most experts dismiss this as a modern hoax. On 30 September 1888, the committee members wrote to the government under Lord Salisbury in an attempt to persuade them to offer a reward for information leading to the apprehension of the Ripper. When the Home Secretary Henry Matthews refused this request, the committee offered its own reward. The committee also employed two private detectives, Mr. Le Grand (or Grand) and Mr. J. H. Batchelor, to investigate the murders without the involvement of the police. Correspondence The "From Hell" letter, which was sent with half of a preserved human kidney, was personally addressed to Lusk, who received the parcel on 16 October 1888. The letter was postmarked on the previous day. Many scholars of the Ripper murders regard this letter as being the communication most likely to have been sent by the actual murderer. See also List of serial killers before 1900 Vigilantism References Cited works and further reading Begg, Paul (2006). Jack the Ripper: The Facts. London: Anova Books. Eddleston, John J. (2002). Jack the Ripper: An Encyclopedia. London: Metro Books. Evans, Stewart P.; Skinner, Keith (2001). Jack the Ripper: Letters from Hell. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing. Lightbody, Bryan (2007). Whitechapel. Milton Keynes: Author House Publishing. External links The Whitechapel Vigilance Committee on the Casebook: Jack the Ripper website The Whitechapel Vigilance Committee on the London Walks website 1888 establishments in England 1888 in London Jack the Ripper Vigilantism Vigilance Committee