Jack The Ripper 'Dear Boss Letter' Remains Chilling
Read The Actual Letter The Real Jack The Ripper Sent To The News
After more than a century, mentioning Jack The Ripper still sends chills down our spines to cause more than a few bloodsoaked nightmares. In 1888, The Whitechapel Murders in London’s east end terrified the populace and beyond. After all these years, the most important questions still linger unanswered for the criminally curious.
Who was the real Jack? Criminologists and forensic experts still aren’t entirely sure, though a genetic analysis done in 2019 could finally be the answer we’ve wanted. Blood found on the shawl of one of the victims, Catherine Eddowes, has been matched to a Polish barber, Aaron Kosminski.
Still, not everyone is completely convinced it was Kosminski perpetrating the monstrous acts. Suprisngly, even the exact number of The Ripper’s murder victims aren’t known for certain. It’s only agreed that up to eleven unsolved women murder victims can either be all or somewhat attributed to Jack’s gruesome predation.
One item as evidence of The Ripper’s criminal behavior is the infamous 'Dear Boss’ letter. This supremely nightmarish note was sent to a news agency. Jack himself even signed it to create his now legendary nickname.
Dear Boss Letter
Below is the full text of the creepy letter. It reminds one of the type of letter we see cops get during murder cases in movies and TV shows. It’s that shocking document which comes into the precinct boasting of commiting murders most foul. This one, if legitimate, would be one of the very first of its kind - certainly of the kind of infamous notoriety concerning a prototypical serial killer such as Jack The Ripper.
Dear Boss,
I keep on hearing the police have caught me but they wont fix me just yet. I have laughed when they look so clever and talk about being on the right track. That joke about Leather Apron gave me real fits. I am down on whores and I shant quit ripping them till I do get buckled. Grand work the last job was. I gave the lady no time to squeal.
How can they catch me now. I love my work and want to start again. You will soon hear of me with my funny little games. I saved some of the proper red stuff in a ginger beer bottle over the last job to write with but it went thick like glue and I cant use it. Red ink is fit enough I hope ha ha. The next job I do I shall clip the ladys ears off and send to the police officers just for jolly wouldn't you. Keep this letter back till I do a bit more work, then give it out straight.
My knife's so nice and sharp I want to get to work right away if I get a chance.
Good Luck.
Yours truly
Jack the Ripper
Dont mind me giving the trade name. Wasnt good enough to post this before I got all the red ink off my hands curse it No luck yet. They say I'm a doctor now. ha ha”
Blood like scrawls from the true madman? Or perhaps merely a prankster displaying his penchant for black comedy.
Although historical experts are still at odds over this letter actually being written by the real killer, overall it’s considered legitimate. The writer references ‘clip the ladys ears off’ - which the general public had no knowledge of as an authentic detail from one of the grisly crimes.
Whatever the ultimate legitimacy of the Dear Boss letter, it led to our nickname for one of history’s most fearsome killers, and later contributed to Hollywood’s deadly fascination with portraying Jack The Ripper in dozens of hair raising film productions.