Reward for Ghastly Murders in the East End.
The "Saucy Jacky" postcard is the name of a message received in 1888, which claims to have been written by the serial killer now known as Jack the Ripper. There were many hoax letters delivered at the time but the police believed this one to be an authentic letter written by the Whitechapel killer. It held information to have the police publish a facsimile of it in hopes that someone might recognise the handwriting. The postcard has fingerprint smears on it. Francis Thompson, is one of those suspected for the murders. During the murders he was living homeless in the East End. Two years before his death a plaster cast was made of his hand. It might show his fingerprints. In 1948 it went missing. If you find it and show that the print on the cast’s thumb is the same as on the Ripper letter, you will have solved one of the world’s greatest mysteries. You will be talked about in history books and your fame will make you rich. Your wildest dreams will come true.
Front and Reverse of the Saucy Jacky Postcard
Transcript of the letter sent October 1, 1888.
I was not codding dear old Boss when I gave you the tip, you'll hear about Saucy Jacky's work tomorrow double event this time number one squealed a bit couldn't finish straight off. Had not got time to get ears off for police thanks for keeping last letter back till I got to work again.
Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper
Where to start.
|
A life mask was made at the same time. It is at the Harris Museum in Preston. It’s a good place to start looking.
Harris Museum, Art Gallery & LibraryMarket Square, Preston PR1 2PP T 01772 258248 (office 10am-4pm) T 01772 905414 (event bookings) E harris.museum@preston.gov.uk http://www.harrismuseum.org.uk |
Harris Museum
|
Background
The hand cast was made by the writer Everard Meynell (1882-1926). He was the son of Wilfrid Meynell who was Thompson's editor. The cast was made because Thompson's circle were Catholics who believed that as a religious poet he might one day be made a saint. The casts could then be used as relics for worship. After Thompson's death in 1907, Wilfrid had the casts on display in the drawing room of his home on Humphrey's Homestead, at Greatham, near Pulborough in West Sussex. WIlfrid died in 1948, aged 96.