1888 / London

Red Ink

Tags:: 1880s,; correspondence,; Jack the Ripper,; London

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 wouldnt 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

PS. 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

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Published In

Crimes & Punishments

About the Text

Jack the Ripper, from a letter. The murderer of five prostitutes between August 31 and November 9 in 1888 has never been conclusively identified. Often referred to as the first modern serial killer, the man nicknamed himself "the Ripper," presumably for the ways in which he stabbed and cut up his victims.

Let the punishments of criminals be useful. A hanged man is good for nothing, but a man condemned to public works still serves the country, and is a living person.