Alias Jack the Ripper: Beyond the Usual Whitechapel Suspects

by R. Michael Gordon

Overview

Over a century ago, a depraved killer skillfully moved through the dark and filthy slums of London's East End. Despite the increasingly watchful eyes of investigators, the serial murderer--known as "Jack the Ripper" from a signature on a piece of correspondence that has been attributed to him--was never certainly identified. R. Michael Gordon provides a comprehensive look at the crimes and the case evidence, and then discusses the life of the man he believes was the actual killer, detailing the reasons why this person may have been driven to kill. Beginning with an overview of the terror created in the East End of 1888, the book describes the five major periods of the Ripper's deadly career: early life and schooling; a step-by-step view of the murders, including the Thames Torso Murders that authorities attempted to cover up; the Ripper's American connection; a return to London where his final victims were subjected to poison; and the capture and execution of the probable--but never proven--Ripper. To most people who worked closely on the Ripper and poisoning cases, justice was finally served.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786408986
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	12/15/2000
Pages:	363
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.73(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

R. Michael Gordon is the author of several books, and has written extensively on Victorian London and the Ripper phenomenon. He lives in Long Beach, California.

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	vii
	Introduction to a Serial Killer	1
	An Overview of Terror	5
Section I	Genesis of A Killer
Chapter 1	A Student from Warsaw: Unknown	9
Section II	The Ripper Series
Chapter 2	A Shadow Falls Over Whitechapel: Millwood, Wilson, Tabram	29
Chapter 3	A Dark Night Down Buck's Row: Nichols	46
Chapter 4	A Murder on Hanbury Street: Chapman	64
Chapter 5	"Perhaps Some of Us Will Be Killed Next!": Stride, Eddowes, Unknown	88
Chapter 6	A Letter from Hell, as the Ripper Lies Low	132
Chapter 7	Death Moves Off the Streets: Kelly	150
Chapter 8	The Madness Continues Mylett, Jackson, McKenzie, Unknown	175
Chapter 9	One Last Time?: Coles	203
Section III	The American Connection
Chapter 10	A Time to Run and a Time to Kill: Brown, Senior	225
Section IV	The Ripper Turns to Poison
Chapter 11	Mr. Chapman Comes to Town: Spink, Taylor	247
Chapter 12	The Final Victim?: Marsh, Unknown	262
Section V	The End Game
Chapter 13	Investigation of a Serial Killer	279
Chapter 14	The King's Justice	290
Chapter 15	Aftermath	304
Appendix 1	Chronology of a Serial Killer	317
Appendix 2	Victims of a Serial Killer	323
Appendix 3	Descriptions of Jack the Ripper	325
Appendix 4	Report on "The Whitechapel Murder" (Facsimile)	327
Appendix 5	Letters from the Jack the Ripper Files	336
	Bibliography	341
	Index	347

Editorial Reviews

recreates the crimes and the filthy slums where the victims lived and worked…makes a strong case…the likely police cover-up that resulted from their incompetence is given a good look…the story is gripping, the crime scene photos shocking, and the facts still disturbing after all this time”—Rue Morgue; “important...Gordon’s research is impressive.... His exhaustive study of the victims is a milestone...biographical information on Klosowski is second-to-none”—Ripperologist.

From the Publisher

"important...Gordon's research is impressive.... His exhaustive study of the victims is a milestone...biographical information on Klosowski is second-to-none"

Ripperologist

recreates the crimes and the filthy slums where the victims lived and worked...makes a strong case...the likely police cover-up that resulted from their incompetence is given a good look...the story is gripping, the crime scene photos shocking, and the facts still disturbing after all this time

Rue Morgue

California-based writer and researcher Gordon illuminates the life of the man presumed but never proved to be responsible for five major series of murders in London beginning in 1888. He discusses his early life and schooling, the early Thames Torso Murders, his American connection, return to London, and eventual capture and execution. He includes reproductions of primary documents. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews