How Are The Mighty Fallen

[The Good Michael]

Making your biased opinion worthless in this matter.

Please use complete sentences when you insult. It makes for better reading.

Thanks,

Mike

[The Good Michael]

It is the title of the thread that is as annoying as anything else.

I would have to agree. It somewhat candy-a$$ed.

Mike

[Jeff Leahy]

Yes it does seem to suggest that there are two camps one claiming Anderson was perfect the other that he was a lying toe rag.

Yet neither of these positions are true.

What most commentators appear to be arguing about is the weight of balance in either direction. Most agreeing it appears that that judgment is both difficult and complicated.

Pirate

[Simon Wood]

Hi All,

Sir Kenelm Edward Digby's 1901 memo is important. It helps us to put SRA's tenure as Assistant Commissioner into its proper perspective by affording an opportunity to get at the truth behind the surprising [to me, at least] revelation that he was asked to resign.

Digby's memo is also interesting because it is at odds with what SRA tells us in TLSOMOL about his reasons for retirement—

"I retired when I did for the excellent reason that after forty busy years I felt a strong desire for a more restful life. And, moreover, I had nothing to gain by remaining longer in office."

There's a wide disparity between the two accounts, and SRA's reasons for putting a gloss on matters could be many and varied. Dented pride is the one which easily springs to mind. Perhaps, so closely following the death of Queen Victoria, he was now seen as a relic of a bygone era, unsuited to the brave new world of Edwardian politics and policing, although to be fair it should be noted that the transition to Edward Henry as Assistant Commissioner and—within two years—Commissioner had been on the cards for some time. This could also explain Anderson's knighthood being held in abeyance for two years due to opposition in "a quarter to which I should have confidently looked for help in any matter of the kind." Whatever the circumstances it was obviously a difficult time for him.

One paragraph of Digby's memo is all we have at the moment. The full version may yield more insights about Anderson's resignation or it may turn out that by the next paragraph he had completely dropped the subject. Matthews' memo to Ruggles Brise regarding Monro is a prime example of this. Or perhaps Digby went on to discuss SRA's contributions to policing and secret work in positive terms. Only time will tell.

The call for Anderson to resign cannot be ignored, and now we have the basic facts it's time for us to break out the shovels, get digging and find out more. To stand any chance of getting beyond the crude dichotomy of SRA as saint or sinner, truth-teller or consummate liar, the reasons for his departure from the CID require our most rigorous attention.

Regards,

Simon

[Ally]

Simon,

Where is the rest of the memo?

[Chris]

The call for Anderson to resign cannot be ignored, and now we have the basic facts it's time for us to break out the shovels, get digging and find out more.

It might help if you told us the source of your information!

[Simon Wood]

Hi Ally,

I cannot answer your question. The rest of the memo was not sent to me. I do not know if there are preceding paragraphs but logic tells me there are successive paragraphs, as I doubt it would have ended as peremptorily as it does. Hence the . . .

Therefore, although the relevant section is unequivocal [and I have no reason not to trust my source], the full nature of the memo must remain unknown at this time.

All I can do is play the cards I'm dealt.

Regards,

Simon

[Jonathan H]

Call me thick ... but, Simon, what on earth are you talking about?

[Simon Wood]

Hi Jonathon,

What don't you get?

Regards,

Simon

[Chris]

There's a limit to how much "digging" other people can be expected to do if the source of this information can't be revealed.

This may well be an interesting and important discovery, but in the circumstances I think most of us will have to reserve judgment until it can be properly documented.

[Jonathan H]

Look Simon, Chris and I are the modern equivalent of Anderson and Macnaghten -- in terms of our mutual regard -- and therefore for us to be on the same side says something about what you are doing, or not doing?

You have a source, right?

Ir's over a century old, right?

Then what's with the Woodstein tease?

[Ally]

Thanks Simon that answers several questions.

One you didn't find this yourself, it was "sent" to you and the entire thing wasn't sent to you, only this carefully selected excerpt.

You should be dubious of anyone or anything that appears to be setting you up so completely.

And we should all be dubious of anything so carefully crafted, edited and anonymous.

Provenance: beyond crap
Information: dubious in its presentation

Conclusion: Junk file.

[Simon Wood]

Hi Jonathan and Chris,

I'll contact you both tomorrow [Tuesday PST].

Regards,

Simon

[jason_c]

In fairness to Simon his post is merely a factual reproduction of a contemporary memo. Added to this is the fact that it should be new information to posters on these boards and as such it should be welcomed not yawned at.

Another significant point is the fact that the vast majority of new information on Anderson is found by those who are disparaged for being 'anti-Anderson', whilst those who promote Anderson rarely come up with anything new and continue to cite old and hackneyed material.

Notable finds on Anderson and the Polish Jew theory have been -

1. Warren's letter to Anderson of 28 August 1888 regarding Anderson's sick leave - found by me.

2. The 1892 Cassell's Saturday Journal interview with Anderson - found by me.

3. The 1895 Windsor Magazine article by Arthur Griffiths with mention Anderson and the Whitechapel murders - found by Melvin Harris.

4. The 1896 Blackwood's Magazine article 'Professional Crime' by Anderson - found by me.

5. The 1903 T.P.'s Weekly article 'Sherlock Holmes, Detective. As Seen By Scotland Yard' by Anderson - found by me.

6. The 1906 Thomson's Weekly News article by Harry Cox of the City Police mentioning the Polish Jew suspect - found by Nick Connell.

7. The 1910 Jewish Chronicle and Globe articles and letters by and about Anderson and his Polish Jew theory - found by Nick Connell.

8. The 1911 The Nineteenth Century article 'The Criminal Alien' by Anderson - found by Nick Connell.

And there are more. So it ill becomes those who make derogatory remarks about those who dare to say anything against Anderson (which is often merely quoting the content of published material) when it is these perceived Anderson 'critics' who discover the vast majority of new information on Anderson.

Hardly surprising.

In Anderson's job he would have made many enemies. Enemies who were in positions of power and influence. Journalists, politicians and civil servants being three examples.

Some of the criticisms of Anderson would be justified, others the result of political differences or empire building from various state officials.

Its a bit like patting yourselves on the back for finding disparaging material on Dick Cheney, Winston Churchill or Gerry Adams.

[The Good Michael]

Gerry Adams.

I'll cut Gerry a little slack.

Mike