WHITECHAPEL MURDERS.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

A New Book on the Awful Murders and Mutilations in Whitechapel on Several Poor Unfortunate Woman. First edition of this sensationalist pamphlet, otherwise unrecorded. It was published at the time of Mary Jane Kelly's death and contains five ballads on the Whitechapel murders, together with a detailed description of Kelly's murder taken from the Illustrated Police News, 17 November. This item is from the crime library of Patricia Cornwell.The ballads emphasize the vulnerability of the victims of "Jack the Ripper", describing their injuries in graphic detail and noting that Kelly was discovered lying "naked as she was born". On the other hand, the murderer appears powerful, portrayed as "The king of murderers" and a "demon of evil". As an item that was cheaply produced and widely disseminated to the general public, the pamphlet demonstrates the role of the popular press in "establishing Jack the Ripper as a media hero" and "amplifying the terror of male violence" (Walkowitz, p. 546).Of the ballads, only one appears to be previously recorded. The song on the final page titled "Jack the Ripper", which begins "Now ladies all beware or you'll get caught in a snare" is printed in two broadsides, one held at the British Library ("Two More Horrible Murders in the East-End", 11602.g.26.(6.)) and one at the Bodleian ("Shocking Murder in Whitechapel" Harding B.20(196)). The other songs are not reported in any location.

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