As the last week of the first month of 1889 approached, reports were circulating in the press that Jack the Ripper was on his travels.
Indeed, if the following article, that appeared in the Dundee Courier today – 24th January – in 1889 is to be believed, the Whitechapel murderer had left London and was enjoying a globe trotting existence in the course of which he had visited both Spain and Algeria.
Having enjoyed these warmer climes for a time, he had, so the article reported, moved a little closer to home and had recently arrived in Paris where, the urge to kill, had returned.
Interestingly, he also appeared to have changed his modus operandi and had resorted to strangling – or at least attempting to strangle – his victims as opposed to mutilating them.
AN INTERESTING READ
Although, as far as I can make out, the prime reason for this being attributed to Jack the Ripper is that these attempted murders to place in an area of Paris that was very similar to the East End of London, the report is, none the less, and interesting read if, for no other reason, than it shows that the press were wondering what had happened to the Whitechapel murderer at the beginning of 1889.
Here is the article in full:-
” JACK THE RIPPER”
Another sensational report relative to “Jack the Ripper ” was spread about Paris on Tuesday.
The atrocious assassin of Whitechapel was temporarily supposed to have visited Algeria and Spain, and now he is alleged to be in Paris.
TRIED TO MURDER FOUR WOMEN
At all events, it is certain that the police are at present looking for a man who has tried to murder four women in succession in the Rochechouart locality – a neighbourhood which resembles the East End of London.
It is said that the fellow went with an “unfortunate” [the term “unfortunate in this context was a newspaper euphemism for a prostitute] to a room in a house in the Rue Manuel, and that there he threw her down and tried to choke her.
SAVED BY THE LANDLORD
The woman’s cries were heard, however, by the landlord of the establishment, who came to the rescue. and was knocked down by the assailant as that worthy was making his escape.
A SIMILAR ATTACK 15 MINUTES LATER
About a quarter of an hour afterwards the same person attacked another woman in a precisely similar manlier in it house in the Rue des Martyrs, but was again obliged to take to flight before he had succeeded in strangling his victim.
TWO FURTHER ATTACKS
Two other women reported to the police that they had had narrow escapes from strangulation at the bands of a tall, fair-haired man, aged about thirty-five, who spoke French, with a strong German accent.
IS HE A FRENCHMAN?
The mysterious assailant of low-class females is therefore diligently given out as a Teuton, and much satisfaction and consolation are derived from the fact by patriotic Frenchmen.