Cultural Impact
The Jack the Ripper murders, the first internationally publicized serial killings with an unidentified perpetrator, have captured the public imagination for decades. The "From Hell" letter itself inspired the graphic novel "From Hell" by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell, later adapted into a film starring Johnny Depp. This cultural fascination underscores the lasting impact of the Ripper's reign of terror and the enduring mystery surrounding his identity.
Sources
For further reading and a deeper dive into this chilling chapter of history, please refer to the original Wikipedia article: From Hell letter.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
From Hell Letter Received
George Lusk receives the 'From Hell' letter, claiming to be from the Ripper.
Police Investigation Intensifies
Scotland Yard increases efforts to find the Ripper amid public outcry and media frenzy.
Final Murder
Mary Jane Kelly is murdered, marking the last of the canonical Ripper victims.
Investigation Stalls
Despite extensive investigations, the Ripper remains unidentified, leading to public frustration.
First Murder
Mary Ann Nichols is murdered, marking the start of the Ripper killings.
Dear Boss Letter
The 'Dear Boss' letter is received, signed by 'Jack the Ripper', escalating public fear.
Double Murder
Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes are murdered on the same night, heightening panic.
Saucy Jacky Postcard
A postcard claiming to be from the Ripper is sent, further taunting the police.
From Hell Letter Sent
The 'From Hell' letter is postmarked, sent with half a preserved kidney to George Lusk.