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Jack the Ripper at Last? The Mysterious Murders of George Chapman
‘You’ve got Jack the Ripper at last!’ The words with which Abberline congratulated Godley. The two detectives had hunted the fiend of Whitechapel fourteen years previously, but failed to catch him. George Chapman, a man facing the death penalty for poisoning his girlfriend, had a secret past. Born Seweryn Klosowski in Poland, he’d lived in London’s East End during the Ripper’s killing spree in 1888.
Former Chief Inspector Abberline had ‘a score of reasons’ for naming Chapman as the Ripper. And Arthur Neil, former Superintendent of Scotland Yard, agreed with him.
Chapman had committed ‘a series of murders which for sheer heartlessness are almost unprecedented in the annals of crime’. He was described as ‘one of the most loathsome murderers in criminal history, and the director of public prosecutions stated that his ‘cruelty, hypocrisy and daring’ had rarely, if ever, been equalled.
Former Chief Inspector Abberline had ‘a score of reasons’ for naming Chapman as the Ripper. And Arthur Neil, former Superintendent of Scotland Yard, agreed with him.
Chapman had committed ‘a series of murders which for sheer heartlessness are almost unprecedented in the annals of crime’. He was described as ‘one of the most loathsome murderers in criminal history, and the director of public prosecutions stated that his ‘cruelty, hypocrisy and daring’ had rarely, if ever, been equalled.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 20, 2014
3 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Helena Wojtczak
19 books2 followersThe holder of a BSc Honours degree in Social Science and Social History, Helena Wojtczak is a researcher, writer and speaker on women's history. She occasionally gives public talks and lectures and speaks at conferences at universities and museums.
She is an occasional tutor in women's history and the methodology of research for the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton. She has written for the Oxford University Press, Ashgate, the TSSA, the RMT and Hunter House Publishing, as well as numerous newspapers and magazines, and also for various websites including The Victorian Web and Encyclopaedia Titanica, and has appeared on TV and BBC radio.
Her books have received critical acclaim from Dr Dale Spender, Dr Gerry Holloway, Dr Gillian Reynolds, Dr Jo Stanley, Dr Terry Gourvish, the Rt Hon. Tony Benn MP, Glenda Jackson MP, Michael Foster MP, New Statesman, Morning Star, Labour Research Magazine, Steam World Magazine, the President of the RMT, Women's History Review, Gender, Work and Organisation, The Argus, Sussex Express, Open History Magazine, Backtrack, the British Association for British History, Christian Wolmar, Adrian Vaughan, Ray Hatley and many others.
In 2007 Railwaywomen won the joint Writers' News Magazine / David St John Thomas Charitable Trust Award for Best Non Fiction Book and the Silver Cup and prize for Self-Published Book of the Year. Notable Sussex Women won the prize for the Best Local Book, 2009.
Helena owns and runs the Hastings Press, carrying out most of the proofreading, editing, book cover design, typesetting, website design and maintenance and administration. She runs occasional public seminars on self-publishing and advises individual authors by private consultation.
At the age of 19 Helena became the first woman employed as a guard by British Rail. Working on the railways led her to research and write the award-winning book Railwaywomen. Since being launched at the House of Commons, at the TUC Conference and at the National Railway Museum, the book has received considerable acclaim including a plethora of excellent reviews.
Now Britain's foremost authority on the history of women working on the railways, she has acted as a consultant historian to the National Railway Museum and gives illustrated presentations on the subject, most recently at the Swedish State Railway Museum in Gavle, and the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Born in Sussex, Helena Wojtczak (pronounced 'Voy-t-chak') lived in London for twenty-two years and is now happily back in her native county. Her pet hate is being called "Helen".
She is an occasional tutor in women's history and the methodology of research for the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton. She has written for the Oxford University Press, Ashgate, the TSSA, the RMT and Hunter House Publishing, as well as numerous newspapers and magazines, and also for various websites including The Victorian Web and Encyclopaedia Titanica, and has appeared on TV and BBC radio.
Her books have received critical acclaim from Dr Dale Spender, Dr Gerry Holloway, Dr Gillian Reynolds, Dr Jo Stanley, Dr Terry Gourvish, the Rt Hon. Tony Benn MP, Glenda Jackson MP, Michael Foster MP, New Statesman, Morning Star, Labour Research Magazine, Steam World Magazine, the President of the RMT, Women's History Review, Gender, Work and Organisation, The Argus, Sussex Express, Open History Magazine, Backtrack, the British Association for British History, Christian Wolmar, Adrian Vaughan, Ray Hatley and many others.
In 2007 Railwaywomen won the joint Writers' News Magazine / David St John Thomas Charitable Trust Award for Best Non Fiction Book and the Silver Cup and prize for Self-Published Book of the Year. Notable Sussex Women won the prize for the Best Local Book, 2009.
Helena owns and runs the Hastings Press, carrying out most of the proofreading, editing, book cover design, typesetting, website design and maintenance and administration. She runs occasional public seminars on self-publishing and advises individual authors by private consultation.
At the age of 19 Helena became the first woman employed as a guard by British Rail. Working on the railways led her to research and write the award-winning book Railwaywomen. Since being launched at the House of Commons, at the TUC Conference and at the National Railway Museum, the book has received considerable acclaim including a plethora of excellent reviews.
Now Britain's foremost authority on the history of women working on the railways, she has acted as a consultant historian to the National Railway Museum and gives illustrated presentations on the subject, most recently at the Swedish State Railway Museum in Gavle, and the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Born in Sussex, Helena Wojtczak (pronounced 'Voy-t-chak') lived in London for twenty-two years and is now happily back in her native county. Her pet hate is being called "Helen".
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 19, 2015
I can honestly say that this is one of the best true crime books I've ever read -- top 5, at least -- and at last count I've read 400 of them.
The author's meticulously footnoted research has demolished dozens of myths about Chapman, many of them a century old. (Even my beloved Philip Sugden made mistakes when talking about the case in his book The Complete History of Jack the Ripper. It's okay, Mr. Sugden. I forgive you.) Her arguments have convinced me once and for all of the answer to the "Was he Jack the Ripper?" question. .
More to the point, Wojtczak convinces me that Chapman poisonings were a fascinating case of serial murder in their own right. And she supplies a convincing motive, something I'd never been able to make my mind up on until now.
I am totally floored by this book, both as true crime and as history. If you are a Jack the Ripper hobbyist, this ought to be required reading. If you just like true crime, especially historical crime, I strongly recommend this book as well.
The author's meticulously footnoted research has demolished dozens of myths about Chapman, many of them a century old. (Even my beloved Philip Sugden made mistakes when talking about the case in his book The Complete History of Jack the Ripper. It's okay, Mr. Sugden. I forgive you.) Her arguments have convinced me once and for all of the answer to the "Was he Jack the Ripper?" question. .
More to the point, Wojtczak convinces me that Chapman poisonings were a fascinating case of serial murder in their own right. And she supplies a convincing motive, something I'd never been able to make my mind up on until now.
I am totally floored by this book, both as true crime and as history. If you are a Jack the Ripper hobbyist, this ought to be required reading. If you just like true crime, especially historical crime, I strongly recommend this book as well.
November 23, 2014
Interesting and well researched this book provides an insight into George Chapman, one of the most callous murderers of the 19th Century. He is often put forward as one of the suspects considered to be Jack the Ripper - and this book covers the evidence and the pros and cons of the many theories.
Does it provide an answer to this more-than-a-century old dilemma? Well read it and see....
The author cites her sources, justifies her reasoning and presents a well rounded account of this man, his crimes and trial and the aftermath. There is not the sensationalism found in some other Ripper books. As most of the book covers the poisoning crimes of Koslowski/Chapman this is a good source for those interested in true crimes, trials, and the 19th Century.
In a couple of places I found the descriptions and evidence a little too much, and a little too detailed but over all a fascinating read.
Recommended.
Does it provide an answer to this more-than-a-century old dilemma? Well read it and see....
The author cites her sources, justifies her reasoning and presents a well rounded account of this man, his crimes and trial and the aftermath. There is not the sensationalism found in some other Ripper books. As most of the book covers the poisoning crimes of Koslowski/Chapman this is a good source for those interested in true crimes, trials, and the 19th Century.
In a couple of places I found the descriptions and evidence a little too much, and a little too detailed but over all a fascinating read.
Recommended.
October 23, 2015
This is an extremely well-researched, engaging book; just wish it had a different title because Chapman/Klosowski is fascinating enough on his own without dragging the Jack the Ripper speculation into the story--but I understand why the author did so. Anyone interested in Victorian crime would appreciate this book.
August 19, 2022
This is one of the best suspect books I’ve come across. Logically laid out, exceptionally well researched & gripping from start to finish, the author has done a superb job of bringing together the facts. Illustrated throughout with both recent & past photos, it’s a read that gives plenty of food for thought & answers many questions. Brilliant.
October 7, 2022
This man was my great-great uncle.
April 5, 2025
great book until it just resulted into her trying to push her shabby at best wolff the ripper theory. yuck.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews