Was the Ripper German?

[Chriswald]

Hello there,

I always found it peculiar that the author of the From-Hell-Letter used the phrase "Catch me WHEN you can". Isn't the right english Version "Catch me IF you can"? Or are there any varieties? I'm asking, because I am german myself and may be mistaken.

You have to know that "if" is translated into the word "wenn" in German, which is pronounced like the english word "when". So it would make sense to me, that this mistake could be easily made by a german-speaking author. What do you think?

Greetings

Chriswald

[Robert]

Hi Chriswald and welcome

I think an argument against your point, is that the writer actually says just before the "catch me when you can," "if you only wate a whil longer" - so he would be making a mistake just after he failed to make a mistake.

[Bridewell]

A good point, Chris. Ich kann auch ein Bisschen Deutsch, und das habe ich selbst nie bemerkt. Robert's observation about the writer's earlier correct use of 'if' is difficult to overcome though.

Welcome to the Boards!

[Phil H]

But

"Catch me IF you can"; and

"Catch me WHEN you can":

Are both grammatical and senible English constructions and both make sense. One is about possibility, the other is about TIME.

BUT the second phrase already referred to - "if you only wate a whil longer" - is also about TIME and thus seems to confirm the latter reading.

Phil

[Chriswald]

You're right "Catch me WHEN you can" ist a grammatical construction, but ist it really a common expression? Even in connection with the use of "if you only wate a whil longer"? In Germany we only know the expression "Fang mich, WENN du kannst!". Maybe I'm a little stubborn but for me it would fit just too well: The many wrong spellings, the use of the word "when" instead of "if" (which is a very common mistake among Germans who are not used to speak English) and many witnesses described him as "foreign looking"...

[Phil H]

There are also indications in the correspondence that the writer wants people to believe he's Irish.

They can't all be right!!

And people tend to say what they mean even if it is slightly unusual grammatically!!

Phil

[Sherlock Holmes]

I am conducting research in to this case as I have done for years. The only German suspect I have come across is one Carl Fagenbauhn (apologies for the spelling). He was a German Midshipman who was making frequent trips between Germany, the dutch isles and London. Is he in your highly valued opinion a credible suspect. If not why not?

Mr Holmes

[Phil H]

Is he not the suspect Trevor Marriot wrote a book about?

If so, I think you'll find that Trevor himself has now dropped him.

Phil

[Bridewell]

Is he not the suspect Trevor Marriot wrote a book about?

If so, I think you'll find that Trevor himself has now dropped him.

Phil

He is indeed Trevor's preferred suspect in "Jack the Ripper - The 21st Century Investigation". If Trevor's moved on from Feigenbaum it would be interesting to know why.

[Bridewell]

Mishter

Getting back to the Lusk Letter, I've always wondered why he addresses Lusk as "Mishter". It's a wrong spelling, obviously, but not even a phonetic one. Does anyone know if Lusk had a speech impediment which the writer might have been mocking?

On balance, I don't think there's much in the letter to suggest that the writer was German, although Chriswald is entirely correct in saying that 'if' in English translates as 'wenn' in German. I think the 'Catch me when you can' reference is just an idiosyncratic variation of the usual wording. Alternatively the writer is implying that Lusk has missed (or will miss) an opportunity to apprehend him.

[Phil H]

The old explanation was that "Sor" and "Mishter" were stage "Irishisms" employed by the journalist who wrote the items.

Phil

[Phil H]

On Feigenbaum

See this thread dated 02-10-2013, 09:44 PM :

http://forum.casebook.org/showthread.php?p=253211&highlight=Feigenbaum#post253211

where Lynn Cates wrote: "Trevor dumped Feigenbaum some time ago."

That was what I recalled.

Phil

[Bridewell]

"Trevor dumped Feigenbaum some time ago."

I hope he broke it to him gently.

[Bridewell]

The old explanation was that "Sor" and "Mishter" were stage "Irishisms" employed by the journalist who wrote the items.

Phil

That works with "Sor", but I'm not sure about "Mishter".

[GregBaron]

Nein...

Hey y'all,

You're assuming the murderer/murderers wrote letters. Many dispute that. I also don't recall any of the supposed sighters of said ripper mentioning an accent. Mrs. Long said "foreign looking" I believe but didn't say the "will you" sounded German. No 'vill ye' for example...

It's also news to me that Trevor has abandoned Feigenbaum, it wasn't long ago I dissed Feig... and Trevor came out of the woodwork to admonish...


Greg