Francis J. Tumblety: Doctor? Fraud? Ripper?

In May 1903, a shabbily dressed old man checked himself into a St. Louis hospital claiming that “the only poor thing about me is my health.” Doctors weren’t sure what to make of this unusual patient who soon died with no mourners at his bedside. Francis J. Tumblety was indeed a wealthy man, a well-known “herb doctor” who had traveled extensively, been arrested for potential involvement in Lincoln’s assassination, and was widely known to be a potential suspect in the Jack the Ripper slayings of 1888. Join us as we examine the fascinating and eccentric character of Dr. Francis J. Tumblety, whose life is truly stranger than fiction.

This is my favorite picture of Dr. Tumblety, and the one that made my friend Laura drool. (LOL!)
Hawley, Michael, et al. “Dr. Francis Tumblety: One of the Best Jack the Ripper Suspects.” Historic Mysteries, 31 Mar. 2020, www.historicmysteries.com/amp/dr-francis-tumblety/.
Timothy B. Prince of Quacks: the Notorious Life of Dr. Francis Tumblety, Charlatan and Jack the Ripper Suspect. McFarland & Co., Publishers, 2009.
If you’re interested in the life of Tumblety, please check out this book by Timothy B. Riordan. It’s available on amazon.com.

Citations

“Always a Mystery.” The San Francisco Examiner, 19 Nov. 1888, p. 1.

“Arrested on Suspicion.” Evening Star, 19 Nov. 1888, p. 5.

“A Big Haul by Thieves.” St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat, 19 Apr. 1891, p. 5.

“Doctor Tumblety Arrested.” The Republic, 20 Nov. 1890, p. 1.

Dresbold, Michelle. “New Handwriting Evidence May Identify ‘Ripper’.” Pacific Daily News, 22 Nov. 2009, p. 15.

Holleman, Joe. “Did Jack the Ripper Have Ties to St. Louis?” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 4 Nov. 2001, p. 151.

“The Indian Herb Doctor Again.” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 19 June 1865, p. 2.

“The Indian Herb Doctor. More About Him. Full Particulars of His Arrest at St. Louis.” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 10 May 1865, p. 11.

“Jack the Ripper’s Eternal Resting Place in U.S.” The News Leader, 8 Nov. 2002, p. 9.

“Left Estate of $100,000.” Dakota Farmers’ Leader, 5 June 1903.

“Missing Tumblety.” Democrat and Chronicle, 3 Dec. 1888, p. 8.

“News to the Afflicted.” The Gazette, 12 Dec. 1857, p. 2.

“Personal Ad.” The Pittsburgh Daily Commercial, 17 Apr. 1872, p. 1.

Pitcher, John. “A Ripping Yarn.” Democrat and Chronicle, 31 Oct. 2002, p. 15.

Riordan, Timothy B. Prince of Quacks: the Notorious Life of Dr. Francis Tumblety, Charlatan and Jack the Ripper Suspect. McFarland & Co., Publishers, 2009.

“Root of Bitter Fight.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 28 June 1903, p. 14.

“Testimonials.” The Gazette, 28 Sept. 1857, p. 6.

Tremeear, Janice. Wicked St. Louis. History Press, 2011.

“Tumblety Turns Up.” The News, 4 Dec. 1888, p. 3.

“‘Dr.” Tumblety. A Mountebank Not Unknown in Buffalo Comes to Grief.” The Buffalo Commercial, 6 Apr. 1881, p. 2. “‘Jack the Ripper’ an American?” Chicago Tribune, 18 July 1995, p. 15.

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