Jack the Ripper At Last? by Helena Wojtczak

[pinkmoon]

Well we don't want the name of your mother in law added to the list of suspects, pinkmoon, there are too many of them as it is! Is she even old enough?
It is feasible that none of the known suspects are our Jack. Far more probable that he was a complete unknown and, I agree, that he was probably not local either. Why run the risk of being recognised? I am interested in the stories you have heard that have been passed down through your family..You may well have written about it elsewhere on here but I'm a new member so I have not come across it yet, if you have.
Cogidubnus, I have read Helena's ' Women of Victorian Sussex ', an excellent book so agree with you that she is a thorough researcher. I think that the focus of this book, by reading the blurb and other things written, that it concentrates on Chapman's own life and crimes which is a fascinating story in itself. For my own personal reasons , I can't wait to read it!
Bridewell, you are correct. I am wrong to assume that all suspects were nasty pieces of work, some were, some were not. Generally many have been embroiled simply because they were alive at the time and often on, as already stated, the flimsiest of evidence.

Hi Amanda,she's not old enough but she's certainly cruel enough.The story that comes through my family from great grandparents who were children living in Whitechapel during the autumn of terror thus relayed to my grandparents then onto my father and his sister's who were born in Shoreditch is that shortly after the women was killed in the room the killer drowned himself .Can you imagine my joy when I started reading books about the subject I came across druitt case solved!If our killer had been local on the night of the double event the fact he was nearly caught with stride must have given him a shock now why didn't he just run of home and try his luck the next night instead of taking a much bigger risk by killing again in same night.I think the answer to this could be that he wasn't local and would not be able to get to the area for a while so he took a very big risk.

[Amanda Sumner]

Well we don't want the name of your mother in law added to the list of suspects, pinkmoon, there are too many of them as it is! Is she even old enough?
It is feasible that none of the known suspects are our Jack. Far more probable that he was a complete unknown and, I agree, that he was probably not local either. Why run the risk of being recognised? I am interested in the stories you have heard that have been passed down through your family..You may well have written about it elsewhere on here but I'm a new member so I have not come across it yet, if you have.
Cogidubnus, I have read Helena's ' Women of Victorian Sussex ', an excellent book so agree with you that she is a thorough researcher. I think that the focus of this book, by reading the blurb and other things written, that it concentrates on Chapman's own life and crimes which is a fascinating story in itself. For my own personal reasons , I can't wait to read it!
Bridewell, you are correct. I am wrong to assume that all suspects were nasty pieces of work, some were, some were not. Generally many have been embroiled simply because they were alive at the time and often on, as already stated, the flimsiest of evidence.

[pinkmoon]

Hi Pinkmoon

You're quite correct in stating that far too many alleged suspects have been identified on the basis of flimsy evidence...some on none at all...there are entire chapters in the new Whittington Egan book dedicated to demonstrating just this...and I'm afraid even Druitt could perhaps fall into this category!

However, in the case of Chapman, without even having seen the book yet, I'm pretty confident this scenario doesn't arise: so how am I able to make such an assertion? Easy -

(1) Having read this author's previous major work (Railwaywomen) I have a huge respect for her meticulous standards of research - this will be an honest and thorough account of Chapman's life.

(2) David Green has favourably reviewed the work...and he's someone whose views I respect.

(3) Like many other Casebook followers I've followed many of Helena's queries over the past few years and seen for myself the degree to which she's been prepared to go...

(4) There's a question mark at the end of the title (one apparently, if I remember correctly, suggested by no less than Stewart Evans)...someone less scrupulous would've omitted this...

It goes without saying I'm really looking forward to getting my copy! (And no I've never even met the author).

All the best

Dave

Hi Dave I shall be buying it when available on the kindle also I will be buying the Whittington Egan book as well and I have no doubt the Chapman book will be well written and researched but I do think Chapman is just another bad suspect out of a bunch of bad suspects however he certainly was evil there is no doubt about that then again my mother in law is evil but it dosnt make her jack the ripper!!!!

[Cogidubnus]

George Chapman

Hi Pinkmoon

You're quite correct in stating that far too many alleged suspects have been identified on the basis of flimsy evidence...some on none at all...there are entire chapters in the new Whittington Egan book dedicated to demonstrating just this...and I'm afraid even Druitt could perhaps fall into this category!

However, in the case of Chapman, without even having seen the book yet, I'm pretty confident this scenario doesn't arise: so how am I able to make such an assertion? Easy -

(1) Having read this author's previous major work (Railwaywomen) I have a huge respect for her meticulous standards of research - this will be an honest and thorough account of Chapman's life.

(2) David Green has favourably reviewed the work...and he's someone whose views I respect.

(3) Like many other Casebook followers I've followed many of Helena's queries over the past few years and seen for myself the degree to which she's been prepared to go...

(4) There's a question mark at the end of the title (one apparently, if I remember correctly, suggested by no less than Stewart Evans)...someone less scrupulous would've omitted this...

It goes without saying I'm really looking forward to getting my copy! (And no I've never even met the author).

All the best

Dave

[pinkmoon]

Surely Druitt only becomes "a nasty piece of work" if you make an assumption that he was the killer or that the unspecified 'trouble' at Valentine's School was monstrous in nature. Otherwise he remains simply a barrister / schoolmaster who took his own life.

Sorry, Helena. That's off topic, but I think the point needed making.

Like I just said it is more than likely that druitt was only guilty of suffering from a mental illness and people have written some dreadfully things about him I'm just as bad by buying the books though.

[Bridewell]

all of the suspects are nasty pieces of work,

Surely Druitt only becomes "a nasty piece of work" if you make an assumption that he was the killer or that the unspecified 'trouble' at Valentine's School was monstrous in nature. Otherwise he remains simply a barrister / schoolmaster who took his own life.

Sorry, Helena. That's off topic, but I think the point needed making.

[pinkmoon]

Pinkmoon : I agree. However plausible a suspect may be there has to be evidence to prove it, which after all these years is extremely unlikely. There have been many people that have put Chapman, among others, as a likely suspect and, let's face it, all of the suspects are nasty pieces of work, but to try and put any of them forward as our killer is not possible without proof. Perhaps that is why Helena has a question mark in the title of her book because any theories she may or may not have, it's all conjecture as far as the JtR story goes. However if we were to only deal with facts then forums like these will cease to exist and books would not be written on the subject at all. Even analysing statements and reports done at the time are open to interpretation.
My favourite suspect has been, for a long time, Jacob Levy because he was behaving very strangely and had real mental issues during those crucial times. A very plausible suspect if ever there was one, in my opinion!

Evening Amanda my dear,your suspect is just as good as mine however like druitt we do lack real evidence.Both our suspects seem to be mentally disturbed at the time but apart from that we have no real evidence.When I look back over the years that I have been fascinated by this case I now think it is unfair that people have accused people like druitt of appalling things without any real proof I'm just as bad though by buying the books and dvds and listening to the tales told to me by my relatives.I have always had doubts about our killer living locally simply because I think if he lived a matter of yards away from his prey he could have killed a lot more also no one stated seeing someone who was local.I do think the syphilis angle is very plausible for a reason for our killers anger towards prostitutes let's face to contract that in those days you not going to have a happily ever after.

[Amanda Sumner]

Pinkmoon : I agree. However plausible a suspect may be there has to be evidence to prove it, which after all these years is extremely unlikely. There have been many people that have put Chapman, among others, as a likely suspect and, let's face it, all of the suspects are nasty pieces of work, but to try and put any of them forward as our killer is not possible without proof. Perhaps that is why Helena has a question mark in the title of her book because any theories she may or may not have, it's all conjecture as far as the JtR story goes. However if we were to only deal with facts then forums like these will cease to exist and books would not be written on the subject at all. Even analysing statements and reports done at the time are open to interpretation.
My favourite suspect has been, for a long time, Jacob Levy because he was behaving very strangely and had real mental issues during those crucial times. A very plausible suspect if ever there was one, in my opinion!

[pinkmoon]

I think that there are many plausible candidates for Jack the Ripper, some more than others, but proving that any of them was him is the problem. I agree that the families can be confident that that is not going to happen but it would be interesting to find out what their reactions would be if ever it did.

The problem that we have always had is no one apart from Stewart Evans has discoverd a suspect who was suspected at the time by the police.Yes druitt was named a few years later by a high ranking police officer who joined shortly after the ripper murders which in my opion must carry some weight and it seems kosminski was a suspect purely because he picked up a knife and threatened a member of his family two years after the murders.If the police ever had a strong suspect at the time I think we would be aware of it so all we can do is try and fit some unlikely oddballs into the frame of jack the ripper.My favourite suspect has always been druitt purely because of a story told by my descendents was he our killer I very much doubt it .Chapman was a callous nasty piece of work but to try and put him forward as our killer is just not possible without any real evidence.

[Amanda Sumner]

That's not going to happen. Also, The Isenschmidt's The Druitt's, The Hutchinson's, The Van Gogh's, and I'm sorry to say Helen The Klosowski's, can certainly sit comfortable in their chairs. In my very humble opinion, there are no plausible candidates for the title of Jack The Ripper.

I think that there are many plausible candidates for Jack the Ripper, some more than others, but proving that any of them was him is the problem. I agree that the families can be confident that that is not going to happen but it would be interesting to find out what their reactions would be if ever it did.

[Observer]

OMG you raise a good point here. Do current day "Ripper Hunters" ever think about how devastating it would be for the descendents if anyone were ever proved to be Jack the Ripper?

That's not going to happen. Also, The Isenschmidt's The Druitt's, The Hutchinson's, The Van Gogh's, and I'm sorry to say Helen The Klosowski's, can certainly sit comfortable in their chairs. In my very humble opinion, there are no plausible candidates for the title of Jack The Ripper.

[HelenaWojtczak]

Hi everyone!

I'm pleased to announce that the LIMITED EDITION DE LUXE HARDBACK edition of my book has been despatched from the printer and is due here on Friday. I shall commence posting the books out over the weekend.

The edition is limited to 100 copies, of which 69 have been preordered.

Each copy is individually numbered and signed by the author; can be dedicated or inscribed with the wording of your choice.

This edition is exclusive - will not be available in bookshops, only direct from the author.

272 pages, 156mm x 234mm

Over 100 illustrations

On matt photographic paper throughout

Full cover loose jacket over a printed hardback cover

Ribbon marker

Price £20 plus postage as follows:

UK - £4
Europe and Eire - £8
USA and worldwide airmail - £13
USA and worldwide surface mail - £8

For Paypal/credit/debit card orders, please order via my website at:

http://www.hastingspress.co.uk/chapman.html

To pay by bank transfer or cheque, please message me for details.

Helena

[HelenaWojtczak]

Pour your own drinks.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

Hahaha very funny, Tom!

[Tom_Wescott]

When my boyfriend grew a moustache for "Movember" he was a dead ringer for Chapman.

Pour your own drinks.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Amanda Sumner]

Oh, I'm sorry I said that but I hope your boyfriend has a kinder face than Chapman, if he is a dead ringer for him. Chapman looks a very cold fish to me in that photo.

Looking forward to getting the book. When will it be ready?

I've got a photo, by the way, of Maud's grave but it has no headstone. I wonder why? Perhaps you already know this?
Perhaps the family could not afford one, or for some reason it was taken down?

Thought that was very sad, considering what she had gone through.

Hope your book is a great success. My family have ordered three of them!

All the best,

Mandy