Background
Lusk was the son of Margaret Elizabeth (née Murray) (born 1807) and John Arthur Lusk (born 1803), a solicitor"s clerk.
Lusk was the son of Margaret Elizabeth (née Murray) (born 1807) and John Arthur Lusk (born 1803), a solicitor"s clerk.
They had seven children: Albert Arthur Lusk (1863-1930). Walter Leopold Lusk (1865-1923). George Alfred Lusk (1870-1918).
Edith Rose Lusk (1872-?).
Maud Florence B. Lusk (1875-1967). Selina Grace Lusk (1877-?), and Lilian Violet Lusk (1881-1962).
Lusk was a Freemason, having been initiated into the Doric Lodge on 14 April 1882, but he was excluded from his membership of the Lodge in 1889 for non-payment of dues. Lusk was elected by other local businessmen who made up the Committee on 10 September 1888.
His name was printed on the numerous posters pasted up around Whitechapel appealing for information during the murders.
He and the Committee"s Treasurer, Joseph Aarons, wrote a letter to The Daily Telegraph, addressed to the then Home Secretary Henry Matthews, stating that the offer of a substantial reward from the government would "convince the poor and humble residents of our East-end that the government authorities are as much anxious to avenge the blood of these unfortunate women as they were the assassination of Lord Cavendish and Mr Burke."
In October 1888 Lusk came to believe that his house was being watched by a sinister bearded man, and requested police protection. He received a small package in the evening mail at his home, 1 Alderney Road, Mile End. On opening the package he found a letter addressed to himself, inside which was half a human kidney.
The letter read:
"From hell
Mr Lusk
Sor
I send you half the Kidne I took from one women prasarved it for you the other piece I fried and ate it was very nice I may send you the bloody knif that took it out if you only wate a while longer
signed
Catch me when you can Mishter Lusk"
This letter is referred to as the "" by Ripperologists.
Convinced the letter was a practical joke, Lusk placed the box and the kidney in his desk drawer. Joseph Aarons, West Harris and two other members called Reeves and Lawton visited Lusk at home to inspect the letter and the kidney.
Lusk wanted to throw both away, but he was persuaded to take them to Doctor Frederick Wiles, who had a surgery nearby on the Mile End Road. Wiles was out, so his assistant, F South Reed examined the contents of the box and took the kidney to Doctor Thomas Horrocks Openshaw at the nearby London Hospital.
The kidney was handed over to the City Police in whose jurisdiction Catherine Eddowes had been murdered.
Lusk is also mentioned in the 17 September 1888 "Dear Boss" letter, but this letter is regarded by many Ripperologists as being a modern hoax. In the 1988 made for television film Jack the Ripper, starring Michael Caine, Lusk was played by Michael Gothard. During the film, Lusk is portrayed as a violent Marxist and power hungry politician, though in real life he was known for his peaceful nature.
In the 2001 film From Hell, starring Johnny Depp, Lusk was played by Vincent Franklin.
In British Broadcasting Corporation One"s Ripper Street (2013) he was played by Michael Smiley.
At a meeting of the Vigilance Committee the next day he showed it to other members of the Committee.