Answer: Dear Boss Letters
During the terrifying autumn of 1888, as London’s East End shuddered under the shadow of Jack the Ripper, the city’s already anxious mood was further electrified by a series of letters sent to newspapers and police. The most famous—and infamous—of these is what we now call the “Dear Boss” letter.
The letter got its name from its very first words: “Dear Boss.” Written in blood-red ink (though later analysis would suggest it was ordinary red ink), the letter was sent to the Central News Agency and dated September 25, 1888. Its author claimed responsibility for the gruesome murders and taunted the police, ending with a chilling line: “Yours truly, Jack the Ripper.” This was the very first time the name “Jack the Ripper” appeared anywhere, and it stuck—searing itself into the public imagination and the world’s collective nightmares.
A few days later, the infamous “Saucy Jacky” postcard and the grisly “From Hell” letter arrived, each playing up the persona of the mysterious killer. But it was the “Dear Boss” letter that truly set off a media firestorm. The press published the letter in full, hoping for public tips—but all it did was fan the flames of panic, fascination, and rumor. Suddenly, the killer was no longer a faceless monster. He was a writer, too—someone who might walk among you, might stand next to you in the fog, might even send you a letter.
Was the “Dear Boss” letter actually written by Jack the Ripper? That’s still debated. Some experts think it was a hoax, perhaps written by a journalist looking to boost circulation. Others argue the details were too precise to be invented. Either way, the letter changed everything: it branded the killer with a catchy, horrifying name, and it turned the case into a sensation that’s never faded.
So, while dozens—maybe even hundreds—of letters poured in over the following months, many written by pranksters or people seeking attention, the “Dear Boss” letter stands alone. It’s the letter that gave Jack the Ripper his infamous name, and it remains one of the most iconic pieces of true crime history.
