The Jack the Ripper letters are well known, and everybody is certainly familiar with at least two of them, the “Dear Boss” letter, and the “From Hell” letter that was sent to Mr George Lusk.
However, there were many different types of letters written about the murders.
Some of them were written by practical jokers who found the allure of the atrocities in Whitechapel too much to resist. Personally, I would say that the George Lusk letter actually falls into this category.
Others were written to offer opinions on who the killer was, and how the police could best go about catching him.
THE NUISANCE OF THE NEWS VENDORS
However, other letters were sent to newspapers to complain about the way in which certain sections of society were making nuisances of themselves.
On Thursday, January 24th 1889, a letter appeared in The Dublin Daily Express, from a resident of Raglan Road, who wanted to complain about the nuisance being caused to the locals by the cries of the newsvendors of Dublin:-
Sir. Allow me to call the attention of the police authorities through your columns, to the nuisance caused to residents by the newsvendors.
“MURDER IN WHITECHAPEL”
Yesterday, at three o’clock pm, three or four of these street Arabs came along through Pembroke Road. Raglan Road, and adjoining* streets shouting. “Murder in Whitechapel” at the tops of their voices – sending a thrill of horror through the residents, and making the air hideous with their cries.
Similar annoyance is often experienced by the writer when at work in his office in the neighbourhood of St. Stephen’s green.
From time to time, one is startled by the simultaneous outburst of these terrible cries, which render application to business impossible while they are within hearing.
THE POLICE DO NOTHING
These gentry seem to think that they are masters of the situation, and the police seem to acquiesce in this view, as they do not interfere.
Nowhere else would this nuisance be tolerated, and it is only apathy on the part of the public that has allowed it to go on for so long.
A RIGHT TO QUIET
There is really no necessity on the part of the news vendors themselves for creating such an uproar in the streets, and we, the ratepayers, have a right to expect that the police will maintain quiet in our streets and outside our dwellings.
I trust you will be so good as to call attention to the subject, and thus confer a benefit on numerous sufferers.
I am, Sir, your obedient subject,
A RESIDENT IN RAGLAN ROAD
23rd January 1889.
HORRIBLE YELLS
On Friday 25th January 1889, the newspaper published two further letters from residents of Dublin whose lives were similarly blighted by the newspaper sellers:-
Sir
In your issue of yesterday, you inserted a letter from “A Resident in Raglan Road.”
I thoroughly endorse his remarks as to the disgusting noise created by these newsvendors.
My own experience tallies exactly with his.
A day or two ago horrible yells disturbed the very quiet neighbourhood of where I live, two men, one on each side of the road, roaring something about “Murthur in Whitechapel;” ”Arrest of the murderer.”
I bought a paper, and, to my great disgust, found nothing whatever about it.
THE POLICE ARE POWERLESS
Is it possible that the police are powerless to put a stop to this vile system of newsvendors screeching at the top of their voices and selling their papers under false pretences?
We read that in Paris very effectual measures have been adopted to put a stop to this sort of thing. Why can’t we do the same thing?
It is time that the voice of the residents, both in the city and suburbs, was heard protesting against such outrageous proceedings.
Yours truly,
A Resident South Circular road.
THE NORTH FREDERICK STREET MENACE
The same edition of the paper included yet another letter from a resident who was also afflicted by the nuisance
Sir
Seeing that you have opened your columns to the complaint of “a Resident in Raglan road,” perhaps you will permit me to draw attention to a similar, if not worse, nuisance on the North side.
I allude to the newsvendors of North Frederick street, where from 6 o’clock every evening till far into the small hours, cries of “Murder in Whitechapel,” and “Murder in Dublin,” rend the air.
YOUNG URCHINS
But, unlike the Raglan Road, we over here are tormented sometimes with fourteen, and never less than ten, stentorian voices trying to see who can shout the loudest.
These young urchins take up their stand at the corner of Dorset and Frederick streets.
When the cries I mention fail to obtain a purchaser, such as the following are indulged in:- “Hurry up,” “Hurry on;” and the intervals are enlivened by whistling and dancing, with, I regret to say, blasphemy of the most fearful kind, followed by the foulest language.
THE POLICE DO LITTLE
Nor are the police ignorant of all this, as complaint has frequently been made to them, and they simply content themselves with telling the vendors to “Move on.”
As soon as the police disappear, they are back at the old game again.
THE RIGHT TO PEACE
Surely, sir, we, heavily taxed citizens, have a right to enjoy our homes in peace, and not to have our ears assailed with the foul language to be heard night after night in North Frederick street.
I trust, sir, that the ventilation of this matter in your valuable columns may have far better effect than repeated private remonstrance has had with our police authorities.
Yours truly
A NORTHERN RESIDENT
January 24th, 1889.