The press, what they knew and how they knew it.

[Wickerman]

No, Jon, the article I was alluding to was published in "Le Gaulois". A long and fascinating one. And very clear as to Moore's opinion.

Cheers

Ok Dave, then possibly one I have not seen, do you have a copy?

[DVV]

Here it is, Jon - you'll find the translation by Chris Scott post #5

http://forum.casebook.org/showthread.php?t=3900

[Wickerman]

Ok Dave, and thanks for the link.

So, on the subject of where they might find the murderer, you agreed with Garry that it was Moore's opinion that the killer would inhabit any one of the local lodging-houses.

Agreed, and that was also Henry Moore's (firm) opinion.

Cheers

So yes, in the 1891 foreign article Moore apparently said words to that effect:
"Anyway, it is in these lodging houses that Mr. Moore expects to find the elusive criminal."

Well, in 1899 Moore is apparently quoted as declaring:
"Well, so far as I can make out, he was a mad foreign sailor,who paid periodical visits to London on board ship. He committed the crimes and then went back to his ship and remembered nothing about them."

So, where do we go from here?

[DVV]

Jon, I think we can forgive him for having been the first disciple of Trevor.

[Wickerman]

Jon, I think we can forgive him for having been the first disciple of Trevor.

So, we are not exclusively shackled to the possibility that the killer only inhabited lodging-houses?

I didn't think so..

[DVV]

The article was published in 1891, but the described tour is from September 1889.

As you have noted, Moore 1899 had an outlandish theory in mind. So he's not saying that the murderer couldn't be a dosser.
You have also noted that in 1889, Moore's opinion refers to vast lodging houses, where dossers were "just numbers".
It may directly refer to the VH, and at least, it includes the VH.

Cheers

[Wickerman]

The article was published in 1891, but the described tour is from September 1889.

As you have noted, Moore 1899 had an outlandish theory in mind. So he's not saying that the murderer couldn't be a dosser.
You have also noted that in 1889, Moore's opinion refers to vast lodging houses, where dossers were "just numbers".
It may directly refer to the VH, and at least, it includes the VH.

Cheers

It is likely a fair bet, and an obvious avenue for investigation, that if you are looking for a male killer you would include the locations where the most men are gathered together in one place.

You can hardly ignore the lodging-houses, but in the same vein there is no reason we should suppose that because they were targeted that the police thought this was where the killer fled to as opposed to a private dwelling.

In fact the opposite is true, after the double murder wasn't there 80,000 handbills printed for distribution throughout private houses addressed, "to the occupier", across the East End?

The investigation was far broader than some 'theorists' prefer to acknowledge.

[DVV]

Don't reverse things, Jon.
Unless I've misunderstood, the question was : Would a large lodging house such as the VH be a good hide for JtR ?
And the answer is : yes, apparently it was worth searching there - but difficult, precisely because it would have been a very good place to stay, for the murderer. He would have been "just a number" there.
Not to say he couldn't live elsewhere, of course.

Cheers

[Wickerman]

Dave.
I believe the words chosen by Garry were "most likely" and "we have powerful confirmation as to the viability of the Victoria Home as the Ripper's lair."

In truth Harris did not display enough case knowledge to even outshine the London press, one should really question the origin of the story.

Of course, for anyone backing a horse that runs from the Victoria Home stables then....

[DRoy]

Jon,

Regarding Harris, whomever he may be, still shared with the reporter information about unsolved murders. Why else use an alias unless he felt he was saying things he shouldn't? The entire article is a lie?

Cheers
DRoy

[Wickerman]

Jon,

Regarding Harris, whomever he may be, still shared with the reporter information about unsolved murders. Why else use an alias unless he felt he was saying things he shouldn't? The entire article is a lie?

Cheers
DRoy

Hi DRoy.

A reporter will suggest an alias as a cover for the fact the story is bogus. He couldn't in truth credit the story to a detective who can expose him.

Sorry, I knew you wouldn't appreciate my comment but, I call it as I see it

[DRoy]

Jon,

You could very well be right, although I don't think so. I find it difficult to believe it's fiction or that anyone would purposely make up such a story. The article isn't just about 'The Ripper' which makes it more real to me. The inventor of such a story you'd think stick with the WM instead of going in all sorts of directions.

It's a bit too conspiracy theory for me Jon to suggest it a hoax.

Cheers
DRoy

[Cogidubnus]

The Le Gaulois article is fascinating...it proves the Met "dined out" on the JtR case, and lends at least some credence to other tales of Ripper-related East End tours, whether conducted under genuine identities or not...

All the best

Dave

[DVV]

Yes Dave, and Richard Harding Davis made a Ripper-tour with Moore not long before. About one week before the discovering of the Pinchin Street torso, if I'm correct.

Cheers

[Wickerman]

Jon,

You could very well be right, although I don't think so. I find it difficult to believe it's fiction or that anyone would purposely make up such a story. The article isn't just about 'The Ripper' which makes it more real to me. The inventor of such a story you'd think stick with the WM instead of going in all sorts of directions.

It's a bit too conspiracy theory for me Jon to suggest it a hoax.

Cheers
DRoy

Window dressing perhaps?

We do know reporters were writing about Whitechapel across the world, the premise of the story about a visiting reporter is possibly true. When we originally discussed this the main point of controversy was whether police officials shared inside information with the press.
Nothing Harris shares with the reporter can be classed as inside information, and as this guided tour around Whitechapel is the central theme to the story then we should perhaps question the words of the guide.