Francis Tumblety, Jack The Ripper Suspect, With Stewart Evans.

The images used in this video are courtesy of Stewart P. Evans.
Stewart P. Evans is the man who brought Jack the Ripper suspect Francis Tumblety to public notice when, in 1993, he acquired a letter, written by Chief Inspector John George Littlechild, in which he replied to a question from the journalist George Sims seeking information about a particular suspect.
Stewart subsequently published his discovery and his extensive research in the book "The Lodger - The Arrest & Escape Of Jack The Ripper", which made public a forgotten and missed suspect, Dr. Francis Tumblety.
In this video Stewart discusses how he came by the letter, and presents the case against Tumblety.
But Stewart's contribution extends far beyond Tumblety.
He is also the instigator and co-author of "The Ultimate Jack The Ripper Sourcebook", which brings together all the official reports on the case that are still in existence, and a book that should be on the book shelf of every student of the case.
When Stewart was 18, he came to London and walked around the murder sites to photograph them, and those photographs created a record places such as 29 Hanbury Street, Durward Street and Mitre Square as they were at the time, thus providing an historical record of the murder sites before they disappeared from the London skyline. He kindly made those photographs available to be used in this video.
This video, therefore, features an interview with a man whose contribution to Jack the Ripper and true crime studies is immeasurable.

[@Samael-Metzger]

Two Ripper Greats!! What a gift. Really enjoy this. Before some of the more senior Ripper Greats get too far along or pass away, all of you should create and produce a comprehensive documentary on where Ripper research and the most relevant theories currently stand. Both Richard and Stewart have produce some of the greatest Ripper documentaries every made, but the research needs updating.

[@michellerenner6880]

It’s always wonderful to listen to two people discussing something they are passionate about.

[@Rollin_L]

Magnificent interview. Stewart Evans is a treasure for those of us (somehow) fascinated by the Whitechapel murders. Thank you so much, Mr. Jones, for bringing this to the channel for us to enjoy.

[@JackTheRipperTours]

My pleasure. I'm pleased you enjoyed it.

[@joycetaylor7295]

Stewart evans was the man who set me off in my ripper adventure x

[@PixieDragon9]

This is absolutely amazing. Thank you so much. Francis Tumblety is the only suspect that personally scares me. Keeping wombs in jars. That is scary in anyones book. Good job to you both!

[@bendavies8881]

Regardless of who the killer was, there was an improbable number of truly wacked out people in the area at the time!

[@Legionmint7091]

@@bendavies8881 And perhaps two serial killers operating simultaneously in a very limited area; the Whitechapel murderer and the Torso killer.

[@thepuffin-ss9ln]

I agree. Tumblety had a hatred of women and hookers in particular. Its said that he was married to a woman that turned out to be a prostitute. Tumblety had syphillus too, he died of it. Wonder if this pristituted woman he married when he was younger gave him the disease. Could explain the intense anger he is said to have towards women. There's definitely motive there.

[@OoxB505]

@@Legionmint7091or maybe he was one in the same 😉

[@OoxB505]

There’s nothing to tie Tumblety to any of the murders though

[@ShellacScrubber]

Superb conversation. It's great to see Stewart on screen again.A very knowledgeable, down to earth and all round decent chap ! I well remember some interesting conversations with Stewart on "The Casebook forums" many years ago. I also remember Stewart was always quick to promote a facts-only policy and was not at all shy in bringing back to earth, those who were prone to bouts of wild speculation !

[@jane.c.c]

Mr Evans' photo's from the 60s were priceless. Can you imagine walking around those streets. Tbh I was born in Bethnal Green in the early 60s and my dad would take me to petticoat lane market on Sunday morning. My true memory was that the dirty, black brickwork and old storefronts looked quite depressing and so poverty stricken, but don't ask me why, cause I cant explain it, I absolutely loved and adored it. Loved going there and being in the thick of it. Probably just a great atmosphere..

[@Legionmint7091]

Thank you very much for this interview Mr. Jones and Mr. Evans. It was most informative and interesting. I didn’t even know of the documentary “The London That nobody knows” and it’s completely amazing to see actual footage from the backyard of Hanbury Street. It quite literally took my breath away. One thing I know many viewers would appreciate immensely is for you two to make a list of the key books that you need to read to get a hang of the Whitechapel murders. I most definitely would be tremendously grateful if you made a top 10 or top 20 list. Pretty please, with sugar on top.

[@csc7225]

I would love this book list, too! These videos are fascinating and I appreciate RJ providing a welcoming forum for discussions of all suspects. So interesting!

[@JackTheRipperTours]

Hi will make the video next. Could I use your comment in the video introduction?

[@Legionmint7091]

@@JackTheRipperTours Marvelous! Of course you can use my comment.

[@raddimusmcchoyber3362]

I'm extremely appreciative of the Sourcebook, for being able to read pretty much all of what remains of the Whitechapel murders official files for less than 20 quid. A tremendous piece of work by Mr Evans and Keith Skinner, for which I and (I'm sure) many others are extremely grateful. Now and again I've saved up to buy a few Met Police unsolved murder case files from the National Archives, and good grief the cost! I shudder to think what a full copy of the Ripper papers (Met Police, Home Office and City of London) would set you back today. A trifle more than the £1000 it cost Mr Evans back then I should think! So thanks again Evans and Skinner, it really is much appreciated.

[@lesleyannprior8203]

Absolutely superb. Thank you so much 👏

[@JackTheRipperTours]

Glad you liked it!

[@Mickcotton]

Thank You So Much for this History Lesson. Cheers 🍻 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@JackTheRipperTours]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@SuperStrik9]

Great discussion. I find Tumblety is one of the more interesting Ripper suspects. Even if he isn't the Ripper he's a colourful character to say the least.

[@benlujan288]

Thank you, Mr. Jones, for your wonderful and insightful videos pertinent to the Ripper history. Much appreciated!

[@issigri9395]

Excellent interview. What a pleasure to hear someone rational, modest and measured both in their accomplishments and assertions. Lovely to hear from him.

[@Monkofmagnesia]

This guy has been interested in the Ripper langer than I have been alive!!!!

[@russellwilliams4064]

As am amateur Ripperologist, I only recently found your channel and I love it. Thank you

[@GhostRider247]

on the basis of this ive just bought the sourcebook on Ebay for £13.99 , can't wait to read this !!! and i am definatly not a avid book reader !!!!! Thank you to all of you !!!

[@mathewlawton1362]

It a very good read

[@darrenmaguire2979]

Great one tonight Richard 👍🇮🇪👻

[@JackTheRipperTours]

Thanks, Darren. I'm pleased you enjoyed it.

[@ftumschk]

I haven't seen SPE for years, so it's great to see him on such good form, and fascinating as ever.

[@mathewlawton1362]

Thank you Richard great and informative video

[@paulj5381]

Great interview , the Source book is a great edition to anyone interested in the Ripper murders, I have just dusted it down from the shelf being the original hardback, and going to have another extensive read. It must be over 20 yrs since I last read it.

[@ianpeddle6818]

What a fantastic interview so fascinating on so many levels. This channel gives and gives 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@JackTheRipperTours]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@asumner1959]

Really enjoyed listening to this, thank you, both of you.

[@chris7685]

Enjoying this dialogue very much, thank you from Germany! And I've to say to go through this huge amount of research, archiv materials, and sweat only for to meet Johnny Depp is quite an unusual fanboy tactic 😂...

[@davesmith7432]

Brilliant interview Rich!

[@filmbuff2777]

Great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@tonylinsell8918]

Excellent from both of you,polite,knowledgeable and sensible discussion.Been interested in case since my youth long ago,I’m unsure if we have so far heard his name amongst suspects,probably a local no one who was often seen in the area and never raised suspicion,I doubt killer of this type would ever voluntarily stop.

[@ruiseartalcorn]

Absolutely fascinating! Many thanks :)

[@dermotkelly6946]

Tremendous will watch tonight Richard 👍

[@franceshaypenny8481]

Cool. Stewart's a legend.

[@JackTheRipperTours]

He certainly is, Frances, ad a really nice man as well.

[@rlavassaur5333]

Sensational!! I want find and read all books mentioned.

[@uricbonser5446]

Francis Tumblety is buried in Rochester, New York USA in a family burial plot. The cemetery used to list the location of his grave in their electronic map of the cemetery but that information was removed in the late 1990s when several books about Jack the Ripper suspects mentioned Tumblety as one of the suspects....

[@omarhamid3638]

An excellent video! Thanks very much Richard for bringing these interviews to us. Fascinating to learn about all the different perspectives. I concur with an earlier comment, a beginners guide to books on JTR would be enormously helpful in a future video. Great job and thanks again! 👏👍

[@barbarawissinger]

Thank you for producing such a high-quality video. It makes such an interesting contrast to the „Charles Lechmere is the only viable suspect” supporters.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Lechmere is a far more reasonable suspect than the Tumblety nonsense.

[@1rjbrjb]

Two nice, smart gentlemen to be sure.

[@GradedHigh-io2le]

.. to be sure, to be sure..

[@FrankTownsend]

Thanks for uploading this excellent interview with Mr Evans, a real authority on the subject. Despite some of the problems with Tumbelty as a suspect, principally height and age, I have thought for many years that he was most likely the Whitechapel murderer. There is certainly a reasonable argument that the motive for the killings was the removal of uteri; the fact that devious Tumbelty collected such items is highly suggestive and marks him out from all the other suspects for me. He also fled London after the last murder and in all likelihood continued to kill in the US.

[@PerryCristiano]

Interesting and fascinating guest Looking forward to reading his books

[@joshah7627]

For me Tumblrty not jack the ripper but he I always thought he knew who he was..... Like him hiring guy to collect him body parts of women... wouldn't be surprised if he was the look out

[@thepuffin-ss9ln]

jack the ripper case Has got to be one of the most confusing enigmas in crime ever probably. There are so many people that fit the mold in that area, in that time. Just when you hear an explanation of one suspect and you think, damn thats him!, then another makes you go well......? My top two suspects in my mind at this point are tumblety, and lechmere, but i admit nothing about the case is solid. Lechmere was standing over a still warm body when he was noticed and acted cagey, and tumblety was said to have a heavy hatred for women and prostitutes in particular

[@Legionmint7091]

By the way, I wonder if Sir Robert Anderson was of Swedish descent? I could only find info about his father Matthew Anderson of Roebuck House (presently Roebuck Court) in Dublin, Ireland, but nothing before then. Anderson, or Andersson, is a very common name in Sweden. Does anyone know?

[@ftumschk]

Anderson is also a common Irish/Scottish name, and Sir Robert Anderson was born in Ireland of Scottish descent. Meaning specifically "son of Andrew" (as opposed to the Scandinavian "Son of Anders"), it reflects the prominence of Saint Andrew in Catholicism and as patron saint of Scotland. It's a tradition that arose independently in the British Isles, and any parallels with Scandinavia or Germany (where the "-sohn" suffix is the equivalent of "-son") are coincidental.

[@Legionmint7091]

@@ftumschk Thank you for the explanation. By the way, in Denmark and Norway the suffix most often is -sen, as in H.C. Andersen for example, whereas -son more commonly is used in Sweden.

[@davekeating.]

The Duke of Wellington, like Francis Tumblety, was born in Dublin; does that make him a Fenian too? Francis Tumblety was associated with the Irish-American branch of the IRB/Fenians. That organisation had waged a bombing campaign in England the pervious year, 1887. Scotland Yard was on high alert fearing that it might continue into 1888. They had Tumblety under constant surveillance from the time he arrived in England, 1888. The large file in Scotland Yard is the CID’s “IRB/Fenian File” containing reports from agents, informants as far away as New York, Geneva, Paris, Dublin on the movements of suspected Fenians. There is no way he could have dashed out of his lodgings and committed these five murders. The Yard arrested him many times and would have loved to pin the murders on him as it would have been a major propaganda coup in their fight against the Fenians. They didn’t because they had no evidence. In fact they most likely had alibis for Tumblety from their own surveillance agents, and knew it would completely backfire if they brought him to court as Jack the Ripper. CID was not interested in the Ripper unless he was known to carry detonators and fuses! Littlechild was a bluffer. And like all his fellow, retired, senior police officers, anti Jew, anti Irish, anti gay. The lot of them would have gladly danced a jig down Commercial Street if all its prostitutes had been butchered. Rather than admit they bungled the Ripper investigation, it’s a case of, “Well, we did catch him but I can’t tell you all. Here’s my top suspect.” In his letter to Sims, Littlechild never heard of Druitt? Claims Tumblety committed suicide when it was Druitt who ended his own life? Littlechild was no closer to the killer in 1913 than he was in 1888. The only famous person he ever helped put away was Oscar Wilde - “a butterfly broken on a wheel.”

[@rolandrothwell4840]

I think the biggest point is the vulnerability of the women came about by grinding poverty and addiction. Their hellish, unsupported lives were desperate, made chaotic by alcohol. They were on the street in the open due to absolute poverty with no protection

[@OldIrishFan1966]

I cannot believe that no one has made a Ripper film based in reality. You don't need some crazy, fantasy dream sequence and the Crown for a great story. Simply tell it like it actually happened. How many books have been sold on the Ripper murders? Thousands? Hundred thousands? It is still a subject that everyone is interested in. Shoot, I should write a screenplay.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Yep. Pretty well certain JTR was an outwardly normal nondescript local man who people wouldn't think was the culprit for a second. None of this outlandish silliness. Hey it sells books and films though.

[@paulstleger9319]

I feel Tumblety's association with the Fenians can't be overstated enough. The Hibernophobic sentiment in England at the time was appalling. If you look at the caricatures in Punch Magazine you'll see how rife it was

[@KevinJKtheman]

I don't think anyone really wants to know who the ripper was. We all love a mystery. It's like a "Who done it" movie, as soon as we find out "who done it" the movie is over.

[@jacksweeklymusicreviews3411]

You should do a video on France’s Coles, I think that would be interesting

[@Jackkoala-]

Any one of you ever gonna ask him some KZbinrs can react to this documentary of Jack the Ripper

[@robertalpy]

Did they close Madame Tousouads? (I definitely misspelled that) What a shame if they did. London has always been the first place I wanted to visit if I ever got around to leaving the US. That was at the top of my list if I got there. A real shame if it's closed.

[@Peter-gq4ww]

Very interesting to listen to this, but I was kind of hoping for some person insight from this gentleman on the for and against tumblety, rather than just a history of how he came about the source material, which is still very interesting! Just a bit disappointed that this wasn't another one of the defence vs prosecution type videos

[@paulwillard9687]

Police officers have been known to take the odd file of interest, also have you tried the national archives in case they got moved there because normally eyes only files have a time limit of 50, 75 or 100 years

[@ErnaldtheSaxon]

GT200 Lambretta also known as the TV200. Mines a 1965 model. Fair play Stewart.

[@rjcs2000]

A famous pawn shop in Las Vegas bought a top hat with gloves and a small pistol that belonged to Tumblety. Looked like the real deal too. Was on one of their TV episodes.

[@cbamr]

This discussion was amazing, Richard. Two great ripper historians in one video. What a two for one deal. I personally favour the Tumbletea theory and even managed to interview one of his ancestors, a fellow writer, who found out about his connection on tv.

[@OoxB505]

Why? There’s nothing to tie him to any of the murders besides he hated prostitutes and kept wombs in jars

[@lw3646]

I think Tumblety is definitely someone youd want to eliminate as a detective, but not convinced though it could have been him.

[@herbert9241]

No crime was ever solved through strident assertion. I've got to say that hour flew by.

[@stevenhearnden6103]

Tumblety has for some time been my number one suspect for Jack.

[@stevenblomer7738]

What a great coup, to give us Stewart.

[@WWE2426]

Hey Steven, what do you think of George Hutchinson's "suspect" the guy with the red handkerchief who went with MJK? Do you think "red handkerchief" man was JTR?

[@Louiseskybunker]

Anyone who looks at the work of Charles Booth starts to see Booth was not a pleasant thinker, and then the crime history of the earlier William Booth... 3 famous actor/directors made reference to Booth/Ripper in the 1970s and even the creepy Robert Anderson states 3 clear features of who it was- almost smirking.

[@RayRizo-oy8pb]

I also suspected Tumblety however he was over 6 feet in height which doesn't coincide with eyewitnesses.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Too tall, too flamboyant and was not a local with intimate knowledge of the area.

[@kevinkenny6975]

A few years ago I came across a framed locke of hair purporting to be from Mary Kelly attached to a photograph of the murder scene. It was only a fiver but I obviously assumed it was fake and also didn't want to have it in the house for fear of it bringing bad luck so i didn't buy it. I do sometimes wonder about it. The frame was definitely of the period late victorian.

[@davekeating.]

Never mind the frame, what about the photo, was it a police photo, was it of late victorian period?

[@biddyearly9262]

That's definitely been fake.

[@robbrady4649]

What is the photo at 41:15 showing, one of the murder sites?

[@JackTheRipperTours]

That's George Yard Buildings where Martha Tabram was murdered, Rob.

[@robbrady4649]

@@JackTheRipperTours Thanks Richard.

[@user-sb7vx8zq7w]

What a Joy, especially compared to BS from Holmgren and others who are 100% sure.

[@MrMikepresley]

I wonder if JTR case is still an open case, it it is an open case, could someone be charged and convicted (post mortem conviction; then the JTR case could be solved.

[@paulgriffiths9824]

Don’t see why they can’t solve it, although you can’t charge a dead body that’s a skeleton at the most. Whether it is open would be a freedom of information request, although I would think it is

[@1rjbrjb]

Tumblety would have been a massively achieving serial killer. He was worth $138K when he died in 1903 - some $4.5M today. BTK was a dog-catcher and that made him the most professionally stable serial killer to date. If you're an obsessive sexual sadist, it's tough to concentrate on making money. Tumblety was too industrious to be a serial killer.

[@cyankirkpatrick5194]

Newbie here, when did the baby come into play and the child being of royal blood? I'm pacing myself in watching these.

[@Eleventy8]

OK... Copy bought!

[@aaronz7056]

Much too tall to be the Ripper, described by witnesses as only a little taller than his victims.

[@British-Hauntings-and-History]

Dr T is a much better suspect than lechmere who seems to be the flavour of the moment

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Are you serious? Lechmere was actually seen by someone else lingering alone and acting suspiciously right next to the body of one of the victims at or near the time of death and with nobody else in sight or sound. He lied to the police and at the inquest and had work routes and timings very close to the Chapman and Tabram murders, not just Nichols. Tumblety was too tall, too flamboyant, too old and not a local with intimate knowledge of the area. He can't be placed at or near any of the crime scenes. He's a non starter.

[@heyokaempath5802]

Tumblety, to me, is not a good candidate because he was much too tall and broad. That would stand out in a sea of protein-deprived, half-starved populace.

[@warcrypublishing]

👏😊

[@philnewcomers9170]

thank you Richard and Stuart very interesting when Trevor Marriptts book came out another policeman,he made the statement jtr was amerchantseaman which makes sence to me ontwo baseic points fromDearBoss jtr states imdown on whoores now why should jtr be down onthese ladies the answere to that is syphilus,there is your resentment for the killings that works wether it was written by jtr or Bullen.The other thing that cropsup is the killings in forign portsNicaragua and Texas ,NewYork others London and Europe The handwrighting is very familure to me because i do that style it is so similar i was once accused of being jtr who must have been deceested by 1920/30ish there is more to these ramblings.drT is definatly up there RochesterNY wasthe centre for a string of prostitute/jtr style killings there is a vid outlineing these from achap lives in Rochester NY ttfn&ty

[@giarc888]

I think the ripper must have been a doctor or butcher, someone familar with carving, or why would a murderer go to the the trouble, yes I know insane.

[@mrliberty8468]

Deps character wasn't accurate to the person he Portrayed at all.

[@MrChintaro]

Nah. Too tall, wrong accent and wrong sexual orientation. He also wouldn't volunteer the fact he had been arrested for the murders if it had been him.

[@davekeating.]

He would if it deflected from the real reason of his arrest - indecent sex act with another male?

[@ronaldm8235]

Can I say something? It is this. If you sat in the dark where the police didn't go and waited for the ladies of to go to the toilet and the police didn't go to isn't perfect?

[@ronaldm8235]

I mean to say this. If you lived local and you followed the ladies of the night you would know where they went to the toilet and where the police didn't go. Sit in the dark and NOBODY clocks you - try it. George Hutchinson was Jack the Ripper.

[@jakehammond12345]

Magic

[@Mathemagical55]

Although Tumblety certainly deserves investigation there are significant problems with him as a suspect: probably gay, relatively tall, and around 55 in 1888. Regardless of what Littlechild thought, he seems an unlikely candidate.

[@bendavies8881]

I agree. It is easy to see why the police were interested at the time, but in the light of modern criminal profiling, he falls apart very quickly as a suspect.

[@franceshaypenny8481]

He wasn't probably gay, he was predatorily gay, and had many police charges for obscenity. He was a predator and even had an affair with a famous poet and scammed loads of money off of him. He always had boys around him wherever he went as well. In his youth he had been married to a woman who supposedly cheated on him and was a prostitute - and this betrayal was supposed to be the reason he despised women so much - he called them 'cattle'. So it's possible that he wasn't genuinely homosexual, but despised women so much that he pursued men and boys. I doubt he was capable of actually loving someone.

[@jamescorlett5272]

this ex cop knows full well Tumblety jumped bail from Liverpool so it stands to reason that is where he was arrested not Whitechapel as he would have peaple naturally assume .

[@cha5]

And the fact that none of the witnesses who likely saw JTR interacting with his victims mentioned seeing a man with an American accent and a massive handlebar mustache, both of which would have stuck out in Whitechapel like a sore thumb.

[@johnjones-eu1rv]

Agreed… It has been proven that Maybrick was the ripper, so it simply couldn’t have been Tumblety….Still interesting to listen to though

[@mrliberty8468]

Dep has a fake English accent. For no practical purpose. He's from Kentucky.

[@romusromulus]

he must have been involved in some way, a stranger looking for wombs is something so impossible to miss or ignored. probably paying party or protecting one behind the killer. also very likely to be the man with the golden chain,and second man in alleyway, shouting Lipski!

[@kerryoneill8718]

Jack the Ripper had 4 victims not 5.

[@kevinkenny6975]

Was you there?

[@biddyearly9262]

Mary Jane Kelly was killed by a livid boyfriend.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

He may have had 7 or 8. Nobody knows.

[@johnjones-eu1rv]

The Ripper was Maybrick… case closed

[@user-sb7vx8zq7w]

😂😂😂