Possible Face of Jack the Ripper Revealed
The streets of Whitechapel in east London (pictured) have changed a great deal since 1888, largely due to the introduction of electric lighting
The personality and motives of Jack the Ripper still excite the public imagination and have given rise to a whole study – ‘Ripperology’ in which journalists, amateur detectives and historians formulate new versions of who the notorious killer really was.The alleged face of the infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper, whose true identity has never been confirmed, has been revealed after British police made a discovery while probing old archives, according to media reports.The suspected face of Jack the Ripper was found etched into the handle of a wooden walking stick, which belonged to Frederick Abberline, a police officer who was trying to catch him.The walking stick had been stored at the Police Staff College in Bramshill, Hampshire, for many years, though it was lost when the school was closed back in 2015.
“This walking cane is such a fascinating artefact which represents such a historically significant time in policing,” the college’s content curator Antony Cash said.
Jack the Ripper was an alias given to an unidentified serial killer who operated in Whitechapel and the surrounding areas of London in the latter part of 1888. The nickname was taken from a letter sent to the Central News Agency, whose author claimed responsibility for the murders.How many victims Jack the Ripper actually killed is still debated as some murders are believed to have been copycat killings, but it is believed to be between four and 15.