Man seen haunting the house of Mr Lusk

1888

The Illustrated Police News (20 October, 1888): detail of front cover

George Lusk was the leader of the ‘Vigilance Committee’ which patrolled the streets of Whitechapel to assist (and implicitly criticise) the police. Lusk was the recipient of the famous letter purporting to be from the Ripper along with half a human kidney; the writer claimed that he had eaten the other half; it was, he claimed, 'very nise [sic]' The character shown here was suspected to be the author of the letter.[Commentary continues below.]