Abberline: The Man Who Hunted Jack the Ripper

The name Frederick George Abberline has become synonymous with that of Jack the Ripper, and he has been portrayed as everything from an alcoholic, to a drug addict, a womanizer, and a bully. In reality, Abberline was a devoted husband and a dedicated policeman in a time of rampant corruption. Furthermore, the Whitechapel murders were not the only notorious cases he worked on. From his humble origins as a clockmaker, to his rise through the ranks of the Metropolitan Police, Abberline's story is one of a man who lead some of the most infamous investigations in criminal history. Long before the Ripper, Abberline infiltrated an Irish terrorist group known as the Fenians. When he retired from the police at the age of 49, Abberline had received 84 commendations and awards, a testament to his tenacity and ability.Read less