Patricia Cornwell – Portrait Of A Killer Jack The Ripper

Sir, – I have been a good deal about England of late and have been a witness of the strong interest and widespread excitement which the WHITE CHAPEL murders have caused and are causing. Everywhere I have been asked about them; especially by working folk, and most es­pecially by working women. East week, for instance, in an agricultural county I shared my umbrella during heavy rain with a maid servant, who was going home, “Is it true, Sir,” said she, “that they’re a-cutting down the feminine seek in London?” And she explained herself to mean that “they was murdering of ’em by ones and twos.” This is but one of many examples, and my own main interest in the matter is, that I my­self have been taken for the murderer. And if I, why not any other el­derly gentleman of quiet habits? It may therefore be well to record the fact by way of warning.

Two days ago I was in one of the mining districts, had just called on my friend the parson of the parish, and was walking back in the twi­light, alone, across certain lonely, grimy fields among the pits and forges. Suddenly I was approached from behind by a party of seven stout collier lads, each of them about 18 years old, except their leader, who was a stalwart young fellow of 23 or so, more than 6ft high. He rudely demanded my name, which, of course, I refused to give. “Then,” said he, “You are Jack the Ripper, and you’ll come along wi’ us to the

police at–;” naming the nearest town, two miles off. I inquired what

authority he had for proposing this arrangement. He hesitated a mo­ment, and then replied that he was himself a constable, and had a war­rant (against me, I suppose), but had left it at home. “And,” he added fiercely, “if you don’t come quietly at once, I’ll draw my revolver and blow your brains out.”

“Draw it then,” said I, feeling pretty sure that he had no revolver. He did not draw it; and I told him that I should certainly not go with him. All this time I noticed that, though the whole seven stood around me, gesticulating and threatening, no one of them attempted to touch me. And, while I was considering how to accomplish my negative pur­pose, I saw a forgeman coming across the field from his work. Him I hailed; and, when he came up, I explained that these fellows were in­sulting me, and that, as the odds were seven to one, he ought to stand by me. He was a dull, quiet man, elderly like myself, and (as he justly remarked) quite ready for his tea.

But, being an honest workman, he agreed to stand by me; and he and I moved away in spite of the leader of the gang, who vowed that he would take my ally in charge as well as me. The enemy, however, were not yet routed. They consulted together, and very soon pursued and overtook us; for we took care not to seem as fugitives. But, meanwhile, I had decided what to do, and had told my friend that I would walk with him as far as our paths lay together, and then I would trouble him to turn aside with me up to the cottage of a certain stout and worthy pitman whom I knew.

Thus, then, we walked on over barren fields and slag-heaps for half a mile, surrounded by the seven colliers, who pressed in upon me, but still never touched me, though their leader continued his threats, and freely observed that, whatever I might do, I should certainly go with him to the town. At last we came into the road at a lonesome and murderous-looking spot, commanded on all sides by the mountainous shale-hills of disused pits. Up among these ran the path that led to the pitman’s dwellings which I was making for. When we reached it, I said to my friend the forgeman, “This is our way,” and turned towards the path.

“That’s not your way,” shouted the tall man, “you’ll come along the road with us,” and he laid his hand on my collar. I shook him off, and informed him that he had now committed an assault, for which I could myself give him in charge. Perhaps it was only post hoc ergo propter hoc, but at any rate, he made no further attempt to prevent me and my friend from ascending the byway. He stuck to us, however, he and his mates; swearing that he would follow me all the night, if need were. We were soon on the top of the col, if I may so call it, from which the pit­men’s cottages, lighted within, were visible in the darkness against a starry sky.

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