Jack The Ripper Hoax

Conspiracy theorists linking the Jack the Ripper killings to Freemasons (as depicted in the movie From Hell) overlook several important facts. First, many of those claimed to have been involved were not Freemasons. Second, Joseph Sickert, who originated the story, finally admitted it was a hoax in a comprehensive Times of London article. Also, Brother William Gull, alleged to have been the killer, was 72 years old and in poor health at the time of the crimes. Brother Gull had suffered a series of strokes and a heart attack prior to the time the killings started, and he would have been physically unable to commit the gruesome murders. In reality, Brother Gull was a standout physician who, among many other well-known accomplishments, is credited with saving the life of the Price of Wales with one of the first recorded uses of CPR.