Following on from Mary Kelly's death...

Following on from the last Ripper murder of Mary Jane Kelly, I notice almost immediately there appeared to be 'Copy Cats' in operation. These were either people who were taunting the police by promising to act soon, even pretending they were Jack the Ripper or they were just basically having a laugh.

I found this short piece in an old edition of the South Wales Echo online. It was published just ten days after Mary's death. Now I don't know if it means Albert Bachert was leading the police a merry dance by pretending to know who the murderer was or where he lived or even if he wrote those words.

November 19th, 1888 South Wales Echo

What I've noticed though is that almost immediately after the first murder there were people claiming they were him or they knew him, this went on for years and years, with newspapers sporting headlines like, "The French Ripper", "The German Ripper", etc. There was even claim the Ripper was in Argentina.

Other newspaper articles had headlines like 'Tracking Jack the Ripper'. Stories about the fact the Ripper was on the run, or that there was a copy cat in operation, sold newspapers. Maybe even journalists fabricated stories to get good copy. There is even a theory that there is no Jack the Ripper, the story was invented by a journalist.

December 4th, 1988 South Wales Echo

Left is a letter taunting Mr. Saunders the chief magistrate.

"Dear Pal, I am still at liberty. The last job in Whitechapel was not bad; but I mean to surprise them on the next. Shall joint it. Ha, ha, ha! After that shall try on the lazy louchers who live on the unfortunates. We have just enrolled several for the job. I am in the country now for the benefit of my health. I met the super here (Wellingboro') the other day, and like him immense. He looks like a yard of pump-water starched. Shall try a job here next. So look out for news from Jack the Ripper."

Interestingly, the word 'Unfortunates' used in the letter was often employed during Victorian times to describe a prostitute. So the letter is claiming there is more than one man involved in the murders, 'We have just enrolled several for the job...' Or does the author of the letter mean that the several enrolled are the people he intends murdering? As in those who live on the unfortunates?

I looked up the word 'loucher' which I have never heard before and this came up:

louche

luːʃ/

adjective

comparative adjective: loucher

1. disreputable or sordid in a rakish or appealing way.

   "the louche world of the theatre"

   
   

So was the author of the letter speaking about pimps? Theatre Goers? [After all the theatre and dance hall world was said to be frequented by whores and wealthy men.] Or was he speaking about men who used the Unfortunates for their own lustful desires? It could even have been a woman who wrote that letter.

All of this made me wonder when people finally stopped looking over their shoulder or taking anonymous letters seriously? It would surely have stopped after a particular point when the Ripper himself had no possibility of still being alive.