The most compelling theory to date?

In the autumn of 2020, I came across a new book on Jack the Ripper. Of course, I had already read countless books on the subject over the years and so I didn't really hold out for anything 'fresh' or 'new'. I was quite wrong. The new book ' The Escape of Jack the Ripper' by Jonathan Hainsworth & Christine Ward-Agius, released earlier in 2020, left me utterly fascinated. The main reason for this was because I have a very clear recollection of reading a book in junior school many years ago that although was clearly written for a younger audience, and featuring other ‘mysteries’, it was where I first remember seeing Montague Druitt as a named suspect of the murders. The picture of him that accompanied the section in the book was eerie. He looked creepy, to me as a kid anyway.

In all the books written over the years his name may have featured, along with a plethora of the other ‘usual suspects’, but never had a book covered this suspect in such depth. A lot of books on the subject tend to make the facts fit for the purposes of the author’s favourite ‘fiend’ and suspect but rarely is this supported by such vigorous research and facts. Anyway, this is not a book review, that is someone else’s game, and I don’t want to give too much away but having read the book it totally bewitched me and created a tingle of excitement and, on occasion, a shiver.

My personal views are that that ‘they’ knew who the Ripper was all along, at least they had a very very good idea based on insider knowledge and circumstances that the book makes reveals. I also believe it was all covered up, possibly to save embarrassment and ‘face’ for both those tasked with investigating the murders, to the highest ranks, and by the perpetrator’s own family. To think that this sort of thing doesn’t go on is incredibly naïve.  Out of all the documents, archives and information contained in public and private collections it is more than probable that something exists that confirms once and for all who the shadowy figure lurking in the London fog actually was.

In late October 2020 I had a break away boked in Bournemouth. Simply two nights ahead of the next ‘lockdown’ to wind down, get some sea air and relax. It wasn’t until a few days before that I realised that the grave of Montague Druitt was in fact only a short car journey away from where I was staying. The temptation was there…

I spent some time thinking about it, was it inappropriate? Macabre?...maybe, Disrespectful? I realised that my intention was simply out of pure curiosity, nothing more/ So, without overthinking it anymore I made my way to Wimborne Cemetery in search of the possible grave of ‘Jack the Ripper’. It wasn’t an easy task as there are literally dozens of similar headstones and memorial stones that look the same. A friend covered one side of the graveyard and I the other. After some time, it started to feel weird and a bit distasteful, even though we were the only ones in the cemetery (or so I thought). About to give up a gentleman seemingly appeared from nowhere and simply said “Are you looking for the Jack the Ripper grave?”. Clearly, we were not the first ones to have come looking. I admitted that we were and half expected a lecture in ‘bloody tourists’, ‘disrespectful’ etc but no, the chap happily said “I know where it is, follow me”. The next minute there we were, stood at the grave of one of the strongest suspects to be the ‘Ripper’. Our ‘guide’ was very chatty and had clearly read the book too and was quite knowledgeable, also telling us about the graves of some of the airmen from the First World War that were also buried in the same cemetery. He bid us farewell and we thanked him for his help. I just stared at the headstone for a while and got a little lost in my own thoughts. Was this where one of the most infamous killers (if not the most infamous) was buried? Maybe we will never know. Maybe the passage of time will eventually reveal more evidence and ‘lost’ secrets on the subject. Perhaps classified and protected ‘documents’ will one day be released. I always believe that ‘truth will out’ and I hope I am proven right someday.