Best solution?

[lynn cates]

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]

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

[lynn cates]

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

[Bridewell]

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.

[Simon Wood]

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

[lynn cates]

journalist

Hello Bridewell. Thanks.

If not a journalist, then whom?

Cheers.
LC

[lynn cates]

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

[Simon Wood]

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

[lynn cates]

which?

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

Cheers.
LC

[Simon Wood]

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

[lynn cates]

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

[Roy Corduroy]

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

[Simon Wood]

Hi Lynn,

Which particular definitely ascertained fact was that?

Regards,

Simon

[lynn cates]

humour

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

Cheers.
LC

[Simon Wood]

Hi Roy,

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

Regards,

Simon