It has been a mystery for decades.
Where was prime Jack the Ripper suspect, Francis Tumblety born? The quack doctor, charlatan and liar claimed he was born "near Dublin" but he was always vague about his connection with Ireland. Over time, as other researchers tried and failed to find any evidence of him or his life in the old sod, I guessed they might be searching in the wrong place or at least the wrong city. The Irish name "Tumblety" with its many spellings originated in Ireland's border counties: Cavan, Fermanagh and Down so I began my search in that region. A letter to the Anglo-Celt newspaper asking for help solved the puzzle. More specifially, a midnight phonecall from a Cavan woman led me to write the story "Jack the Ripper - Francis Tumblety's Cavan Origins". You can read this story published in the Anglo-Celt newspaper here.
Tumblety posing as a Union soldier in the 1860s |