Jack the Ripper Suspect – Joseph Barnett

Joseph Barnett was a fish porter at Billingsgate Market. He was born in the East End of London, in 1858. by the Summer of 1888, Joseph Barnett was living with Mary Jane Kelly at 13 Miller’s Court, Dorset Street.

In July 1888, Barnett lost his license as a fish porter, apparently for theft. On October 30th 1888, Barnett and Kelly had an argument, and Barnett moved out of 13 Miller’s Court, and went to live in Bishopsgate.

Between leaving Mary Kelly, and her death on November 9 1888, Barnett visited Kelly regularly. He gave her money and they seemed to be on good terms.

On November 9th 1888, Mary Jane Kelly was found murdered at 13 Miller’s Court.

The fact that Joseph Barnett was Mary Jane Kelly’s recently estranged partner, would automatically make him suspect No 1. However, Barnett was arrested and interrogated by the Police for four hours after the murder of Mary Kelly. The Police of the day seemed to be satisfied with his testimony and they don’t appear to have suspected him further.

There doesn’t seem to be any record of Barnett’s actual Witness statement. Perhaps it is one of the many documents that have gone missing, lost, or burnt over the years, but one must presume that he had a plausible alibi.

Conclusion: Joseph Barnett was not Jack the Ripper.