Anderson - More Questions Than Answers

[Stewart P Evans]

Pointed Out

This mouthpiece for A. N. Other really is a piece of work isn't he?

As I have pointed out Keith was with me when I found the anomalies in the marginalia and I pointed them out at that time. Jim Swanson was the contact of Keith and not mine. I did tell various leading Ripper authorities at the time and the general consensus was that to reveal the facts at that time would inevitably lead to suggestions of fakery (which it did when it was revealed) and that I couldn't possibly hurt Jim Swanson. But, needless to say, I was far from being the only one who knew.

As I have explained even when it did become public knowledge after Jim's passing, those who endow the 'marginalia' with such great significance still, themselves, did nothing about it. There certainly was no onus on me to do anything other than what I did. And others agreed with that. In fact Martin Fido's advice, on these boards, was to say no more as I was risking libel action.

Of course, it is obvious there are those who would have been happy to see nothing done about it and the status quo remain as to the 'marginalia.'

[Stewart P Evans]

Inevitable

...
As for Stewart and what he knew and who he told and how he handled it, he's discussed that elsewhere, and I'd be surprised if you didn't know that. So enough with trying to make him the bad guy here.
...
Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

Thank you for the support Tom. However, it was inevitable that a certain person would try to turn things around and make me the one in the wrong. It was expected and now all can see it happening. From private contact that has been made I know that many others know what is happening and fully support me.

[Jeff Leahy]

This mouthpiece for A. N. Other really is a piece of work isn't he?

Firstly let me make it absolutely clear that I am not a mouth piece for absolutely anyone or anybody. If Admin wishes to check my account they will discover that all my posts come from the same IP address and any of you are welcome to come around and check my mail box. I express my own opinions and speak from the heart.

As I have pointed out Keith was with me when I found the anomalies in the marginalia and I pointed them out at that time. Jim Swanson was the contact of Keith and not mine. I did tell various leading Ripper authorities at the time and the general consensus was that to reveal the facts at that time would inevitably lead to suggestions of forgery (which it did when it was revealed) and that I couldn't possibly hurt Jim Swanson. But, needless to say, I was far from being the only one who knew.

Stewart, you simply did not make it clear that you had raised your concerns in private, with those involved. Indeed, this statement:

“And so it remained, but the more I thought about it the more I felt that given the deep and prolonged interest in the 'marginalia' and the importance attached to it in 'Ripperworld' then others at least had the right to know and be aware of the full facts. Otherwise I was keeping silent about something I found to be a bit disquieting. However, it was not until after Jim Swanson passed away that I made a post on these boards, long before 2006 and the Davies report. The result was as I anticipated. I was immediately and aggressively attacked by Martin Fido who issued dire warnings of libel action. I did point out that I was not alleging fakery against anyone but that I was merely pointing out factual and physical aspects of the 'marginalia' that had apparently been previously missed.”

Sounds to me as if you choose a public message board to address your fears. Which, if the case, would strike me as rather odd.

As I have explained even when it did become public knowledge after Jim's passing, those who endow the 'marginalia' with such great significance still, themselves, did nothing about it. There certainly was no onus on me to do anything other than what I did. And others agreed with that.

But surely you have stated that you were the person who spotted the differences and had worries about the authenticity. Does that not lay some responsibility on you to resolve the situation?

I’m not making any accusations against you Stewart, as I have no way of knowing what private correspondence was passed between yourself Keith, Paul and Martin. But surely resolving the matter at its earliest opportunity would be important. At that time you would have had no way of knowing Dr Davis final examination would vindicate Jim Swanson. If the marginalia had proved to have been forged or tampered with, surely Jim Swanson being still alive to question would have been very important?

Of course, it is obvious there are those who would have been happy to see nothing done about it and the status quo remain as to the 'marginalia.'

Again this statement appears to me totally loaded but perhaps it’s now me being paranoid. How could anyone not want the FACTS or TRUTH about anything? And it seems to me that no status quo has been broken as hand writing analysis is not and has never been an exact science.

The marginalia always was (and unless reexamined in greater detail and new revelations come to light about it) always will be ‘Probably written by Swanson’.

And on a personal note Stewart I find your personal comments about me being a ‘piece of work’ because I have had the courage to ask some awkward questions about your agenda, highly hypocritical. It is precisely because I feel that the TRUTH is so important that I feel sometimes difficult questions need to be asked and answers clarified.

I hope it is obvious to you and everybody else that when I used the ‘Deception’ word that I did not think you really thought that? However I did think from your posts that you were implying some ‘FAILOR’ or ‘ERROR’ of judgment by Paul or Martin, if I have miss read that then I apologies, but that’s what I felt you were implying.

However it seems to me that those involved did there best and acted as they saw fit and proper at the time. As you poo poo’d me when I mentioned ‘the benefit of hindsight’ before I will simply add that there appears to me to have been a collective responsibility which luckily resolved itself positively.

Pirate

[Stewart P Evans]

A Joke

I do not intend to respond further, after this, on this sorry thread.

First off, what has an IP address got to do with another party feeding 'Pirate' with his answers? It has become almost a joke with many, including several who don't actually post here, recognising when someone else is feeding him with his answers. So, deny it all he likes, I doubt that many will believe him, given the remarkable improvement in grammar, spelling, style of writing and points that he would never even have known about or thought of. Had it not been the case that many think the same, then perhaps I might have thought that I was being paranoid.

I suggest that 'Pirate' goes back a few years to the original thread, on these boards, where I revealed the problems with the writing. Keith Skinner was with me when I noticed the differences in the annotations and I remarked on them at that time, in 2000. This isn't a criminal investigation and what anyone might choose to do, or not, is down to the individual. I communicated my concerns to other Ripper authorities (not Fido and Begg, Keith was aware) as I have described.

Those who should have been most concerned were the ones, over the years, who had set much store on the 'marginalia' and who base much of their Ripper theorising on it. But, I repeat, my concern wasn't that it was faked, it was that there were these definite physical anomalies that had never been revealed and addressed, hence as soon as I was able to state as much I did so, with the aforementioned results.

And again, here, we see see 'Pirate' putting words into my mouth. He says, "But surely you have stated that you were the person who spotted the differences and worries about the authenticity. Does that not lay some responsibility on you to resolve the situation?" Where have I said that I 'had worries about the authenticity'? I am sick and tired of pointing out what concerned me - physical anomalies - I had made no allegations regarding Jim Swanson, but I knew that there would probably be some who would suggest it. And, as I have explained, that is the reason I did not publicly mention it until after he had passed away.

It seems obvious that the whole of 'Ripperworld' believed for many years that the 'marginalia' was faultless and beyond questioning. It was the received wisdom and, apart from Paul Harrison, who was quickly refuted, no one had the temerity to suggest otherwise. Indeed, very, very few had ever seen the original which was in private hands.

I have no disagreement with anyone wanting to get to the truth, that's what I'm all about, as those who know me will attest. Indeed, that is what this is all about. I don't need someone who has a minimal and confused grasp of the facts telling me what to do. And 'Pirate' has been sneering and denigrating and a mere look back through this thread will show how ridiculous he has been (again). If there has been 'failure' or 'error' by anyone I am sure that they are aware of it. I certainly am when I make a mistake.

The one person who has introduced the insinuation of 'deception', anywhere on this thread, is 'Pirate' - a mere look back will show that.

[Bob Hinton]

The Lighter Side etc

I have recently obtained a copy of Sir Robert Andersons autobiography, The Lighter Side of My Official Life.

It is easily the best copy I have seen out of the three or four that have passed through my hands. The pages are bright and unmarked leaving me to believe it hasn’t even been read.
If anyone is interested in this very collectable Ripper related book please pm me with an offer.

[perrymason]

I have recently obtained a copy of Sir Robert Andersons autobiography, The Lighter Side of My Official Life.

It is easily the best copy I have seen out of the three or four that have passed through my hands. The pages are bright and unmarked leaving me to believe it hasn’t even been read.
If anyone is interested in this very collectable Ripper related book please pm me with an offer.

Best post aside from Stewarts, nice find Bob. You may hear from me privately.

Cheers mate