Since Jack the Ripper stalked the streets of Whitechapel in 1888, many bizarre and rather peculiar suspect theories have arisen. In this article we will be looking at some of the strangest and most uncanny theories surrounding this malicious murderer that will alter your entire perception.
Suspect 1: Lewis Carroll
Now you may know him as the innocent author behind the fantastic Alice in wonderland books however, it is true that Lewis Carroll was indeed a suspect of the Jack the Ripper crimes. ‘Lewis Carroll’ is a pseudonym created by the author himself to conceal his real name – Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. His famous Alice in Wonderland books were published in 1865, a fair few years before the Ripper murders, however, contain a number of anagrams that were brought into question during the time of Jack the Ripper.
Following the publishing of his books, Richard Wallace claimed that Dodgson had in fact committed a series of questionable offences including proposing to a very young girl who is thought to be called Alice however, to this very day there is no evidence supporting the acts he was said to commit.
The casebook claims that Wallace published his suspected theory in the year of 1996 in his book titled ‘Jack the Ripper, light-hearted friend’. It was briefly mentioned that Charles and his former oxford colleague, Thomas Bryne, were the two responsible for all of the Whitechapel murders. Wallace, however, based his belief on the anagrams mentioned before, that are found in both Charles’ book and the letters sent to the police at the time.
However, it is thought that Wallace’s theory is indeed flawed as anyone could rearrange the grammar of a sentence in order for it to make half-sense.
Suspect 2: Jill The Ripper
As strange as this theory may initially sound, it could in fact be true. The fact that Jack the Ripper went so long uncaught could suggest that the police were looking for the wrong gender all along. This theory was brought up by inspector Abberline at the time of the murders and despite sounding ludicrous at first has a few credible points. The theory also pointed out that ‘Jill’ may be a midwife providing her with the disguise of bloody garments in the dead of night along with the anatomical knowledge to perform such horrific acts as Jack the Ripper was suspected to have undergone.
Suspect 3: James Maybrick
To this day, Maybrick remains as the number one suspect for the Whitechapel murders, but why? Well, it has been rumoured that Michael Barrett found his diary and entries which were signed ‘Jack the Ripper’. However, Barrett later admitted to forging the diary but the question still remains; is the diary the original produced by Maybrick or was Barrett right in confessing it to be a hoax?
Maybrick was born in Liverpool relocated to London to live with his mother where he later contracted a bad case of Malaria. It is rumoured that during his time in treatment, he became addicted to arsenic and strychnine however, this was not uncommon during the 1870’s. He later married and fathered two children. After passing away in 1889, his wife was accused of his murder. The underlying case for the suspicion of James Maybrick lies in the yet to be proven authenticity of the diary which was reportedly found in 1992.
Whether the diary is proven to be real or a hoax, it provides a sound constancy with the well-known facts surrounding the Whitechapel murders. As the casebook claims ‘the diary introduces what some may call evidence to support its validity.’