Jack the Ripper and The Whitechapel Murders

This section explains investigative policing and the Whitechapel Murders of 1888. Between August and November 1888, five women were brutally murdered in the Whitechapel area of London. These women—Mary Ann ‘Polly’ Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly—became the infamous victims of the murderer who came to be known as Jack the Ripper. Despite intense efforts by the Metropolitan Police and significant public and media attention, the killer was never caught. The Whitechapel murders became one of the most infamous cases in criminal history and exposed many weaknesses in both the investigative techniques of the time and the functioning of the police force.

Investigative Policing in Whitechapel

The Metropolitan Police in Whitechapel employed a range of investigative methods to try to catch the murderer, but several factors, including rivalry between police forces, media interference, and public panic, severely hampered their efforts.

Careful Observation and Crime Scene Management

By the early 1880s, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), under Commissioner Edmund Henderson, had introduced the Police Code, a set of instructions designed to improve evidence collection and investigation procedures. Key aspects of the code included:

• Securing the crime scene by ensuring that it was kept clear of onlookers and evidence was not disturbed.
• Documenting the crime scene with meticulous notes, especially important details like bruises, marks on the victim, and the condition of the body.

However, at times, the police were unable to follow these protocols effectively. For example, after the murder of Mary Nichols in Buck’s Row, the doctor in attendance ordered an ambulance (a wheeled stretcher) to take the body to a mortuary before the crime scene could be fully documented. This prevented a thorough examination of the area. Despite this, the inspector's report does include a detailed description of what Mary Nichols was wearing, which was a key piece of evidence.

Photography and Sketching

Although the use of photography by the police was still in its early stages, it became more prominent during the investigation into the Whitechapel murders. The City of London Police, known for their expertise in using photography, worked alongside the Metropolitan Police and contributed to the growing use of photographs at crime scenes.

• Mary Kelly’s murder: Photographs were taken at both the outside and inside of her apartment to document the scene.
• Mitre Square: After the murder of Catherine Eddowes, the City of London Police produced detailed sketches of the crime scene.
• Doctor’s sketch: The attending doctor at Eddowes' scene also made his own sketch of the murder location.

The press also took a keen interest in the case, producing illustrations and sketches of the suspected murderer, but these were never part of the official investigation and were based more on speculation and public imagination than actual evidence.

Interviews and Witness Statements

The police interviewed thousands of people in an attempt to uncover the identity of the murderer. In total, more than 2,000 people were questioned following the murders of Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes. The police also carried out door-to-door enquiries, speaking to locals in the area, visiting pubs, mental health hospitals, and other key locations.

• Following these interviews, the police pursued 300 lines of inquiry and arrested 80 individuals for further questioning.

As part of their standard procedures, the police ensured that witness statements were carefully recorded, using the exact words of the witness, with each page signed and any errors crossed out. However, the accuracy of these statements was often challenged, and police faced difficulties in tracking down reliable witnesses due to the poor literacy rates and the general distrust between the police and the local communities.

Problems Catching the Murderer

Despite the significant effort put into investigating the Whitechapel murders, the police never succeeded in catching Jack the Ripper. Several factors contributed to their failure.

Rivalry Between Police Forces

A significant problem during the investigation was the rivalry between the Metropolitan Police and the City of London Police. The City of London Police was an independent force, not under the control of Charles Warren, the head of the Metropolitan Police. Tensions between the two forces occasionally interfered with the investigation.

One particularly contentious moment occurred following the murders of Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes. After the bodies were found, anti-Semitic graffiti was discovered on a wall near the scene. Two City of London Police detectives insisted that the graffiti be photographed and recorded, but Warren ordered it to be washed off. His decision was likely motivated by the fear that the graffiti could spark an anti-Semitic riot against the Jewish community in Whitechapel, where many of the residents were Jewish immigrants.

Warren’s actions drew significant criticism from the press and from those within the police force. Some historians argue that Warren may have been motivated by a desire to prevent the City of London Police from taking over the investigation and solving the case first, highlighting the ongoing rivalry between the two forces. Despite these tensions, it is also worth noting that H Division (the Metropolitan Police division in Whitechapel) did learn valuable lessons from the City of London Police, particularly regarding the preservation and recording of crime scenes.

Problems Caused by the Media

The role of the press during the investigation was another major issue. The newspapers sensationalised the murders and the efforts of the police, often presenting the police as incompetent and unable to catch the killer. Instead of focusing on the police’s investigative work, the media created a narrative that mocked the police’s efforts, printing cartoons and exaggerated stories that undermined public confidence in law enforcement.

• The press published misleading or exaggerated accounts of the crimes, such as claiming that there were more victims than the five officially linked to the Ripper. This created confusion and chaos.
• The newspapers also printed fake witness statements and hoax letters, some of which they claimed had been sent by Jack the Ripper himself. These letters included the infamous "From Hell" letter and the "Dear Boss" letter, the latter of which coined the name "Jack the Ripper".

One of the most damaging effects of the press coverage was the creation of false suspects. One example was John Pizer, a Jewish cobbler, who was falsely identified as the killer due to his nickname, "Leather Apron". After the press linked him to the murders, Pizer was arrested, but he had a solid alibi and was quickly released. The time spent investigating this false lead diverted resources away from the real investigation.

The Whitechapel Vigilance Committee

In response to the police's failure to solve the case, a group of concerned local businessmen and residents, led by George Lusk, formed the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee. Lusk, a builder from Whitechapel, was frustrated by the lack of a police reward for information leading to the capture of the Ripper and the perceived incompetence of the authorities. The Vigilance Committee took several actions:

• They employed private detectives to conduct their own investigation.
• They offered a small reward for information that could lead to the capture of the murderer.
• Members of the committee also took to patrolling the streets of Whitechapel at night, hoping to catch the killer in the act. They were armed with hobnailed boots and burning planks.

Although the committee was frustrated with the police, some historians argue that they also had a political agenda. The committee's actions may have been intended to embarrass the police and the government in the lead-up to the London County Council elections, generating negative press about the police's failure to solve the murders.

Conclusion

The investigation into the Whitechapel murders became one of the most significant challenges for the Metropolitan Police. Despite using modern investigative techniques such as photography, detailed interviews, and the Police Code for evidence collection, numerous factors hampered their success. Police rivalries, media interference, and the public's growing distrust in the police all contributed to the failure to catch the Jack the Ripper. Although the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee took matters into their own hands, their efforts were also ineffective. The case remains one of the most infamous in criminal history, not only because of the brutality of the crimes but also due to the multitude of investigative failures and complications faced by the police.