The Legend of Jack the Ripper

Bonus Chapter

How Does Dr. Thomas Bond Fit the Bill?

1.After returning from the Prussian War in 1867, he set up practice in Westminster and was appointed Surgeon to the Metropolitan A Division. Ironically, his house was close to the police headquarters. His wife was the daughter of the Chief Justice, deeply rooting him within the proximity of police and their investigation into the Ripper murders. This connection allowed him to be well aware of police patrols and shifts.

2. Dr. Bond was an experienced hunter, actively participating in stag hunts. Hunting involves gutting carcasses, similar to what the Ripper did with his victims. His frequent travels in and out of the city could be an added advantage to his capability to carry out the murders.

3. Though there’s no definitive proof of his motive, one notable detail is his involvement with the London Lock Hospital. Now, this was a specialized hospital for treating venereal diseases in women, particularly prostitutes. The hospital was notorious for inhumanly torturing many women of lower social stature. It’s possible that some of the Ripper victims made their way to this hospital, and Dr. Bond may have known them personally.

4. On October 25, 1888, Robert Anderson asked Dr. Bond to examine the Ripper case and sent him copies of inquest reports from the murders of Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, and Catherine Eddowes.  However, Bond only replied on November 10, 1888, a day after the Ripper's final murder. A great coincidence indeed.

5. Another interesting fact is that Dr. Bond was exposed to similar murders from an early stage in his career, such as the cases of Julia Martha Thomas and Kate Webster. By the time of the Ripper murders, he was experienced and knowledgeable about such crimes and was aware of the mistakes they made, which ultimately resulted in the arrest of Kate Webster.

6. A witness in the inquest of Mary Kelly murder described her client as a man approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, with a pale complexion, dark eyes, a small mustache, and dark hair, dressed respectably in a long, dark coat with a collar and cuffs adorned with astrakhan. Dr. Bond was known to dress neatly, often in coats and hats, and had a respectable appearance, likely due to his military background and his upper-class upbringing.

7. Being a military doctor and an experienced surgeon with a keen interest in hunting, Dr. Bond could easily stalk, subdue, and kill an unsuspecting victim. The mutilations or organ removal would have been a simple task for someone of his expertise.

8. As the son-in-law of the Chief Justice and a police surgeon, Dr. Bond could avoid suspicion, using his status as an alibi. He could move freely without raising concerns about his behaviour or whereabouts at late hours, especially since he knew the area well and could hide in plain sight, much like a hunter.

9. Dr. Bond was once participated in the Prussian War. Having participated in the Prussian War, Dr. Bond may have developed post-war traumatic stress. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a common issue among soldiers. Stress and depression could lead to irrational thinking, and he may have perceived the Ripper's victims, women of a particular class, as threats to his world and to society.

10. Accounts from those who knew Dr. Bond personally suggests that his choice to become a doctor was influenced by a traumatic experience on June 20, 1858, when a train accident resulted in the death of a 40-year-old man and his 22-year-old niece. Bond reportedly assisted in holding limbs steady for amputation, which sparked his medical career. Early exposure to such traumatic experiences may have played a significant role in his psychological development, possibly leading to severe psychopathic traits as seen in other similar cases, such as Jeffrey Dahmer.

11. Dr. Bond often recounted his experiences with his teacher, Sir William Fergusson, a renowned surgeon at King's College Hospital. In one story, Fergusson nicked a carotid artery and instructed Bond to stop the spurting blood with his finger. In another, Fergusson accidentally cut an artery, leading to a leg amputation. Dr. Bond’s lack of concern for the patient in these situations could indicate sociopathic and sadistic tendencies. Individuals with sadistic personalities often display recurrent aggression and cruel behaviour, using violence to control and dominate others, suggesting that Bond possessed the mental capacity to perform such gruesome acts.

12. Although not evident but if you observe his report, it suggests very clear and consistent information that justifies the Rippers personality. Now, no part of this report suggests any evidence of the Rippers' knowledge regarding anatomy, so it could be a way to disintegrate investigators and send them away from him.

13. Dr. Bond’s surgical background gave him an extensive understanding of human anatomy. The precise nature of the Ripper's mutilations, especially the removal of specific organs with a clear approach, suggests the work of someone with advanced anatomical knowledge and surgical skill, both of which Bond possessed.

14. As a surgeon, Dr. Bond had access to the best surgical instruments that could have been used in the Ripper murders. The precision of the cuts and the removal of organs indicate that specialized tools were likely employed, tools which Bond would have been familiar with and had easy access to.

15. Dr. Bond was known to have been deeply involved in the Ripper case, almost obsessively so. His detailed analysis of the murders and his attempt to construct a psychological profile of the killer could be seen as an effort to both understand and perhaps justify his actions if he were indeed the murderer.

16. It would be worth investigating Bond’s whereabouts during the nights of the Ripper murders. His professional status might have allowed him to move freely at odd hours without suspicion, but the absence of a solid alibi could strengthen the case against him. Though  it might be relatively difficult.

17. While Dr. Bond himself contributed to the development of early criminal profiling. Ironically, the profile of the Ripper—a person with great coolness and daring, a possible history of trauma, and a methodical approach—could also describe Bond himself. His calm demeanour, control over his emotions, and military precision could align with the characteristics of the Ripper.

18. Dr. Bonds' opinions are often deferred from other doctors and specialists and one noteworthy characteristic of psychopaths. Studies show that, Psychopaths tend to have a lack of empathy and a strong need for control, which makes them uninterested in other people's opinions. Their decision-making often revolves around their own goals and desires, so they may disregard or reject viewpoints that don't align with their own. This behaviour is largely due to their own sense of superiority and autonomy.