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This just appeared in the Western Daily Press,
has it been discussed here yet?
Amateur sleuths may get the chance to see inside the mind of Jack the Ripper when a mysterious manuscript is published as a book next month.
The typed draft, dating from the 1920s, came to light among radio memorabilia bought by the Montacute Toy Museum in Somerset two years ago.
Now the museum’s owner, Alan Hicken, and Ripper expert Paul Begg are giving the world the chance to scrutinise the document and identify Victorian London’s most notorious serial killer.
And Jack has even become an unwitting promoter of Somerset tourism, with Visit Somerset tweeting news of the book via its website www.visitsomerset.co.uk.
Mr Hicken discovered the manuscript when be bought memorabilia connected with Sydney Hulme-Beaman, creator of radio’s Toytown, which had been inherited by Mr Beaman’s niece.
The manuscript, written by James Willougby Carnac, was left to Mr Hulme-Beaman as executor of Carnac’s will. It claims to be Carnac’s autobiography and introduces a new suspect for the infamous Whitechapel murders in 1888.
It includes information that does not appear to be derived from contemporary newspapers or any other publications and the descriptions of Tottenham in the 1870s, the visits to performances of Jekyll and Hyde and the geography of Whitechapel in 1888 are written with pin-point accuracy.
There is also a credible motive given for Carnac becoming the murderer and a reason for the end of the murders. Given the fact that the author also appears to have knowledge about aspects of the case not in the public arena at the time it is possible that the document is the autobiography of Jack the Ripper.
Ultimately, it is up to the reader to decide if they believe the mystery has been solved. Even as a work of fiction the book would still be one of the very earliest imaginings of the Ripper case, written in the early years of the 20th century, and a fascinating piece of period writing.
When he found the manuscript, Mr Hicken said: “It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It made for a very chilling read and was very macabre in places. I’d never heard of James Carnac but everyone knows of Jack the Ripper.”
Mr Begg said: “Although this is almost beyond question a work of fiction, as a product of the late 1920s it is a very early piece of ‘Ripperature’.
John Turner vice-chairman of Visit Somerset added: “although macabre, this is just the sort of discovery with which we can promote Somerset and create extra interest in the county.”
has it been discussed here yet?
Amateur sleuths may get the chance to see inside the mind of Jack the Ripper when a mysterious manuscript is published as a book next month.
The typed draft, dating from the 1920s, came to light among radio memorabilia bought by the Montacute Toy Museum in Somerset two years ago.
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Alan Hicken, who found the Ripper manuscript in a box of memorabilia
Now the museum’s owner, Alan Hicken, and Ripper expert Paul Begg are giving the world the chance to scrutinise the document and identify Victorian London’s most notorious serial killer.
And Jack has even become an unwitting promoter of Somerset tourism, with Visit Somerset tweeting news of the book via its website www.visitsomerset.co.uk.
Mr Hicken discovered the manuscript when be bought memorabilia connected with Sydney Hulme-Beaman, creator of radio’s Toytown, which had been inherited by Mr Beaman’s niece.
The manuscript, written by James Willougby Carnac, was left to Mr Hulme-Beaman as executor of Carnac’s will. It claims to be Carnac’s autobiography and introduces a new suspect for the infamous Whitechapel murders in 1888.
It includes information that does not appear to be derived from contemporary newspapers or any other publications and the descriptions of Tottenham in the 1870s, the visits to performances of Jekyll and Hyde and the geography of Whitechapel in 1888 are written with pin-point accuracy.
There is also a credible motive given for Carnac becoming the murderer and a reason for the end of the murders. Given the fact that the author also appears to have knowledge about aspects of the case not in the public arena at the time it is possible that the document is the autobiography of Jack the Ripper.
Ultimately, it is up to the reader to decide if they believe the mystery has been solved. Even as a work of fiction the book would still be one of the very earliest imaginings of the Ripper case, written in the early years of the 20th century, and a fascinating piece of period writing.
When he found the manuscript, Mr Hicken said: “It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It made for a very chilling read and was very macabre in places. I’d never heard of James Carnac but everyone knows of Jack the Ripper.”
Mr Begg said: “Although this is almost beyond question a work of fiction, as a product of the late 1920s it is a very early piece of ‘Ripperature’.
John Turner vice-chairman of Visit Somerset added: “although macabre, this is just the sort of discovery with which we can promote Somerset and create extra interest in the county.”
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