Hidden Suspect - The Whitechapel Murders [Kindle Edition]

[lynn cates]

Hello David. No, that's not my meaning. It was a free floating story.

Cheers.
LC

[Debra A]

Hi Zagreus,
One of the problems I have is that the documents alluded to are not reproduced in the research at all. Therefore what proof does the reader have that the author hasn't just picked a random Whitechapel local and worked from there with the research?

[David Knott]

I downloaded it - how wrong can you go for 77p?

Interestingly the suspect appears to have signed a petition from the tradespeople of Whitechapel to the Home Secretary requesting an increase in Police in October 1888.

The facts about the suspect appear to check out OK on Ancestry.

Looks like a hoax though (details of the Nichols murder aren't quite right, for example)

[lynn cates]

Hello David. Are the mistaken details provided by the purported murderer? If not, minor errors would be expected.

Cheers.
LC

[David Knott]

Hi Lynn,

Yes, Not a lot of detail on the murders themselves but Sawyer supposedly claims to have cut Nicholls' throat while she was still upright - it is my understanding that the evidence overwhelming points to this having happened when she was on the ground.

I'll read the book properly later, only had a two minute scan through so far.

David

[DVV]

Originally Posted by David Knott

I downloaded it - how wrong can you go for 77p?

Indeed, David. Even if the suspect doesn't leave his mark on history, it should be remembered as the cheapest Ripper book ever.

[lynn cates]

Hello David. Indeed. There was no arterial spray and most of the blood had pooled near the body.

Cheers.
LC

[David Knott]

Just finished it.

Clearly if it is to be taken seriously then the original letter is going to have to be produced. The research looks pretty good, I don't know if it will stand up to close scrutiny ... I already have a few niggles: -

- The Nichols murder as mentioned above
- Sawyer met the other members of the occult lodge above a pub in Shoreditch in 1888. Whilst the internet reveals that one of them was previously the landlord, it also reveals that he then moved to a different pub, and was dead by 1887.
- Sawyer claims to have spent the time between the double event and the Kelly murder 'in solitude' and to have been unaware of the fervour that his crimes had caused, and yet during that time he signed the petition I mentioned in a previous post
- After committing the crimes as some kind of initiation, Sawyer never hears from the others again, and seems content to leave it at that (even though he knows where one of them lives)

Having said that, it's more convincing than Maybrick - if you've got a kindle I recommend you download it and make your own minds up!

[lynn cates]

Hello David. Thanks for the synopsis.

Those are some weighty objections; but, like so many, perhaps an explanation will be given.

I suppose I too must take the plunge.

Cheers.
LC

[GregBaron]

Hi all,

It's a worthy read and appears sincere. It hardly seems riches could be the motivation at a buck a book. It also invites research to back up his findings so the gauntlet has been thrown. Unfortunately, very little is mentioned of the murders themselves or how a hairdresser could so quickly acquire the mutilation skills ad hoc. I wonder if any photos of this fellow exist?

It seems we can't get rid of the mason-ettes whether we want to or not.

I second all David Knott's points as well. Overall, I don't know what to think...

Amazon allows one to download a pc version of the Kindle, a nice idea. One can then get a feel for the gadget before taking the plunge...



Greg