Was Jack the Ripper a mason?

Answer 1

The theory that Jack the Ripper was a Freemason was posited by author Stephen Knight in order to implicate Sir William Gull the royal physician, a coach driver named Netley, and Prince Albert, Duke of Clarence.

The theory was based on testimonials and news reports, particularly of the Annie Chapman slaying, that Knight purposely falsified in order to promote his theory. The theory, and the author, have since been discredited as serious Ripperologists have uncovered the true testimonials of the witnesses. To whit:

1. Annie Chapman was found clutching grapes. False. She was in fact carrying breath mints. No grapes were found at the scene or near it. Greengrocer Arnold Packard claimed to have sold grapes to Chapman and her killer, but his story was proven to be a fabrication.

2. Annie Chapman has polished silver coins laid out at her feet, along with other articles to form a Masonic pentagram. False. The inquest records given by Inspector Chandler and Dr. Philips, whom examined the body, reveal that only a comb, a piece of muslin, and a pocket comb were found at Chapman's feet. They were not arranged in any particular order.

3. Sir William Gull was in his seventies at the time of the murders and suffered from palsy that made his grip useless. He was often too weak to even move.

4. In at least three of the murder times, the Duke of Clarence was out of the country.

Answer 2

Since Jack The Ripper was never identified there is no way to tell if he was a Mason. I believe the 'Mason' theory was born because of the coins at Annie Chapman's feet at her crime scene. They were arranged by the killer for reasons of his own, but there was never any link that led to the Masons.

This is just one in a long line of misconceptions, half-truths, and plain old fabrication that has plagued this case for 140 years.