“JACK THE RIPPER”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 April 1939, Page 9

“JACK THE RIPPER”

CRIMINAL SAID TO BE A WOMAN. NEW THEORY ADVANCED. “Jack the .Ripper,” who terrorised the East End of London 50 years ago and killed seven women, ought to have been called “Jill the Ripper,” for “he” was a woman. That, at any rate, is the theory of Mr William Stewart. Mr Stewart has spent several years investigating the murders. Now he has written a book —“Jack the Ripper,” (Quality Press, Ltd)—summing up his discoveries and giving his reasons for his unexpected deduction. He tells the full story of the murders, devoting a chapter to each, and goes on to discuss the amazing panic which followed them. Then, finally, he puts forward his own theory. He asks these questions:— 1 What sort of person could be out at night without exciting the suspicion of the household or neighbours, who were keyed up with suspicion on account of the mysterious crimes? 2 What sort of person could pass through the streets without exciting suspicion? 3 What sort of person could have the elementary anatomical knowledge, which was evidenced by the mutilations and the skill to perform them in' such a way as to make some people think a doctor was responsible? 4 What sort of person could have risked being found beside the dead body and yet have a perfect alibi? And to all these questions Mr Stewart’s answer is: “A woman who was, or had been, a midwife.” And he makes this point: “Having murdered them, what would have happened if she had actually been discoverd bending over the body? All she had to say was that she was passing when she came upon the body and at first thought the dead woman required her medical attention. “She had started to make an examination when, to her horror, she found the woman had been murdered.”