ripper lore

[protohistorian]

I hope more seasoned students of these cases will freely add items they consider to be ripper lore. Things that have become ingrained in the case by virtue of poor scholarship, myth building, misunderstandings and the like. Dave

[Tom_Wescott]

Oh goodness, where to begin. I just got done writing up a piece exploring the origins of many myths surrounding the Stride murder. Here's a few:

* Michael Kidney padlocked Stride in her room. You see this everywhere, even on the Casebook proper. But it never happened.
* Kidney repeatedly abused Stride and was jailed for it. Again, never happened.
* Kidney lied about seeing Stride two days after she left him. Never happened.
* Kidney intimated at the inquest that he abused Stride as he would a wife. Never happened.
* Kidney is a viable suspect in Stride's murder. Not true.
* Stride got the name 'Long Liz' because she was tall. She wasn't tall, the name is a play on her surname 'Stride'.
* Grapes were found with Stride. Not true.
* Grapes were so expensive only the very rich could afford them. Not true.
* Diemschitz and the men of the Berner Street club were middle-aged. In truth, they were all under 30.

That's a few that came right to mind.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[protohistorian]

Thank You sir! My hope is that newcomers will find this thread and be dispossessed of some already disproved notions. Dave

[mklhawley]

Thank You sir! My hope is that newcomers will find this thread and be dispossessed of some already disproved notions. Dave

Great thread protohisorian. I also hope more will add. This is good stuff.

Mike

[Tom_Wescott]

*Eddowes is not known to have been arrested while impersonating a fire engine. This is a later myth.
* Albert Bachert was never informed that the Ripper had drowned himself in the Thames.
* Abberline did not think the Ripper was one of the 'highest in the land', as reported by Nigel Morland of the old Criminologist journal. Abberline thought Jack was George Chapman the poisoner.
* Mary Kelly did not have a kid.
* AP Wolf is not a woman.
* Jack the Ripper was not left-handed.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[protohistorian]

Thanks again Tom, your a rockstar in my book! Dave

[Graham]

Hi Tom,

Mary Kelly did not have a kid.

Are you absolutely 100% certain of this? I ask, because there are ancient legends that she had a daughter called Agnes who died in Bristol some time during the 1920's. Do you have absolute proof she had no child?

Regards,

Graham

[Tom_Wescott]

Graham,

I should have been more specific. I meant she had not child living with her when she died.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Chris]

Druitt doesn't have a cricketing alibi.

[Graham]

Graham,

I should have been more specific. I meant she had not child living with her when she died.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

Right, Tom. Understood. I do recall tales that she had a little boy living with her, but never saw any proof for this claim.

Regards,

Graham

[Simon Wood]

Hi Tom,

So why was a doctor from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Young Children at Millers Court?

Regards,

Simon

[Tom_Wescott]

Hi Simon. Assuming one was (I don't know what you're talking about), it's probably because of the squalor witnessed in Miller's court while investigating the murder.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Graham]

Hi Simon,

well, have to say, that's a new one to me. Is that a fact for sure?

Graham

[Septic Blue]

I will have quite a few tidbits of conventional wisdom, to propose as being 'Ripperlore', later this weekend.

But for now; please allow me to dispel a widely-held misunderstanding: …

Stewart Evans has not agreed to work with 'Pirate Jack' on his next 'Ripper' publication!

[protohistorian]

Thanks

Thank You to everyone who has posted some lore. It will be a great benefit to future ripperologists. Dave