Forensic Psychology For Dummies (55 page)

The murderer must have been a man of physical strength and great coolness and daring. There is no evidence he had an accomplice. He must in my opinion be a man subject to periodic attacks of homicidal and erotic mania. The character of the mutilations indicates that the man may be in a condition sexually that may be called Satyriasis. It is of course possible that the homicidal impulse may have developed from a revengeful or brooding condition of mind, or that religious mania may have been the original disease but I do not think either hypothesis is likely. The murderer in external appearance is quite likely to be a quiet inoffensive looking man probably middle-aged and neatly and respectably dressed. I think he might be in the habit of wearing a cloak or overcoat or he could hardly have escaped notice in the streets if the blood on his hands or clothes were visible.

Assuming the murderer be such a person as I have just described, he would be solitary and eccentric in his habits, also he is likely to be a man without regular occupation, but with some small income or pension. He is possibly living among respectable persons who have some knowledge of his character and habits and who may have grounds for suspicion that he is not quite right in his mind at times. Such persons would probably be unwilling to communicate suspicions to the police for fear of trouble or notoriety, whereas if there were prospect of reward it might overcome their scruples.

Notes of examination of body of woman found murdered and mutilated in Dorset Street, date stamped 16 November 1888, MEPO 3/3153.

By modern standards this description is perfectly sensible, except for the allusion to Satyriasis and erotic mania, which aren’t common medical terms these days (although ‘heightened sex drive’ may be an acceptable substitute term). Today’s experts may also debate whether the violent mutilations that gave the killer the nickname ‘ripper’ are more likely to relate to sadism or indeed psychosis (which I discuss in Chapter 2) rather than sexual desires.

For comparison, here’s Conan Doyle’s ‘profile’ for Jack the Ripper and his advice to the police:

He’s been in America.

He’s educated, not a toiler.

He’s accustomed to the use of a pen.

He likely has a rough knowledge of surgery.

He probably clothes himself as a woman to approach victims without arousing suspicion and to escape the crime without detection.

He’ll have written letters over his own name (meaning, with his real name on them) or other documents that could be traced to him.

Facsimiles of his handwriting from letters sent to the police should be published in the newspapers because someone may recognise the handwriting.

The Jack the Ripper murders have never been solved to everyone’s satisfaction, although theories abound. Until they’re solved, no one can tell how valid the ‘profiles’ were. One thing’s certain though: they weren’t much use in getting the villain caught!

The mad bomber of New York

The most famous modern ‘offender profile’ was of ‘The mad bomber of New York’. This instance stimulated the myths of the power of ‘profiles’ because it was claimed to have solved a serious crime series.

Over a 16-year period in the 1940s and 1950s, homemade bombs were left in public places around New York. Letters claiming to come from the bomber were sent to the
New York Herald Tribune
saying that the bombs would continue until the Consolidated Edison Company ‘brought justice for the bomber’. They didn’t say exactly what sort of justice but it was clear the writer of the letters felt he’d been badly treated by Consolidated Edison. The police kept information about these bombings relatively quiet, but when they called in the psychiatrist James Brussel he recommended that they use the news media to see whether anyone was able to identify the bomber. You didn’t need to be a genius (or even a psychiatrist) to realise that the perpetrator was somewhat peeved with Consolidated Edison, but Brussel gave this simple idea some impetus. From an examination of the letters the bomber had sent, and other information about his actions, Brussel proposed that the person possessed the following characteristics:

Male (because most bombers are male).

Has knowledge of metalworking, pipefitting and electricity.

Suffered an injustice by Consolidated Edison, which had rendered him chronically ill.