Octobers meeting enjoyed a talk by Adam Wood on Jack the Ripper, an interest inspired on discovering his great grandfather, born in London's east end, had seen the body of one of Jack the Ripper's victims.

The topic could be salacious but Adam focused on the social implications and the police investigations. This is an era where populist newspapers were booming and police methods were evolving to become more recognisably modern.

One horribly recognisable facet of this, possibly due to the police's initial reluctance to involve the press, was the creation of a completely mythical character by the newspapers. A person nicknamed "Leather apron" was printed as the prime suspect, complete with illustration. Circulation soared as readers sought the latest on the Whitechapel murders. Rather inconvenient for a real local person with that moniker who successfully sued the papers for libel.

Later taunting letters sent to the press purporting to be from a "Jack the Ripper" also seem rather suspicious. At least the papers were developing the knack of catchy clickbait.

For the police, the increasingly gruesome murders also involved the first crime scene photograph and the appointment of Chief Inspector Donald Swanson from Scotland Yard to coordinate the enquiry.

So who was the murderer? Was there more than one culprit or more connected murders? Outlandish theories abound aided by a lack of records (at least compared to today) But the murders ceased and later commentary by Swanson and others seem to suggest the police had multiple suspects and were satisfied they were either dead or committed to an asylum.

The lack of a conviction, along with sensational press reporting has led to the case becoming iconic and creating it's own mythology and bogey man. That fascination suggests the social implications of the case continue on into modern times.