Who Was Jack the Ripper?

Who Was Jack the Ripper?

Time article from 1970 which introduced Stowell and his "Prince Jack" theory to a wider audience.

Burgho's Offspring...

Here's an interesting snippet from The American Kennel Club Stud-book (1889 ed.).

It seems that not only did Burgho have numerous off-spring, but Mr. Brough was not shy about associating him with the Ripper case:


The American Kennel Club Stud-book By American Kennel Club, American Kennel Club

"Jack the Ripper" was one of 9 dogs fathered by Burgho that year. Barnaby fathered a further two.

Dr Thomas Openshaw.

A photo of Doctor Thomas Openshaw-best known to the Ripper community as the doctor who examined the Lusk Kidney-in the midst of an operation, circa 1905.

A recent donation of Dr. Openshaw's medals, photographs and other papers to the Royal London Hospital Archives and Museum by his grandson, led to the composition of an interesting article by Assistant Archivist Kate Hughes. While the photographs and papers now reside in the Hospital Archives as "The Openshaw Archive", the medals are on display at the Royal London Hospital Museum, where they can be seen Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4:30 pm

The article is of interest to anyone studying the Ripper case, but in particular those whose impressions of Dr. Openshaw have been entirely formed on the basis of the Lusk kidney and his part in it's story. Earlier Ripper books ascribed many claims to Openshaw in regards to the Lusk kidney--claims that no competent medical man could make without looking foolish. Fortunately it is know accepted that Openshaw's actual pronouncements about the kidney were more modest and entirely plausible.

However many of us in the Ripper community are probably woefully underinformed about the life and career of this eminent doctor. While his role in the Ripper case was brief, his achievements in medicine were quite extensive, as were his social activities.

Read the article here.

To the right is a photograph of a mechanical hand designed by Dr. Openshaw during WW1. It is in the possession of the National Museum of Science and Industry.

Rectory Field, 1886

This is the scorecard from the first game played at Rectory Field, and featuring Montague Druitt.

Montague Druitt was the representive of the Blackheath Morden Cricket Club in the negotiations that resulted in the formation of the Blackheath Cricket Football and Lawn Tennis Company Limited, which in turn signed a 21 year lease on the Rectory Field property and undertook to build a pavilion in 1885. The Blackheath Cricket Club dropped the "Morden" from it's name in October of 1885.

Despite being the home of both the Blackheath Cricket Club and the Blackheath Rugby Club (collectively forming The Blackheath Cricket Football and Lawn Tennis Company Limited). Rectory Field is actually located in Charlton, and the field takes it's name from The Charlton Rectory.

Blackheath Cricket club still plays at Rectory Field to this day. Their official website, including a brief but interesting history, can be found here.

The Poste House

the poste house pub - liverpool - england
Originally uploaded by paddypix

The Liverpool Echo of Jan. 11, 2008 has a pub review for The Poste House on Cumberland St. in Liverpool. The article mentions the pub's connection to the Whitechapel Murders (ersatz though it may be) as well as an interesting account of it's near loss to the wrecking ball.

Even though the article has little information to add to Ripper studies, it is interesting for it's own sake and can be found here.