Jack the Ripper...

Today is the anniversary of the "From Hell..." letter that was sent to police by a person who claimed to be Jack the Ripper. According to Wikipedia, this letter was one among hundreds that claimed to be from the killer however, this was one among a few that were thought to be authentic because it was delivered with a human kidney preserved in alcohol. Since Catherine Eddowes' kidney was removed by the killer, it was a logical assumption that the Ripper was sending the kidney along with the letter as a sort of signature. However, the man who received the letter and kidney- a Mr George Lusk- considered the letter and kidney a hoax (he and his colleagues of the Vigilance Committee thought a medical student may have gotten the kidney from a cadaver) and very nearly did not turn it in for evidence until a Dr Frederick Wiles persuaded him otherwise. It also followed a pattern that other letters also thought to be written by the Ripper followed. 

  The letter reads as follows...

"From hell

Mr Lusk

Sor

I send you half the Kidne I took from one women preserved it for you the other piece I fried and ate it was very nice. I may send you the bloody knif that took it out if you only wate a while longer

signed

Catch me when you can Mishter Lusk"

The mystery of Jack the Ripper has never been solved although there remain many theories about it, it is doubtful that it will be solved because the evidence has either been destroyed or lost or stolen.

Whitechapel High Street 1905

 It is a fascinating subject though and apropos for Halloween.

Cue X-Files theme.