Is there anything new to be read about Jack the Ripper, whose identity has been sought by countless “Ripperologists” for more than 120 years? This book answers an emphatic “Yes!” Drawing on recently discovered sources, the author argues that the Ripper’s identity was no mystery to the police in 1891.

Police chief Sir Melville Macnaghten claimed to know the truth from “private information,” but his source has remained unknown for more than a century. Here, the identity of Sir Melville’s informer is revealed, explaining why the Ripper was disguised as an insane surgeon for public consumption. A number of photos are included, some never before seen.

J.J. Hainsworth is a high school history teacher and author who lives and works in Adelaide, South Australia.

J.J. Hainsworth
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 228
Bibliographic Info: 29 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2015
pISBN: 978-0-7864-9676-1
eISBN: 978-1-4766-1913-2
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments vi

Preface 1

Introduction: A Gentlemen’s Agreement 2

Prelude: Montie Is Missing 12

I. Boys’ Own 17

II. Sent Down 27

III. Custard and Mess 36

IV. Terror Strikes London 45

V. Fiend in Flight? 55

VI. Man’s Man 64

VII. The “Last” Victim 74

VIII. A Ghost Laid to Rest 86

IX. Scion of the Bourgeoisie 97

X. Well-Dressed Corpse 106

XI. The Priest’s Secret 115

XII. Chief of Spin 128

XIII. Hidden in Hyde 141

XIV. From Montague to Mortemer 154

XV. Doubles and Deflections 165
XVI. Ripper Remystified 177

XVII. Jack the Oxonian 192

Chapter Notes 203

Bibliography 215

Index 217

• “I have read many Jack the Ripper books, some very well written and argued, but this is the first to convince me the 1880s case has been definitively solved, and in fact could have been laid to rest 124 years ago…highly recommended”—Mystery Scene
• “a fresh examination of the Jack the Ripper murders, brings new information to light”—ProtoView