Jack The Ripper Argumentative Essay Example
Jack The Ripper Argumentative Essay Example

Jack The Ripper Argumentative Essay Example

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  • Pages: 5 (1132 words)
  • Published: September 3, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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Law and Order in the late 19th Century was extremely strict, especially for the poor who were affected by poverty. Petty crimes were prevalent due to their lower status in society, with the Monarch being the highest group followed by the Baron, Middle Class, Lords, and Upper Class. This severity in law enforcement had not been seen since the 18th Century.

The purpose of the crimes was to aid the needy homeless and their families, who often crowded into small houses with an attic or cellar, accommodating around 20 people. Even those belonging to the working class were driven to stealing due to their miserly wages. While minor thefts revolved largely around food and drink as means of survival, they were complemented by an array of more heinous crimes, including burglary, robbery, murder and manslaughter. The perpetrators of the petty crimes

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were often left unpunished, given the unavailability of adequate policing. The police force proved inadequate in coping with the overall crime rate, as few aspired to join it, believing it entailed higher taxes. People feared that enemies may target their families instead of them.

During the 19th century, criminals who were caught had to face Church Court Trials and/or other Court Trials. Following these trials, they were taken to Policing for punishment that ranged from being sent to Australia as a slave, fines, or even execution in the case of serious crimes such as murder. Since the poor had nothing to lose, they often committed crimes until caught.

The success of the policing force during this era was attributed to their non-threatening appearance which didn't instill fear in people. However, when they were present, their impact was

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felt. The main failure of the force was the lack of manpower to fight all crimes committed.

Due to the absence of police and forensics, CID did not exist during the time of the Ripper murders. These murders gained significant attention as they occurred over a two-month period. The first victim, Polly Nicholls, was 42 and intoxicated at the time of her murder in August 1882. She was discovered with five missing teeth.

After Polly was killed, it was discovered that her throat had been cut down to her spine, and she had two deep stab wounds in her vagina. Not long after, Annie Chapman's body was found within half a mile of Polly's. Her attacker had removed her intestines and placed them over her shoulder, also cutting out her bladder and uterus. After three weeks without any murders, two more took place. The next victim was Elizabeth Stride, a 44-year-old sex worker whose attacker did not touch her vagina, perhaps because they were interrupted.

The second murder of the night was Catherine Eddows, who was the fourth victim overall. She was killed in a way that resembled a pig market, with her throat being slit. The fifth victim, Mary Kelly, was a 25-year-old Irish prostitute who unfortunately fell prey to the serial killer. She was 3 weeks behind in her rent and had been spotted at Spittlefield Market.

On one day, people had seen her with two different men. Later, her body was discovered by her rent collector in Mary Kelly's bedroom, which had been turned into a slaughter house. Her organs were found on the side table, as if her body had been dis-emboweled. The mass murders

of all 5 victims, especially because they were working class and the killer was the first ever serial killer, attracted a lot of attention, particularly from the press. Between 14 and 182 newspaper companies were founded due to these murders. The press seized on the sensationalism created by photographs of the bodies. The murders first drew widespread media attention following the killings of Polly Nicholls and then Annie Chapman.

They were the ones who gave him the name 'Jack The Ripper', which the press adopted. Despite having exclusive coverage of the murders, the press fabricated fake letters from 'Jack' to make it appear as though they were communicating with him. The constant coverage of the Ripper murders led to numerous hoax letters, which the police had to sort through. They were unsure if a genuine letter from him would be mistaken for another hoax. The police received various tips, but with limited resources, they were unable to pursue every lead or predict who he would target next.

The Ripper murders gained significant attention as 'Jack' was the first known serial killer. Despite the police gathering descriptions and witnesses stating that he may have worn dark clothing, no concrete evidence could link him to any potential accomplices or crime scenes. The victims were all prostitutes, and the lack of street lighting made it difficult to identify witnesses. The killer likely had a thorough understanding of criminal evidence procedure and avoided leaving any trace of evidence. With one in five women being prostitutes in North London, many were at risk of falling prey to the Ripper. The calm and collected killer remained elusive amidst the chaos caused by the

murders and lack of street lighting in the areas where he met his victims.

3. The police were unable to catch the Ripper because Jack was highly intelligent and had meticulously planned every murder. There were no witnesses to any of the crimes, and Jack had been carefully observing his victims, knowing the locations where they would be working. He deliberately chose areas where he could carry out his crimes unseen. The police were shocked when they found Polly's body, as Jack had stabbed her twice in her genital area.

The mutilation of the victims' bodies varied, with Annie Chapman's uterus and intestines removed, while the genitals of Elizabeth Stride, Mary Kelly, and Catherine Eddowes were touched - possibly by someone other than the killer. Despite thorough investigations, the police found no evidence at any of the crime scenes and the absence of forensics complicated matters further. The remarkable knowledge of the police justice system demonstrated by the killer left authorities flabbergasted and without any viable leads.

The media worsened the situation by intentionally misguiding the public about the reported murders. They fabricated fake letters allegedly from Jack and attempted to offer assistance to the police, which only added confusion. The primary reason for the police's inability to apprehend Jack The Ripper was due to a lack of evidence and witnesses. There were minimal witnesses, and they couldn't identify the Ripper due to poor lighting and darkness. They were uncertain about his attire. It is believed that he worked alone at night. Additionally, Jack The Ripper sent bogus letters, claiming to provide endless chances to catch him and scheduled meetings with the police. These meetings required

significant police presence as he was considered extremely dangerous, and even if they were traps, they wasted precious policing resources and time.

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