AN ENGLISH teacher claims to have finally uncovered the true identity of Jack
The Ripper after an exhaustive 20-year investigation.
Richard Patterson, 45, believes he’s proved that respected poet Francis
Thompson was responsible for slaying five women in East London in 1888.
Thompson – who moved from Preston to London three years prior to the grisly
murders – wrote about killing people, had surgical experience and was known
to be close to one prostitute in the Whitechapel area at the time of the
deaths.
Richard said: “I’m grateful to have played some part in helping people
understand Thompson, and why he might have been the Ripper.
“I’m excited that people are beginning to take the theory seriously, seeing
Thompson and the crimes in a different light creates interesting
possibilities.”
After reading a book of his poetry as a student in 1997 and discovering he had
trained as a doctor, Richard became increasingly convinced that Thompson was
the Ripper.
Having travelled the world searching for clues, he’s adamant Thompson is by
far the strongest suspect for the crimes.
Richard, who teaches at various schools in New South Wales, Australia, said:
“Thompson kept a dissecting knife under his coat, and he was taught a rare
surgical procedure that was found in the mutilations of more than one of the
Ripper victims.
“He helped with surgery and is known to have cut up heaps and heaps of
cadavers while a student.”
Richard discovered Thompson was offered a place to live by his prostitute pal
after living rough for a few years.
He claims the mentally unstable poet snapped after their romantic relationship
turned sour.
Richard is going to publish his findings in a book, Francis Thompson – a
Ripper Suspect, in which he alleges the poet took out his rage on other sex
workers in the area after his girlfriend walked out on him.