History Trails

The Martini Henry Rifle

2011-07-19T12:05:00.001-04:00

Martini Henry British Infantry Rifle 1871 – 1918

Martini Henry rifles were used by British Redcoats in several battles most notably Ulundi, Isandlhwana and Rorke's Drift during the Anglo Zulu War of 1879.

Martini Henry Mark IV

Development of the Martini Henry

By 1867 it was clear that the obsolete Snider Enfield rifle was at the end of it's life as a front line infantry weapon. A committee formed by the British Army began the search for a replacement and opted for a design which combined a breech loading action devised by the Swiss gunsmith Friedrich Von Martini and an innovative rifled barrel developed by the Scotsman Alexander Henry. The result was the Martini Henry Mark I which was first issued in 1871. Altogether four classes of Martini Henry were produced, the last being the Mark IV plus a series of carbine models.

The original cartridges issued with the Martini Henry rifles were shoddily made rolled brass, produced by the orphans of British soldiers. The flimsy construction and poor quality standards were the cause of frequent jamming of the Martini designed action. The introduction of the much superior Boxer-Henry cartridge went a long way to resolving the problems.

Martini Henry rounds (centre two)
compared to Snider Cartidge (left) and 303 (right)

A well drilled British soldier could fire ten rounds per minute, with a maximum range of 1,500 yards although the weapon was at it's most effective at ranges of less than 600 yards where the heavy round proved devastating to flesh and bone.

For close quarter fighting a variety of bayonets were issued. In 1871, when the rifle first entered service, the Common Socket Bayonet 1853 model was adapted to fit. Unfortunately it was designed for use with muzzle loading rifles and the blade, which curved away from the rifle to allow loading, was regarded as too short to be effective. The Long Common Socket Bayonet was introduced in 1876 with an extended straight blade.

Martini Henry Rifle in Service

The Battle of Rorke's Drift

The British Army was actively engaged in several colonial wars throughout the service lifetime of the Martini Henry. During the Anglo Zulu war of 1879 British soldiers carried the Mark I and Mark II variants which proved highly effective against the densely packed Zulu Impi formations. The renowned discipline of the British redcoat combined with the impressive firepower of their Martini Henry rifles allowed a small garrison of less than 150 men, many of them wounded or sick, to survive the repeated charges of several thousand Zulu warriors at Rorke’s Drift. The earlier disaster at Isandlhwana where over 1,200 British and colonial troops were killed is sometimes blamed on the tendency of the rifle to jam during heavy use. However by that time the battle was already lost due to poor troop deployment, inadequate ammunition supply, the blinding incompetence of the senior British commanders from Lord Chelmsford down and their tendency to underestimate the capability of the Zulu warrior.

British Defeat at Isandlwana

The defeat of the British at Isandlhwana remains the heaviest loss of life ever suffered by the British Army at the hands of native forces and lead to a grudging acknowledgement of the fighting qualities of the Zulu amongst the Redcoats if not among their officers. Despite the undeniable bravery and discipline of the Zulus, the Impis were not able to repeat their earlier successes against the British. In a series of engagements leading up to their final defeat at the Royal Kraal at Ulundi, the power of the Zulu King Cetshwayo was finally broken. In just over 30 minutes on the morning of July 4th 1879, a force of between 12,000 to 15,000 Zulus was destroyed by a combined force of 4,000 British troops supported by 1,000 irregulars, 10 cannon and 2 gatling guns. The Redcoats began to fire volleys with their Martini Henry rifles at 2,000 yards, cutting down the advancing Zulus in huge numbers. No Zulu managed to survive the withering fire long enough to get close enough to use their spears. British fatalities were less than 20.

The Burning of the Royal Kraal at Ulundi

The rifle saw action in the Sudan proving again to be an effective weapon against colonial insurgents. However, by the time of the Second Boer War 1899-1902, the ageing Martini Henrys were no match for the magazine fed weapons of the highly mobile Boer Commandos.

The Martini Henry is Withdrawn

The last Martini Henrys were produced in 1889 although the rifle continued to be issued up until 1904 and was still in limited service as late as the First World War. As British troops were issued with the replacement Lee Enfield 303 riles, the now obsolete Martini Henrys were handed down to colonial troops.

The Martini Henry in Film

While the name may be absent in the credits, the Martini Henry played a starring role in the classic 1964 film “Zulu”. In one of the concluding scenes the commander of the garrison Lt John Chard, played by Stanley Baker, in conversation with the Color Sergeant of the 24th credits the miracle of their survival to the Martini Henry and the Short Chamber Boxer-Henry cartridges. Due to a shortage of Martini Henrys several of the British redcoats can be clearly seen firing bolt action Lee Enfields which were not produced until 1895, sixteen years after the events at Rorke’s Drift.

Sources

http://www.martinihenry.com

The Battle of Maldon

2011-07-18T15:55:00.002-04:00

The tale of the epic clash between the Viking invaders and Anglo Saxons on 10^th August 991 AD.

The Location

The Battle of Maldon took place in the Blackwater Estuary near the causeway leading to Northey Island. The site is located in modern day Essex, SE of the town of Maldon and can be accessed via a footpath leading from the B1018 road. The National Trust maintains a small car park close to the public footpath.

National Trust Parking for the Battlefield

The Historical Record

Saxon England

As the power of Rome had declined in the West and the legions were withdrawn, the Saxons had invaded, driving out the Romano-British. Now, in their turn the Saxons were being invaded by the dreaded Norsemen, capable seafarers and warriors from Scandinavia in search of easy prey amongst the often isolated and weakly defended coastal settlements. By the late 10th century Saxon rule had become weak and ineffective, encouraging the Vikings to make increasingly ambitious attacks. They struck quickly and brutally, showing little or no mercy to women, children and even the clergy. Where possible a hastily assembled Saxon force would attempt to mount a defense. One of the most famous encounters was the Battle of Maldon in the summer of 991.

Much of what is known today about this historically significant battle comes to us from an Old English poem written shortly after the event. The poem was possibly written to accompany a tapestry commemorating the battle which was donated to the nearby Ely monastery by the widow of Brithnoth, Aethelflaed. Unfortunately the beginning and end of the poem have been lost to us and the remaining part of the original manuscript was destroyed by a fire in 1731. There is also a brief mention of the engagement in both the Anglo Saxon Chronicle and The Life of Saint Oswald.

The Anglo Saxon Army

The Saxon force was lead by the aged Ealdorman Brithnoth (Byrhtnoth or Beorhtnoth). Brithnoth is described as an exceptionally tall and imposing man with a mane of silver hair. His body was examined in the 18^th century and his height estimated to be 6’ 9” and while this may have been an exaggeration, he was clearly much taller than an average Saxon or Viking. At the time of the battle he was around sixty years old. Brithnoth had comprehensively repulsed a previous Viking attack four years earlier.

Statue of Brithnoth, Maldon, Essex

The backbone of any Saxon warband was comprised of Thanes, minor nobles in the service of an Ealdorman. Thanes formed the military elite of the Saxons and were, by the standards of the 10^th century, well armed and trained. Most would be equipped with a helmet, shield and chain mail armor. The principal weapon was the spear although a long sword or axe was carried for close combat.

Saxon Round Shield from the Sutton Hoo Burail

The majority of the army would have been the Fryd, local levies who were called out for limited service in times of need. These were not professional soldiers, they were farmers and craftsmen drawn from each of the local burghs. The quality of arms and armor varied considerably but most would be supplied with at least a seax, a spear and round wooden shield.

The Vikings

The Anglo Saxon Chronicle identifies Olaf Tryggvason as the leader of the 991 incursions although this may be due to confusion with a later raid.

The Vikings were certainly better equipped than their Saxon counterparts. All free born men were required to maintain arms and armor at their own expense. As with the Saxons, the main weapon was the spear combined with a round shield. Armor ranged from high quality chain mail or lamellar shirts to the leather or quilted armor of the lower status warriors.

While the majority of the Saxons were not professional soldiers, every man in the Viking longboats was there to fight whenever and wherever needed. They had not crossed the sea to build churches, raise cattle or plant crops, instead they intended to kill and rob those who did. The Saxon levies could flee the battle, hide, and live to fight another day, but the resolve of the Viking host was stiffened by the knowledge that if they became cut off from their ships they would be hunted down and killed. They had nowhere to run.

Viking Raiders

The Battle

The Viking fleet of 93 longships landed at Northey Island in the Blackwater Estuary which was called the River Pante at the time. The choice of landing allowed for easy defense and a rapid withdrawal if needed. Such a fleet would usually carry a force of just over two thousand warriors. However, as the lives of the Vikings depended on rapid access to their ships if things went badly for them, a significant number of warriors would have been deployed to protect the fleet and the approaches to the moorings.

The hurriedly raised Saxon host was deployed along the south bank of the river close to the causeway blocking the Viking route inland to Maldon (Maeldun) and the nearby settlements, and was probably no more than seven hundred strong. As the Saxons arrived the high tide prevented the armies from immediately closing for battle. Hoping to grasp the opportunity for a quick profit at no cost, the Vikings sent a messenger with an offer to withdraw in exchange for payment which Brithnoth angrily declined offering the point of his spear and the edge of his sword instead.

Once the tide receded and the causeway connecting the two forces became fordable the Vikings attempted to cross but were cut down by a small but determined Saxon force lead by a veteran warrior named Wulfstan. Frustrated, they taunted the Saxons until Brithnoth agreed to order Wulfstan to withdraw and allow them to cross to the south bank so battle could commence. This decision has been widely criticized as an act of overconfidence although in truth Brithnoth had little choice. The Vikings were highly mobile and could move up and down the coast plundering at will. The Saxons needed to bring their foes to battle and decisively beat them in order to protect their lands and families. To allow the raiders to sail away without a fight while the Saxon warband was deployed in battle order would have made no strategic sense and to the Saxon mind it would have appeared an act of cowardice.

Brithnoth was trapped as much by his own reputation as by circumstances. If Brithnoth, who had repelled the previous incursion so comprehensively a few short years ago would not fight the Vikings then who else would? To invite battle against a force almost three times as strong as his own, which was better armed and more experienced was to invite defeat. Brithnoth, as an experienced campaigner, would have been grimly aware of this even as he lead his men towards the Viking army. As they deployed for battle the Saxons would have been able to see how badly outmatched they were, but the safety of their homes and families required them to stand their ground and give their best effort. Besides, they had the famous Brithnoth at their head. He would surely lead them to victory.

Despite the disparity of numbers the Saxon shield wall held firm and several warriors gave good account of themselves. The presence of the tall white haired Brithnoth was an inspiration to his followers. Just as it began to seem that victory was within their grasp, disaster struck the Saxons as Brithnoth was wounded by a spear. Smashing the shaft with his shield, Brithnoth managed to kill his assailant with his own spear before falling to a second spear cast by another Viking. In a final act of defiance Brithnoth drew his sword and cut down an onrushing foe before dropping lifeless to the ground. Two young warriors took up position over their fallen leader and defended his body from the enemy until they too were overcome.

The death of Brithnoth caused several of the Saxons to panic and flee the field, notably the cowardly Godric who rode away to safety on Brithnoth’s distinctive warhorse. Many of the Fryd assumed that it was their leader abandoning them and that the battle was over. Others choose to stay and continue what was by now a hopeless fight in an effort to avenge Brithnoth. Loyal to their obligations, these brave Saxons charged the enemy and fought until they were finally overpowered by the mass of Vikings.

The Aftermath

Brithnoth’s headless corpse was recovered by monks from Ely and taken back for burial at the monastery before finally being laid to rest at Ely cathedral. The loss of such a powerful figure caused a collapse of confidence among the Saxons which lead to the custom of paying off the Vikings in future instead of fighting them, known as Danegeld. While there was a brief period of resistance lead by Edmund Ironside, the days of the Anglo Saxon were drawing to a close. Subsequent Viking armies were accompanied by their women and livestock. They were no longer content with hit and run raids, the Vikings intended to stay. Sensing the weakness of the Saxons they came to take possession of much of the east coast of England in the years following the defeat at Maldon.

Ely Cathedral - final resting Place of Brithnoth

By 1066, barely a single lifetime after the death of Brithnoth, the long rule of the Anglo Saxon was ended forever by the invading Normans at Hastings where the last Saxon King, Harold, lay dying surrounded by his loyal Housecarls.

It is a fitting tribute to Brithnoth and the brave Saxons who died at Maldon, that no less a person than J. R. R. Tolkein, author of the Lord of the Ring Trilogy and noted Anglo Saxon scholar was inspired to write "The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son", a sequel to the battle.

Source:

The Battleof Maldon

Who was Jack the Ripper?

2011-07-15T00:00:00.026-04:00

Jack the Ripper: The Victims and Suspects

The Whitechapel Murderer

During the Autumn of 1888 several prostitutes in London's East End were murdered in particularly brutal fashion by an unknown Victorian serial killer called at various times The Whitechapel Murderer, Leather Apron, or Jack the Ripper.

The Jack of Legend

The notoriety of Jack the Ripper endures quite simply because of the continuing fascination with his true identity. He was not the first serial killer, nor the most prolific, his victims were not rich or famous, they were common prostitutes. Despite this, he is known in every country in the world and has appeared as either the central character or in a cameo role in countless films, books and plays. Jack the Ripper is one of those rare historical figures who are immensely famous yet at the same time anonymous. Like the Man in the Iron Mask, Jack is well known as his alter ego, while his real identity remains the subject of much debate.

Letter sent to George Lusk, "From Hell"

He was not always Jack the Ripper. Until a series of letters were sent to police and civic leaders bearing the now famous signature and the return address “From Hell” he was simply “The Whitechapel Murderer” or “Leather Apron”. An early suspect who was arrested and released once he had established convincing alibis was John Pizer, an unemployed shoe maker who was known locally as Leather Apron. The letters were widely accepted by the public as genuine although the police considered them the work of an enterprising journalist named Tom Bulling. Genuine or fake, the signature caught the imagination of the public and a legend was born.

The Victims of Jack the Ripper

According to Sir Melville McNaughten, head of the Criminal Investigation Department, there were “five and five only”:

Mary Nichols, Friday 31st August 1888, Bucks Row, Whitechapel

Mary Nichols - Mortuary Photograph

Annie Chapman, Saturday 8th September 1888, Hanbury St, Spitalfields

Annie Chapman - Mortuary Photograph

Elizabeth Stride, Sunday 30th September 1888, Berner St, Whitechapel

Elizabeth Stride

Catherine Eddowes, Sunday 30th September 1888, Mitre Square, London (City)

Catherine Eddowes - Mortuary Photograph

Mary Kelly, Friday 9th November 1888, Millers Court, Spitalfields

Mary Kelly - Crime Scene Photograph

These are the generally accepted victims. All were killed at night and during the weekend and each had their throats cut before being subjected to increasingly severe mutilation. The exception is Stride whose throat was cut but no subsequent mutilation occurred. Stride and Eddowes were killed on the same night in the infamous Double Event. It has been convincingly argued that Stride was not eviscerated because the killer was disturbed. Frustrated, he was forced to find a second victim rather than fading back into the shadows.

Other Victims

Martha Tabram, Early Ripper Victim?
- Mortuary Photograph

Other murders occurring in the Whitechapel area were attributed to Jack however it should be remembered that the life of an East End prostitute was often short and violent. Prostitutes in Whitechapel had been killed and mutilated long before Jack the Ripper’s autumn 1888 reign of terror and long afterwards. How many women did Jack the Ripper kill? Opinions range from as few as three to more than thirty.

More ink than blood has been spilled regarding Jack the Ripper, much of it in speculation as to his, or even her, identity. Less attention has been given to the victims. Anyone who knew for sure is long since dead and the picture has been clouded by generations of authors who have selected victims with a demise fitting the known movements of their particular nominee as Saucy Jack.

Chronological List of Possible Victims of The Whitechapel Murderer

Fairy Fay : December 26th 1887 - Reported long after the event to have been killed in the Whitechapel area by a stake thrust into her abdomen. Possibly mythical or the unrecorded alias of one of the later victims.
Annie Milwood : February 25th 1888 - Milwood, a 38 year old widow from Spitalfields was admitted to hospital suffering from multiple stab wounds to her legs and abdomen. Her attacker was unknown to her. She survived the attack but died one month later from natural causes.
Ada Wilson : March 28th 1888 - A 39 year old prostitute living in Mile End. She survived a knife attack to her throat by a man demanding money. Her description of the attacker is similar to several later accounts of possible suspects.
Emma Elizabeth Smith: April 3rd 1888 - A 45 year old East End prostitute. Smith survived her ordeal long enough to describe her attackers as a gang of youths. She also claimed to have been raped.
Martha Tabram : August 7th 1888 - Tabram a 39 year old Spitalfields prostitute had spent the evening of her murder drinking with another prostitute named Pearly Poll and two soldiers. Her body was later found in George Yard with multiple stab wounds to the torso.
Mary Ann Nichols : August 31st 1888 - A 42 year old Spitalfields prostitute found with her throat cut and abdomen mutilated in Bucks Row, Whitechapel.
Annie Chapman : September 8th 1888 - Chapman, a 47 year old Spitalfields prostitute was found with her throat cut, abdomen mutilated and uterus removed in Hanbury Street, Spitalfields
Elizabeth Stride : September 30th 1888 - "Long Liz" was a 45 year old Swedish immigrant and part time prostitute. Stride's lifeless body was found off Berner Street, Whitechapel. Her throat was cut but nothing in the way of mutilation done, possibly because the killer was disturbed. Stride claimed to be a survivor of the SS Princess Alice sinking.
Catherine Eddowes : September 30th 1888 - Eddowes, a 46 year old prostitute was killed less than an hour after Elizabeth Stride. In addition to the usual attacks to the throat and abdomen she suffered from facial mutilation. Her uterus was removed by the killer.
Unidentified female: October 2nd 1888 - The torso of a woman was found in the cellar of what would later become New Scotland Yard. The arms were later found in the Thames but the head and legs never recovered.
Mary Jane Kelly : November 9th 1888 - Kelly was reportedly an attractive 25 year old prostitute living at Millers Court in Spitalfields. Her body was found on the bed in her room with severe mutilations. Unlike the other victims she had been killed indoors. Many researchers believe this to be the final victim.
Annie Farmer : November 21st 1888 - A 40 year old prostitute living in the same lodging house as the recently murdered Martha Tabram was found with a slight cut to her throat after she had screamed for help. Her attacker fled.
John Gill : December 29th 1888 - The body of eight year old Gill was found near his home in Manningham, Bradford. Speculation at the time was that the murder was similar to that of Mary Kelly although a local milkman was arrested for the murder.
Rose Mylett : December 20th 1888 - A 30 year old prostitute found strangled in Clarke's Yard, Poplar
Elizabeth Jackson : June 4th 1889 - The 23 year old Soho prostitute's body was recovered in pieces over a 12 day period. It was reported that her uterus was missing.
Alice McKenzie : July 16th 1889 - A 40 year old prostitute also known as "Clay Pipe" was found dead in Castle Alley, Whitechapel. Her throat was cut and her abdomen mutilated.
Lydia Hart : September 10th 1889 - The torso and arms found under a railway arch in Pinchin Street were tentatively identified as being the remains of Lydia Hart,
Frances Coles : February 13th 1891 - Also known as "Carroty Nell", Coles was a 23 year old Whitechapel prostitute. She was killed on Friday the 13th by having her throat cut by a blunt knife at Swallow Gardens, Whitechapel.
Carrie Brown : April 24th 1891 - An elderly New York prostitute known as Shakespeare was found dead in an East River hotel. The mutilations inflicted on the corpse were thought to resemble those of the London victims.

Modus Operandi of Jack the Ripper

Jack would stalk the miserable Whitechapel Streets during the early hours looking for the ideal victim - a drunken middle aged prostitute. After a brief negotiation they would go to a dark back alley to take care of business. As the victim leant forward to raise her skirts he would seize them by the throat and strangle them. After lowering the lifeless body to the ground he would squat or kneel on the right side, turning the face away from him before cutting the throat. He would then perform ritual mutilations, often arranging the personal belongings in a pattern. Internal organs were sometimes removed and taken away as trophies.

The Suspects

A rich, well dressed man in Whitechapel would attract as much attention as a poor, ragged fellow in Mayfair. Jack the Ripper evaded the police, who on at least one occasion came close to catching him, by being indistinguishable from the teeming crowds into which he vanished. In response to public outrage over the slayings the police adopted a saturation policy. The popular image of a flamboyantly dressed Jack with red lined cloak, white gloves and a top hat is absurd. Such a figure would have inevitably attracted too much attention.

While none of the following has been categorically proven to have been the killer, each was regarded as a strong suspect by those involved at first hand. It is fairly certain that not all of the documentary evidence available in 1888 has survived.

Montague John Druitt

Montague Druitt

Druitt, a 31 year old barrister and schoolteacher was named by McNaughten as being a likely candidate. His suicide around the end of November 1888 fits well with the final canonical murder of Mary Kelly on the 9^th. The Druitt family had a history of mental illness. His mother was committed to an asylum in July 1888. Although Druitt’s address was in Blackheath, he maintained chambers at 9 King’s Bench Walk at the time of the murders, an easy walk to Whitechapel.

Seweryn Klosowski

Seweryn Klosowski

Klosowski, also known as George Chapman was hanged in 1903 for murdering his three wives by poison. A Polish born immigrant, he arrived in the East End, probably in March 1887 and remained until at least April 1891. Inspector Frederick Abberline, who was in charge of the investigation, came to believe that Klosowski was the killer despite the drastic change in modus operandi.

Aaron Kosminski

Kosminski was cited as a suspect by both McNaughten and Assistant Commissioner Sir Robert Anderson. Anderson claimed in his memoirs that Kosminski had been identified by a fellow Jew who refused to testify. According to McNaughten there were strong reasons to indicate Kosminski may have been the Ripper and that he was known to have “strong homicidal tendencies”. He was committed to a mental asylum on 7^th February 1891.

Michael Ostrog

Michael Ostrog

McNaughten includes Ostrog in his list of possible killers although there is nothing in Ostrog’s long criminal record as a petty thief which indicates a violent disposition. He is described as a “mad Russian doctor” however Ostrog’s claim to have served in the Russian Navy as a surgeon is almost certainly false. He is described, again by McNaughten, as “unquestionably a homicidal maniac” although whatever information lead to this conclusion has been lost. The biggest factor against Ostrog being the killer is that he was in the hands of the French penal system at the time of the murders.

Other Suspects

Later authors have named many prominent Victorians as being Jack the Ripper candidates and while some of the theories are well researched and presented they all fail a simple test. Why were none of these suspects ever arrested and questioned by the police investigating the murders? It may be argued that simply because of their prominence, they were regarded as untouchable. Arresting HRH Prince Albert, the Duke of Clarence, heir apparent to the throne of England, would have been unthinkable. Lewis Carroll, Sir William Gull, J.K. Stephen or Walter Sickert however were all very much within the reach of the law. Even in the case of the Duke of Clarence it seems impossible for a conspiracy, which would of necessity involve dozens if not hundreds of police officers, newspaper editors and civic leaders , to have remained a secret.

J.K. Stephen - Unlikely Ripper

A much more credible suspect is Dr Francis Tumblety, American quack doctor, abortionist and woman hater. Detectives were known to have traveled to America to interview an unnamed suspect which may have been Tumblety.

Francis Tumblety

Robert D'Onston Stephenson, a chronic liar, was thought by some to have knowledge of the murders which only the killer could know. Stephenson was known to be in the Whitechapel area during the 1888 reign of terror, but as an inpatient at the London Hospital.

Robert D'Onston Stephenson

James Maybrick, a Liverpool cotton merchant and purported author of an incriminating journal which is almost certainly a modern forgery. In an interesting twist of fate, Maybick's wife was accused of his murder and tried by Justice Fitzjames Stephen, father of J.K. Stephen, ripper suspect and the tutor of HRH Prince Albert Victor, another possible Jack.

James Maybrick

The Identity of Jack the Ripper

So, does the face of the world's most infamous serial killer stare back at you from this page? Maybe. If we discount the unlikely, such as Lewis Carroll, Prince Albert Victor and J.K. Stephen and concentrate only on the most credible we are left with a much shorter list. Druitt, Tumblety, Stephenson and Kosminski. The artist Walter Sickert remains as a good outside bet.

My own feeling is that of all the proposed suspects Montague Druitt narrowly beats Aaron Kosminski. Both were identified as being likely candidates by senior police officers who were able to access information which is no longer available. I have opted for Druitt as the more likely because of his declining personal circumstances in the period leading up to his suicide. Druitt had been dismissed from his post at Blackheath School amidst rumors of scandal and had confided to his family that he feared he was following the path of his mother who was certified insane in July 1888. Druitt's suicide after the generally accepted final killing of Mary Kelly fits well with the theory that Jack the Ripper was Montague J Druitt.

Montague Druitt (1857–1888)
Cricketer, Barrister, Schoolteacher and Jack the Ripper?

In naming Druitt as Jack it must be acknowledged that there have been several well researched arguments against. Druitt was an avid cricket player and some conflicts between his known appearances and the estimated times of death of the victims need to be resolved. Druitt is however the best candidate to date despite these weaknesses in the case against him.

There is an even more probable candidate than either Druitt or Kosminski. Unfortunately we do not know his name and at this point, so far removed from the events of 1888, we most likely never will. He was just another empty face, probably born into poverty to a Whitechapel prostitute. He may have been interviewed by the police in connection to the killings (the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe had already been questioned and released by the police before a false license plate lead to his arrest) but any surviving records are yet to be discovered. If I were to start looking for Jack the Ripper it would be among the anonymous poor whose birth, life and death caused barely a ripple in the public record. A manual worker, possibly involved with slaughterhouse or even mortuary work. Perhaps he had previous convictions for assaults on women as he progressed from beatings, stabbings into mass murder.

The clues are there, but perhaps too faint to be found.

Sources:

Casebook: Jack theRipper

The National Archives

Metropolitan Police