It’s pretty simple, really.



Jack comes from a wealthy family who frequents the theatre together. Young Jack witnessed a stage production of “Sweeney Todd, the Barber of Fleet Street: or the String of Pearls” (By: Frederick Hazleton) at the Old Bower Saloon, Stangate Street, Lambeth in 1865 (23 years before the spree) and immediately becomes smitten with the antihero.



The delusions start happening, and to give a pretense of being “normal,” Jack purchases an establishment on Fleet Street when he’s older, using the facade of starting a business to coverup the idea of residing in the street where Todd did, nurturing the delusion.



Once in a while, Jack, now a businessman, makes trips to Whitechapel. He’s going “on business,” but is really scoping out girls to be his Mrs. Lovett. Older prostitutes, gaunt and pale from an unforgiving life on the streets, are perfect for the role of the conniving partner in crime.



Lambeth, is 2.3 miles from Fleet Street.

Fleet Street is located 1.8 miles from Whitechapel.







The distance from Fleet Street to Whitechapel is not unheard of for a hansom cab, though, considering the time of night, might be a bit unusual. The trip could also be made on horseback, or simply stay the night in Whitechapel.



He believes he is looking for his “Mrs. Lovett” and killing the girl when she isn’t what he wanted. The typical slash across the throat, mimicking Todd’s razor blade, and the taking of internal organs as sweetmeats for meat pies.

Penny Dreadful’s (19th Century British Fiction) still existed in Jack’s time period, and there are cases of people with delusions believing they are the reincarnations of a person/character.





Now, let’s take a closer look at the Canonical 5, shall we?





1- Mary Ann Nichols, 31 August 1888

5'2" tall; brown eyes; dark complexion; brown hair turning grey; five front teeth missing (Rumbelow); two bottom-one top front (Fido), her teeth are slightly discoloured. She is described as having small, delicate features with high cheekbones and grey eyes. She has a small scar on her forehead from a childhood injury.

She is described by Emily Holland as “a very clean woman who always seemed to keep to herself.” The doctor at the post mortem remarked on the cleanliness of her thighs. She is also an alcoholic.

“Five teeth were missing, and there was a slight laceration of the tongue. There was a bruise running along the lower part of the jaw on the right side of the face. That might have been caused by a blow from a fist or pressure from a thumb. There was a circular bruise on the left side of the face which also might have been inflicted by the pressure of the fingers. On the left side of the neck, about 1 in. below the jaw, there was an incision about 4 in. in length, and ran from a point immediately below the ear. On the same side, but an inch below, and commencing about 1 in. in front of it, was a circular incision, which terminated at a point about 3 in. below the right jaw. That incision completely severed all the tissues down to the vertebrae. The large vessels of the neck on both sides were severed. The incision was about 8 in. in length. the cuts must have been caused by a long-bladed knife, moderately sharp, and used with great violence. No blood was found on the breast, either of the body or the clothes. There were no injuries about the body until just about the lower part of the abdomen. Two or three inches from the left side was a wound running in a jagged manner. The wound was a very deep one, and the tissues were cut through. There were several incisions running across the abdomen. There were three or four similar cuts running downwards, on the right side, all of which had been caused by a knife which had been used violently and downwards. the injuries were form left to right and might have been done by a left handed person. All the injuries had been caused by the same instrument.”





2- Annie Chapman, 8 September 1888

5’ tall; 47 years old at time of death; Pallid complexion; Blue eyes; Dark brown wavy hair; Excellent teeth (possibly two missing in lower jaw); Strongly built (stout); Thick nose.



She was under-nourished and suffering from a chronic disease of the lungs (tuberculosis) and brain tissue. It is said that she was dying (these could also be symptoms of syphilis). Although she has a drinking problem she is not described as an alcoholic. Her friend Amelia Palmer described her as “sober, steady going woman who seldom took any drink.” She was, however, known to have a taste for rum.





3- Elizabeth Stride, 30 September 1888

45 years old. She had a pale complexion, light gray eyes and had curly dark brown hair. All the teeth in her lower left jaw were missing and she stood five foot five inches tall.





4- Catherine Eddowes, 30 September 1888

At the time of her death she is 5 feet tall, has hazel eyes and dark auburn hair. She has a tattoo in blue ink on her left forearm “TC.”

All of these women shared similar if not identical traits. All of which are very similar to one Mrs. Lovett. All of them, except for one… Mary Jane Kelly. Who more closely resembled Johanna Oakley.





5- Mary Jane Kelly, 9 November 1888

She was 5'7’, blonde haired, blue eyed, and had a fair complexion.

“Said to have been possessed of considerable personal attractions.”



So, there you have it.

Any thoughts?



See you in the next one!

-ScreenNamMissing



(Special thanks for inkydustmonochrome for helping me put this one together!)

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This theory was meant to be released to celebrate gaining 300 followers. However, due to the complexity of the theory it took me a bit longer to put the whole thing together. Thank you to all 300+ of you who have followed me in this journey! MANY MORE theories to come!

