Arthur Weaversbrook

"Miss Frye... I have helped spread the Ripper's terror through my newspapers. I want to make amends for my part in forging this monster's legend."

―Arthur vowing to put a stop to Jack the Ripper's terror, 1888.

Arthur Weaversbrook (born 1848) was the owner of Weaversbrook Publishing, which gained a large readership during the Autumn of Terror thanks to its graphic coverage of Jack the Ripper's crimes. When Jack threatened his family, Arthur had no choice but to enforce the serial killer's hold over London by publishing letters that terrified the populace.

Biography

Early life

Born in 1848, Arthur was the son of Malcolm Weaversbrook, who had learned the printing trade in Germany. Malcolm subsequently started his own publishing company on Fleet Street, soon acquiring a newspaper after its former publisher failed to entice enough readers. Following in his father's footsteps, Arthur became one of the first to sell penny papers in London. At some point, he got married and had a son, who also became a journalist.

Autumn of Terror

Jacob: "Mr. Weaversbrook, I know you have more of the Ripper's letters."

Arthur: "I told you to stay away from me..."

Jacob: "Stop publishing his letters... You've turned an unknown miscreant into a legend--and that's exactly what he wants."

—Jacob trying to convince Arthur to stop publishing the Ripper's letters, 1888.

Jacob requesting Arthur to stop his publishings

The Whitechapel murders began in late Autumn 1888, starting with Mary Ann Nichols' killing on 31 August. Almost a month later on 27 September, various publishing companies received copies of the "Dear Boss" letter from the purported killer and signed with "Jack the Ripper". Arthur, too, got a hold of such letters and showed them to the Metropolitan Police Service. With police desperate for leads, Arthur had the letter published in his newspapers, hoping someone could identify the handwriting.

The papers quickly enraptured the citizens, causing the readership of Arthur's printing company to rapidly outgrow that of the other publishing companies in the city. However, Jack had learned of Arthur's involvement with the police and contacted him, threatening to kill the newspaper proprietor if he continued to aid in their investigation. Arthur complied and found himself forced to help the madman by publishing more of the "Ripper's letters" and covering the murders extensively; as a result, Jack the Ripper became infamous among the citizens.

As unrest grew in Whitechapel and the police came under fire for being unable to catch the serial killer, Arthur was contacted by Jacob Frye, who repeatedly urged the newspaper proprietor to stop publishing the letters. Fearing for his life and family, Arthur ignored the Assassin's warnings, but when his son echoed the same sentiment, he acquiesced. In retaliation, Jack had Arthur's son kidnapped.

Evie's return

Evie: "Fear is a powerful weapon, it makes us irrational and tears us apart... Jack crafted those letters to do just that. We can't let him win."

Arthur: "You sound as if you know this monster."

Evie: "Well enough to kill him. In more ways than one, we have both helped to create a monster."

—Arthur and Evie talking about Jack the Ripper, 1888.

Arthur tracked down by Evie

Arthur had reporters look into his son's disappearance, to no avail. He subsequently met with some of Jack's Rooks, pleading with them to spare his boy. They retorted that Arthur should have continued printing the letters, at which point Evie Frye intervened and took out the Rooks. Initially afraid, the newspaper proprietor ran off, but the Assassin caught up to him and explained herself.

Evie interrogated him on the status of the Templars who he was photographed with, leading Arthur to reveal that they had either been killed or were being held prisoner. He then pleaded with Evie to save his son, to which the Assassin agreed. As they rode to the place where his son had last been seen, Arthur explained his involvement with Jack and Jacob.

Upon arriving at the docks, Evie set off and freed Arthur's son from his captors. Immensely grateful, Arthur worked with Evie to eliminate the Ripper's influence over London, alerting the Assassin to several letters that were purportedly written by Jack. Evie would then locate the senders and convince them to cease publishing such missives, thus putting a stop to the atmosphere of paranoia they were creating. Arthur also had Evie eliminate Jack's lieutenants and shut down the Rooks' smuggling trades.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Syndicate – Jack the Ripper