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Question: Why was east london ripe for murder in 1888!?
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East London was ripe for murder in 1888 primarily because it was so overcrowded!. Its districts were also a mix of itinerants (eg: sailors at the docks), and a large ethnic population (Jews, Russians, Poles, Chinese, Irish, etc!.) all living cheek by jowl with the bone fide Cockney, and those who had moved to London to find a job!. Tenement houses (or slums) sometimes had a number of families living in a single room in terrible conditions!. Remember that convicts were no longer transported to 'the colonies' like Australia at this time, so their prisons were also overcrowded!. 2,000 prostitutes walked the streets of this great capital, and policing was made difficult because there were two distinct police forces - the City of London police (who only patrolled the Royal Mile) and the Metropolitan Police!. Four of Jack's accepted crimes occurred in the Metropolitan jurisdiction, while one of the 'Double event' murders occurred in the City of London's area!. Throw Scotland Yard into the mix, and complete chaos reigned! By 1888, the East End was not the place to live, as it was where London's 'smelly' industries operated - tanneries, butchers, etc!. So someone walking down the streets with blood on their clothes would probably go unnoticed!. also, many of the streets in East London were not well-lit!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

As the town quickly grew and changed, so too did the types of crimes committed!. Rioting was common in the earlier part of the century, often over the price and availability of food!. According to records of the "Police" of that time, from the 1830's, thieves could receive at least 7 years transportation to Australia, while a bigamist could be sent to jail for 12 months!. A large number of people in the jail were imprisoned for the non-payment of debts and separate cells were kept for these prisoners!. In the 1870's, the problem with drunkenness had become problematic, and one policeman would bring in between 60 and 70 drunk men and women on a Saturday night!. In the late 1870's, the crime of 'shebeening' (selling alcohol without a licence) was one crime committed by more women than men, and in 1877, fines imposed on persons selling liquor without a licence raised almost £300 in revenue for the police!. Breaches of the peace and assault were also common crimes in these years!.
Remember also, in those days, there was no such thing as a "DNA" test or a "CSI" on any crime scene!. They pretty much had to "guess their way" into these murders !Www@QuestionHome@Com

As a contemporary journalist observed, at a time when the sun did not set on the British Empire, there were parts of the the capital where it did not seem to rise!.
Over crowding, mass unemployment, binge drinking, little spending by the government on social infrastructure!.
Thank goodness so much has changed, eh!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Ahhh!. Jack the Ripper!.

But because the murders were never solved, no one can really know what made him do it!. Unemployment!? The one fact detectives did know was that he was most likely a surgeon!. While even that didn't pay what it does today!. It was enough to get by!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The white chapel district was long known as the slum of london!. prostitution, crime and outcast people lived there!. It was a poor district and not very pleasant to live in either!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

be coz of all the whores!.
i mean, it ya dont get ya moneys worth what ya gonna do,ya don't get a receipt do ya!.Www@QuestionHome@Com