Over the last few weeks I have been asked several times about my interest in Jack the Ripper. This has mostly been because of family members mentioning it to a third party (normally over a meal…) and then being quizzed on it.
I have often found that when someone finds out that you have an interest in the Ripper you get one of two reactions.
Reaction (a): The slight widening of eyes, normally coupled with a raised eyebrow. Followed swiftly by a look of shock as if you have just confessed to that person that you torture small animals. Followed swiftly by a change of topic of conversation. And ocasionally total avoidance for all future social purposes.
Reaction (b): “Wow. That’s really interesting! Who was he?/Wasn’t it the Masons/Royalty?/I saw a documentary once that said he was an artist/quack/other” (Delete as appropriate)
I should perhaps add that I don’t introduce myself to people with a handshake and “Hi! I’m Jon! I’m into Jack the Ripper…” It comes up in conversation more often than you expect, especially when you mention you want to have a career in Forensic Psychology. So this post serves as a brief autobiographical whimsy to explain where my interest came from and how it has developed over time.
Since about the age of 12 I’ve had an interest in crime, and why people do bad things. At 14 I decided I wanted to be a Forensic Psychologist after reading a book about one. Then when I was nearly 16 I recieved a Jack the Ripper book for Christmas from my mother (who also has an interest in such macabre things). The book was Portrait of a Killer by Patricia Cornwall and for a time I genuinely believed that Walter Sickert must be the Ripper (after all a non-fiction book said so) and that the case was solved. Then one day I heard about a diary supposedly written by Jack the Ripper and bought the book by Shirley Harrison on the subject. I then was convinced that James Maybrick must be the Ripper and the case was solved.
Then while browsing my local Borders (probably just before my 18th birthday) I saw a copy of The Complete Jack the Ripper by Donald Rumbleow, and realised just how big this whole thing was. I did a Google search and came across Casebook, registered and maybe made one or two posts, but generally didn’t like the attitude on there. So put my interest to one side again. A few more months passed and I bought and read many more books, and then eventually discovered JTRForums.com, finding it much more welcoming than Casebook and after a few weeks lurking I finally registered.
There I was greeted with open arms and began to learn more about the case from true experts doing real research on the case. From these online acquaintances friendships were made and many jokes and banter shared. Then out of the blue, Howard Brown (the owner of the site) offered to make me a moderator, and so ,feeling truly honorued, I joined the site staff.
In 2009 I attended the UK conference and met in person (and over a few pints) some friends and people who I almost idolise. So that’s a brief overview of how I became interested in the Whitechapel Murders, how my hobby developed over the years and how friendships in this fascinating and thriving community developed. Perhaps you are reading this and are a closet Ripperologist – if so, I encourage you to join us on one of the forums, attend a conference and seek out others who share your hobby on Facebook. You won’t regret it.
Myself and Mike Covell at the 2010 JTR Conference, Kings Stores, London. Photograph by Robert Anderson, Doctored by Howard Brown
At The Bell pub. Quiz for the Francis Coles Memorial Appeal, evening prior to the 2010 JTR Conference. Photo stolen from Andrew Firth