Best solution?

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  • lynn cates
    Commisioner
    • Aug 2009
    • 13841

    #1

    Best solution?

    Hello All. Having just finished Andrew Cook’s book on the ripper, I thought it time to discuss his thesis that Best wrote the “Dear Boss.”

    In the book, Cook provides a sample of Best’s handwriting. Whilst not an expert on hands, I must confess that the sample looks closer to the handwriting in the “Dear Boss” than my three samples which include Hurlbert, Bulling and Moore.

    So, here is my question. “If Best really did write the ‘Dear Boss’, is the tentative motive put forward by Cook, namely, that he did it to “spite” the Central News Agency, credible?

    In my mind, this motive seems a bit cold and lifeless. Curious about what others think.

    Cheers.
    LC
  • Simon Wood
    Commissioner
    • Feb 2008
    • 5551

    #2
    Hi Lynn,

    Best's handwriting must have been familiar to his press colleagues, so would he really have been dumb enough to pen the DB missive?

    Regards,

    Simon
    Never believe anything until it has been officially denied.

    Comment

    • lynn cates
      Commisioner
      • Aug 2009
      • 13841

      #3
      logical

      Hello Simon. Sounds logical to me. I cannot quite understand the motive Cook attributes to him. In fact, a good many of the motives for the DB I've seen are beyond my comprehension.

      Cheers.
      LC

      Comment

      • Bridewell
        Commissioner
        • Apr 2011
        • 4038

        #4
        Hi Lynn,

        I'm actually quite sceptical about the Dear Boss having been written by a journalist at all. The style is that typically taught at the time, with no obvious individual flourishes of the sort you might expect a journalist to develop during the course of his work. As you say, the suggested motive is unconvincing.

        Regards, Bridewell.
        I won't always agree but I'll try not to be disagreeable.

        Comment

        • Simon Wood
          Commissioner
          • Feb 2008
          • 5551

          #5
          Hi All,

          Just a crass notion, but Best couldn't have profited financially or enhanced his career prospects by writing DB without letting someone else in on the wheeze.

          Also, if Jack the Ripper was nothing but a press invention cooked up to boost newspaper circulation, why years later were assorted top cops pretending he was real?

          Regards,

          Simon
          Never believe anything until it has been officially denied.

          Comment

          • lynn cates
            Commisioner
            • Aug 2009
            • 13841

            #6
            journalist

            Hello Bridewell. Thanks.

            If not a journalist, then whom?

            Cheers.
            LC

            Comment

            • lynn cates
              Commisioner
              • Aug 2009
              • 13841

              #7
              financial

              Hello Simon. Thanks.

              "Just a crass notion, but Best couldn't have profited financially or enhanced his career prospects by writing DB without letting someone else in on the wheeze."

              Completely agree. Although "The Star" and other papers did alright from the various stories, I can't see his sending the DB to the CNA for financial gain

              "Also, if Jack the Ripper was nothing but a press invention cooked up to boost newspaper circulation, why years later were assorted top cops pretending he was real?"

              Excellent question.

              Cheers.
              LC

              Comment

              • Simon Wood
                Commissioner
                • Feb 2008
                • 5551

                #8
                Hi Lynn,

                Thanks.

                This won't win me any friends but, like it or not, the invention of JtR points to the cops.

                Why?

                That is the real mystery.

                The rest is bunkum.

                Regards,

                Simon
                Never believe anything until it has been officially denied.

                Comment

                • lynn cates
                  Commisioner
                  • Aug 2009
                  • 13841

                  #9
                  which?

                  Hello Simon. Are we talking about the Met or the City lads?

                  Cheers.
                  LC

                  Comment

                  • Simon Wood
                    Commissioner
                    • Feb 2008
                    • 5551

                    #10
                    Hi Lynn,

                    There has to have been a degree of cooperation.

                    After all, we only think we know what the WM was all about.

                    Regards,

                    Simon
                    Never believe anything until it has been officially denied.

                    Comment

                    • lynn cates
                      Commisioner
                      • Aug 2009
                      • 13841

                      #11
                      We only thought we knew.

                      Hello Simon.

                      "After all, we only think we know what the WM was all about."

                      What, no definitely ascertained fact? (heh-heh)

                      Cheers.
                      LC

                      Comment

                      • Roy Corduroy
                        Chief Inspector
                        • Mar 2008
                        • 1654

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Simon Wood View Post
                        the invention of JtR points to the cops.
                        Oh I see. Have you been able to fit the Dear Boss letter to a specific policeman's handwriting, Simon?

                        Roy
                        Sink the Bismark

                        Comment

                        • Simon Wood
                          Commissioner
                          • Feb 2008
                          • 5551

                          #13
                          Hi Lynn,

                          Which particular definitely ascertained fact was that?

                          Regards,

                          Simon
                          Never believe anything until it has been officially denied.

                          Comment

                          • lynn cates
                            Commisioner
                            • Aug 2009
                            • 13841

                            #14
                            humour

                            Hello Simon. Just a bit of humour about the WCM.

                            Cheers.
                            LC

                            Comment

                            • Simon Wood
                              Commissioner
                              • Feb 2008
                              • 5551

                              #15
                              Hi Roy,

                              Of course I have. But if I told you I'd have to kill you.

                              Regards,

                              Simon
                              Never believe anything until it has been officially denied.

                              Comment

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