Jack The Ripper At Enderby

Letters purporting to come from the Whitechapel murderer continued to be written and sent long after the autumn of 1888, when the murderer – thanks to the “Dear Boss” letter – became universally known as “Jack the Ripper.”

The Leicester Evening Mail, on Thursday, 30th January 1930, reported on the fact that several residents of a Leicestershire village had become recipients of such letters:-

“JACK THE RIPPER” AT ENDERBY

MESSAGES SCARE CHILDREN

“The industrious little Leicestershire village of Enderby has had its rural tranquillity disturbed by mysterious messages signed by “Jack The Ripper” which have been received by many of the inhabitants.

The village schoolmaster, Mr. Jackson, believes that a gang of village hooligans are responsible.

He told a Leicester Mail representative today that he believed the whole affair to be a hoax.

BEYOND A JOKE

The matter had gone beyond a joke, however, because many children were terrified to go out after dusk believing “Jack The Ripper” to be after them.

His own little boy was greatly scared, and only this morning a little boy pupil had brought to the school a message with the sinister signature of “Jack The Ripper” which was received by his mother last night.

Children said how Jackson had rushed into their homes crying. “Jack The Ripper’s after me!”

He thought the police ought to take action.

SCARE’S HARMFUL EFFECT

Most of the villagers scoffed at the suggestion that a “Jack The Ripper” of the Dusseldorf type was in their midst.

They were anxious, however, that the writer of the messages should be discovered, as the scare caused by the affair was having a harmful effect on the village children.

Mrs. Young, of King Street, Enderby, is one of the several who have received a “death” warning.

Although her house is tucked away in a King Street back garden, it was visited by “Jack The Ripper.”

“No. I am not at all alarmed. I have no enemies. Some thoughtless youths are responsible,” said Mrs. Young.

Mrs. Exalby, of Ashley Hey, Holyoak Street, Enderby, has just received a note signed “Jack The Ripper.” “Your time is up tonight At eight. From Jack The Ripper,” reads the message.

A BOWIE KNIFE

There is a drawing of a bowie knife at the bottom.

“Personally, I am not at all afraid. I don’t take the message seriously at all. But, unfortunately, there are some people in the village who have been frightened. The children, too, are scared,” Mr. Exalby said.

The note to Mrs. Young was in block capitals. The message received by Mrs. Exalby is in script.

WRITTEN BY A YOUTH

Our representative is of the opinion that the writing is that of a youth whose love of sensation has unfortunately had disturbing consequences in the village, but there is not the slightest cause for alarm.

Today the matter was brought to the notice of the police at Enderby, and official inquiries are to be made.”