The Whitechapel Horror (standard:drama, 2269 words)
Author: Michael Lance Kersting	Added: Nov 25 2009	Views/Reads: 3372/2365	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
My version of the "Jack the Ripper"mystery.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

nodded, “As usual, Sims "and smiled. Sims went into the kitchen and 
returned shortly with a mug of tea, cup and saucer and set them down on 
the table. “ Anodder one, Doctor “,said  Sims sadly “ Can't see why the 
bloody cops can't catch ‘imp, I can't wait to see the culprit, eight or 
ready, and all dem poor girls did was hustle their living, gor, it's a 
bloody shame !  They say that he must 'ave some knowledge of anatomy 
the way he took out dem organs in the dark. hope we catch “im soon! ”He 
said in derision. Sims was also a member of The Whitechapel Vigilance 
Committee that helped the police patrol the streets at night ,looking 
for the killer. “Yes, Sims, I hope so too, sad Indeed.” he replied 
evenly ",Well, doc, 'cuse me, “said Sims," I have to go prepare for the 
day," The doctor nodded and unfolding the newspaper he had bought he 
read: London, Nov. 9.- The city is again stirred to its very center, 
and again mysterious murder is the cause. The cause, this time, is 
evidently another in the dread Whitechapel series, though it differs 
from the others in some particulars. In the first place, this latest 
addition to the list of horrors was made indoors. A house in Dorset 
street, near Hamburg street, was the scene of the murder. A woman was 
the victim, as in the other cases, and her body was shockingly 
mutilated. It was found not many hours after the violence had been 
done. 

The murder had been committed in the woman's own room. 

News of the discovery spread rapidly after it was once given out, and in
a short time the vicinity was thronged with excited and morbidly 
curious people. 

The police authorities took charge of the body and the house at once
after the fact of the murder became known to them. They brought into 
use bloodhounds, which were lately tested for the purpose of hunting 
own the Whitechapel murderer in hope that the brutes could catch the 
scent and follow up the trail of the assassin. 

The Lord Mayor's parade made an emergency which called a great portion
of the police force to special duty in controlling the crowds in the 
streets. Hence the rigid patrol which has been kept up in the 
Whitechapel district was somewhat relaxed. 

This gave the murderer his opportunity, which he was not slow to seize.
He is evidently more vigilant than the police, and has the advantage 
that he can study their movements without being himself subject to 
espionage. 

The present victim is the eighth who has fallen before the Whitechapel
fiend. 

The fourth one was found in Hamburg street, not far from the location of
this one, and at the time she was discovered there was written on the 
wall near the body the legend: "Fifteen before I surrender." 

According to this, seven more lives are yet to be taken, and from the
success which has thus far attended the murderer's operations, it seems 
entirely possible, perhaps probably, that he will be able to fulfil his 
horrible intentions. 

The appearance of the remains found last night was frightful, and the
mutilation was even greater than in the previous cases. The head had 
been severed and placed beneath one of the arms. The ears and nose had 
been cut off. The body had been disembowelled and the flesh was torn 
from the thighs. The womb and other organs were missing. The skin had 
been torn off the forehead and cheeks. One hand had been pushed into 
the stomach. 

The victim, like all the others, was a lewd woman. She was married, and
her husband was a porter. They had lived together at spasmodic 
intervals. Her name is believed to have been Lizzie Fisher, but to most 
of the habitués of the haunts she visited she was known as Mary Jane. 

She had a room in the house where she was murdered. She carried a latch
key, and no one knows at what hour she entered the house last night, 
and probably no one saw the man who accompanied her. Therefore it is 
hardly likely that he will ever be identified. 

He might easily have left the house at any time between 1 and 6 o'clock
this morning without attracting attention. The doctors who have 
examined the remains refuse to make any statement until the inquest is 
held. 

Three bloodhounds belonging to private citizens were taken to the place
where the body lies and placed on the scent of the murderer, but they 
were unable to keep it for any great distance, and all hope to running 
the assassin down with their assistance will have to be abandoned. 

Finishing his tea ,the doctor  got up .The place was now filling with
the usual morning crowd . Some recognized him and nodded a respectful 
“Good morning, doctor,” The doctor returned their nods then said ”Well, 
Sims, I must be going.”He got up and left a coin on the table “"ave a 
good day, Doc, see you tomorrow ” replied Sims politely from behind the 
counter and went about tending the other regular customers. The doctor 
left the Inn and went further down the narrow cobbled street to his 
practice. 

*** 

A week later after the murder of Kelly. The doctor was in his flat
beside the fire place. He was deep in thought. “Somehow, he's got to 
end this torment” he told himself .He knew what he must do 
.Finally,after much thought, He went over to his desk ,took out a sheet 
of paper and began writing....:. 

Just then came a loud knocking at his front door. 

"Who is it?"asked the Doctor. 

"Police!" came the sharp reply. Composing himself, he went to the door
and opened it. 

A pair of uniformed police officers stood on the threshold, one tall and
thin, the other short and fat. 

"Yes, Officers, what can I do for you?"He said trying to keep himself
calm. 

" I am Sergeant Percival," said the tall one, " and this is Officer
Newton," indicating his friend who nodded. 

"We are checking the neighbourhood, we saw that your light was on, so we
came to tell you that should you hear any unusual sounds, please note 
the time and description. We have reason to believe the Ripper is 
hereabouts . The net is closing in on him," 

"I see ,”replied the doctor,”is that all, Officer ?" "Yes, sir, Just be
careful."The officers wished him a good night and left. 

The doctor closed the door gently. 

On the sidewalk, Officer Newton said suddenly. 

"Did you noticed how he was kind of nervous?" 

"Who? The doctor? Don't make me laugh, Frank, he couldn't harm a fly, as
a matter of fact, He's dedicated to saving lives, not taking them”. 

"Yes ,well, I guess so, it was just a thought." 

"You worry too much, Bill." “Well I guess so, but the whole damn case
gives me the creeps” he replied 

Two days later the Chief Inspector received a letter. 

“My Dear Chief Inspector. By the time you read this letter I will be
dead.  I cannot go on like this. The torment is too much and weighs 
heavily on my soul. I cannot carry this secret for the rest of my life 
. I must now put an end to it. I confess that I am responsible for the 
last five recent  murders here in Whitechapel namely that of Mary 
Nichols ,Anne Chapman, Catherine Eddoes ,Elizabeth Stride and finally 
,Mary Kelly in Spitalsfield ,the woman I sought , who not only robbed 
me, but also gave me the dreaded disease ..Infected with that dreaded 
curse given to me .I tried the sulphur remedy but it didn't work the 
pain ,oh the pain. I am rotting from within. I was bent on revenge 
until I found her again and killed her, but It later proved too 
strenuous for my conscience. I have much remorse for what I did to them 
and may all forgive me. Signed John Hanbury  FRCS. MD. "Damn!  he was 
right under our bloody noses !" cried the Inspector, shaking his head 
in disbelief . “What are you talking about, sir ?”asked the deputy The 
Inspector handed him the letter. ‘Dr. Hanbury? I-I can't believe it 
,why –why ,he is our own Police Coroner !”-stammered Pims “Yes,” 
replied the Inspector, still in shock, “no wonder we couldn't catch 
him, he knew our every move.” !He looked up at Pims and said, " The 
public must not know about this, It would make us and the department 
look like fools.  Destroy it!" He ordered. 

He did.! PS: A week later they found the doctor's corpse in a canal. PPS
:The murders ceased. 


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