"Mr Patterson identifies the Ripper as the gifted though drug-addicted poet, Francis Thompson (1859-1907), who was born in his twin town Preston, Lancashire, the son of a doctor. Thompson was addicted to opium between the years 1879-1889, a form of laudanum. A confirmed drug addict he died of "morphomania" on November 12 1907. aged 48 years and weighing 70 pounds (5 stone) He was buried four days later at Kensal Green Cemetery, his 250 poems unrecalled. Thompson's tale may have inspired the account given by R Thuston Hopkins in 1935 about a man "fitting George Hutchinson's description". Identified only as "moring," he was known to be a friend of MJK, and a drug addicted poet, the son of someone well to do." {page 19}
Preston resident Richard Patterson admits he is either extremely perceptive or completely bonkers. Mr Patterson has spent the past five months researching the Jack the Ripper crimes and said he had discovered the killer's identity. In a recently completed book* Mr Patterson names Jack the Ripper as a long dead poet by the name of Francis Joseph Thompson. "I was reading a poem by Francis Thompson in November and thought it was really good," he said. Mr Patterson said he did some research on the poet and 100 different things incriminated him. "I thought if anything doesn't point to him being the murderer I'll stop," he said. "I haven't stopped." The 28-year-old philosophy student said things had not been the same since he began researching the matter. "I'm getting a strange sense from my friends," he said. "But when people tell me I've gone over the deep end I tell them to read the book." Mr Patterson said his experience in role-playing games helped him get inside the killer's head. "I can understand how he could justify it," he said.'
* 'Paradox'. An early edition of 'Jack the Ripper.'
Reporter: Nick Oddy
page 3
849BJ518
A Lalor resident believes he has uncovered the identity of Britain's most notorious serial killer. Tim King reports. Unsolved murder cases never lie down and die easily. Many years after the foul deeds are done, forensic science specialists and enthusiastic lay-peaople continue to sift through case notes, theories and physical evidence. Lalor resident Richard Patterson is equally enthusiastic about one of Britian's darkest murder myseries. The part-time writer and student has published two books about the identity of Jack the Ripper, whom police believe killed five London women in 1888.
At the time, London police believed the Ripper killed the women from August 31 to November 9 in the city's East End. Some theorists blamed the Ripper for committing another 10 similar murders. Mr Patterson was studying philosophy at La Trobe University in 1997 when he came across one of Thompson's poems. Upon further reading, Thompson's "disturbed" life and writings, many of which mentioned violence, convinced Mr Patterson that the Ripper and the poet were one and the same. Mr Patterson said Thompson was bitter and confused after failing to become a surgeon and a priest after 13 years' study. The poet was addicted to opium and was homeless near London's West India docks for three years.
"He (Thompson) carried a dissecting scalpel," said Mr Patterson. "He told people he used to shave with it. And Jack the Ripper was thought to be a surgeon. The murders occurred within religious sancturies- Francis Thompson studied with the Roman Catholic Church for seven years to be a priest." Mr Patterson said the killings occurred on religious festival dates- dates that Thompson would have known. Mr Patterson also suspects Thompson for the murders because of the poet's admission that he set fire to his London lodgings in 1896, the same night of the Ripper's first reported killing and a nearby warehouse fire.
Mr Patterson has collected 11 books written by or about Thompson has interviewed literary professors and has searched the Internet for information on the Ripper's killings and their subsequent investigations. In 1998, Mr Patterson published his first 20-page book, "Paradox',* in which he proposed Thompson was the Ripper. About 100 copies of the books were sold worldwide.
This year he has sold about 20 copies of his latest Ripper book, 'Paradigm 2000'*. Mr Patterson soon plans to release a 34-page illustrated version of the book with pictures of the Ripper's known victims, individual murder scenes and a map showing all the sites. Thornbury artist James Pearson will complete the books with a series of Ripper cartoons. Pearson, who also illustrates music CD covers. has drawn the book cover. Mr Patterson described his passion for Jack the Ripper as 'an enjoyable obsession".
People can get more details on the book by e-mailing Mr Patterson on [email protected] or writing to him care of PO Box 1615, Preston South, Vic 3072.
* "Paradox' & 'Paradigm 2000' are both earlier editions of 'Jack the Ripper.
By Tim King.
050BJ569
He has finally put a face to the notorious name and laid blame for the brutal murders. It is just a pity it has been more than 100 years since Jack the Ripper went on his killing spree. But then that is part of the reason South Yarra resident Richard Patterson decided to study the case. Mr Patterson has written a book about his theory that poet Francis Thompson was Jack the Ripper. "When something is about to be forgotten I like to pick it up," Mr Patterson, 31, said. "I was studying 19th century poetry and I came across Thompson's Arab Love Song. I thought it was very abusive. When I looked at his biography it said he had studied as a surgeon for six years. Police had been looking for a surgeon. It went from there." Mr Patterson spent a year researching for and writing his book. Jack the Ripper will be launched at the Toorack-South Yarra Library on April 11. Mr patterson said he repeatedly found links between Thompson and Jack the Ripper. He said some records showed police interviewed a man of Thompson's description regarding the murders. Mr Patterson also researched newspapers, books and groups that Thompson and his aqquaintances were associated with to help put the story together. Mr Patterson said historical figures and events fascinated him.
He hoped to one day make a living out of writing about historical cases. "I like to get a complex problem and say it as simple as possible. To do that full-time would be ideal."
By Karen Howie.
N39MP208
A former Benalla Secondary College student, now living and working in Melbourne, has written a book on what is arguably the world's greatest murder mystery.
Richard Patterson, 31, works by day as a consultant in the ANZ Bank's credit card department.
By night, he paws over research into the life and times of Jack the Ripper and is convinced he knows who was responsible for the serial killings of London prostitutes more than 100 years ago.
Mr Patterson named poet Francis Joseph Thompson as the elusive 'Jack' and has written a book to prove it. He was back in Benalla last week, with his wife Ayumi, promoting his book, "Jack the Ripper", and taking a look around his old stomping ground. Mr Patterson lived in Benalla for about eight years from 1982.
His interest in writing has resulted in short stories and poems, but his book is his first published work and it sells for $11. The book had its beginnings at La Trobe University in Melbourne, when Mr Patterson studied philosophy. As part of his ethics course, he began researching the mystery London killer and from there, formed his theories on Francis Thompson.
July 4, 2001.
Outstanding and would definitely reread it. Noteworthy.
If you've ever been caught up in the controversy over the most infamous crime in history, then come along with Richard A. Patterson as he explores every dimly lit back alley in London's East End to put to rest the question of "Who was Jack the Ripper?"
Excellent research backed up by an extensive bibliography attests to Patterson's diligence in getting to the bottom of this ageless puzzle. You may not have heard of Francis Joseph Thompson until now, but by the time you've finished reading this in-depth study of the man, you won't be able to walk alone in the dark again!
Thompson, "a self-declared mystic, and prophet" was in actuality "the very personification of ruin, a tumble-down, dilapidated opium-haunted wreck." His fixation with death and pain were common subjects of his dark and gruesome poetry, which is liberally quoted throughout the book. Among his fans he counted such notables as Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw, yet his detractors would state, " His affectation of the baroque (elaborate) is mainly an archaic mannerism. Thompson's undisciplined flamboyance in the choice of words and his fondness for complicated, unnatural rhymes may be symptoms induced by his addiction to opium. The whole is almost devoid of meaning."
Despite six years of medical training, Thompson's addiction to opium saw him spiral down to such moral and physical depths that he himself said "...often verse written as I write it is nothing less than a confessional." By 1891, his father had him cut out his will. Did his father suspect that his son was Jack The Ripper? Was this the same man that killed no less than five prostitutes with a surgical skill unequalled in its day? The same scarecrow of a man that taunted London's Police with letters claiming a superior intelligence? Or who believed skill and evasion of capture was due to 'divine intervention'? You be the judge..
This review by Ingrid Taylor and is from the All ABout Murder Website at:
http://www16.brinkster.com/allaboutmurder/index2.html
The specific webpage that this review was found on is at:
http://www16.brinkster.com/allaboutmurder/reviews_J.html