Free Republic

On this date in 1896, New York City electrocuted Carl Feigenbaum. He’d been convicted of slaying the widow from whom he rented a room at eight cents per day … but many at the time suspected his homicidal exploits might also have traced to Whitechapel, under the dread sobriquet Jack.

'Jack the Ripper was a meat cart driver in Whitechapel, who legitimately blood-spattered appearance helped him evade justice, a criminologist has claimed. Dr Gareth Norris from Aberystwyth University believes 'carman' Charles Allen Lechmere, whose early route to work coincided with locations of Ripper killings, should be considered a suspect. Lechmere was found leaning over victim Mary Ann 'Polly' Nichols' body on Buck's Row in Whitechapel on August 31, 1888 and told police he had only been there a few minutes. But research has revealed that he lied to police about his name, calling himself Cross, and it was likely that...