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Having read the thread on Another Twomblety Oddity http://forum.casebook.org/showthread...7962#post77962 I decided to do a quick discourse analysis of the Littlechild letter using the text as given on Casebook.
It's coded and given a rudimentary analysis but nothing major.
Chris Lowe
<1> 8, The Chase
Clapham Common S.W.,
23rd September 1913
(Address)
<2> Dear Sir,
(Formal, conventional way of opening letter to another man)
<3> I was pleased to receive your letter
(description of feelings in relation to receiving letter)
<4> which I shall put away in 'good company' to read again,
(suggestion that this man has a number of correspondents and retains them, suggestion of a reader, may or may not be the norm for those raised in Victorian era)
<5> perhaps some day when old age overtakes me and when to revive memories of the past may be a solace.
(Clearly already a worry for writer, perhaps concerns that his memories have or will begin to fail)
<6> Knowing the great interest you take in all matters criminal, and abnormal, I am just going to inflict one more letter on you on the 'Ripper' subject.
(suggestions of prior correspondence on issues of crime and possibly other miscellaneous topics, definite prior correspondence from the writer’s side on the subject of the ripper)
<7> Letters as a rule are only a nuisance when they call for a reply but this does not need one. I will try and be brief.
(Does not require a reply, feedback, potentially suggesting that prior correspondence with this recipient or others had led to an inundation of mail. Possibility of previous critique of a long letter)
<8> I never heard of a Dr D. in connection with the Whitechapel murders
(clearly he’s been asked about Dr D most likely by the recipient)
<9> but amongst the suspects,
(writer was of aware of more than one)
<10> and to my mind a very likely one, was a Dr. T. (which sounds much like D.)
(Dr T is identified by the writer as likely being the suspect the recipient was interested in, not the only suspect but one of a larger group of whom the writer believes this one to be a good one, a personal opinion - not necessarily backed by his former colleagues)
<11> He was an American quack named Tumblety
(does not regard qualifications as legit)
<12> and was at one time a frequent visitor to London and on these occasions constantly brought under the notice of police,
(Emphasis on Tumblety’s criminal record in a London context)
<13> there being a large dossier concerning him at Scotland Yard.
(see above)
<14> Although a 'Sycopathia Sexualis' subject he was not known as a 'Sadist' (which the murderer unquestionably was)
(Separates Tumblety from the Ripper, continues to draw attention to Tumblety’s criminality)
<15> but his feelings toward women were remarkable and bitter in the extreme, a fact on record.
(there is documentary evidence for Tumblety’s misogyny possibly based on US reports possibly Scotland Yard file)
<16> Tumblety was arrested at the time of the murders in connection with unnatural offences and charged at Marlborough Street, remanded on bail, jumped his bail, and got away to Boulogne. He shortly left Boulogne and was never heard of afterwards.
(Once more writer draws attention to his criminal record, up to this point offences not defined)
<17> It was believed he committed suicide but certain it is that from this time the 'Ripper' murders came to an end.
(believed by whom, clearly subject of ‘water cooler’ speculation)
<18> With regard to the term 'Jack the Ripper' it was generally believed at the Yard that Tom Bullen of the Central News was the originator,
(Gossip in Scotland Yard, little to back it up will address Bullen at next point)
<19> but it is probable Moore, who was his chief, was the inventor.
(slight ambiguity most likely credits Bullen as writer of JTR letters but Moore’s idea, chance of being vice versa, speculative)
<20> It was a smart piece of journalistic work.
(justification for previous point, clear attribution to a journalistic source and therefore a journalistic motive)
<21> No journalist of my time got such privileges from Scotland Yard as Bullen.
(Suggestion Bullen had abused a privileged position, sense of betrayal at an intuitional level)
<22> Mr James Munro when Assistant Commissioner, and afterwards Commissioner, relied on his integrity.
(continued suggestion of the individual betraying the institution)
<23> Poor Bullen occasionally took too much to drink, and I fail to see how he could help it knocking about so many hours and seeking favours from so many people to procure copy.
(portrays Bullen as a figure who while having integrity had a personal which damaged his reliability)
<24> One night when Bullen had taken a 'few too many' he got early information of the death of Prince Bismarck and instead of going to the office to report it sent a laconic telegram 'Bloody Bismarck is dead'. On this I believe Mr Charles Moore fired him out.
(continues previous theme supporting it with an instance to illustrate the point, suggestion of a moralistic attitude on the part of the writer in regards drink)
<25> It is very strange how those given to 'Contrary sexual instinct' and 'degenerates' are given to cruelty,
(also moralistic based on Victorian attitudes to sexuality, start of
extrapolation on either the Ripper or Tumblety)
<26> even Wilde used to like to be punched about.
(suggests linkage of previous point to homosexuality)
<27> It may interest you if I give you an example of this cruelty in the case of the man Harry Thaw and this is authentic as I have the boy's statement. Thaw was staying at the Carlton Hotel and one day laid out a lot of sovereigns on his dressing table, then rang for a call boy on pretence of sending out a telegram. He made some excuse and went out of the room and left the boy there and watched through the chink of the door. The unfortunate boy was tempted and took a sovereign from the pile and Thaw returning to the room charged him with stealing. The boy confessed when Thaw asked whether he should send for the police or whether he should punish him himself. The boy scared to death consented to take his punishment from Thaw who then made him undress, strapped him to the foot of the bedstead, and thrashed him with a cane, drawing blood. He then made the boy get into a bath in which he placed a quantity of salt. It seems incredible that such a thing could take place in any hotel but it is a fact. This was in 1906.
(continues linkage of homosexuality to cruelty, also carries on a tendency to provide a case study as evidence for each of his points)
<28> Now pardon me -- it is finished. Except that I knew Major Griffiths for many years. He probably got his information from Anderson who only 'thought he knew'.
(Wants to end correspondence on JTR, An attempt to dismiss published account of Griffiths based on his probable source not being reliable, clearly is not certain that Anderson is the source, seems to suggest that he is guessing based on social circles ie knowing the Major)
<29> Faithfully yours,
J. G. Littlechild
(author signing letter)
<30> George R. Sims Esq.,
12, Clarence Terrace,
Regents Park N. W.
(recipients address)
It's coded and given a rudimentary analysis but nothing major.
Chris Lowe
<1> 8, The Chase
Clapham Common S.W.,
23rd September 1913
(Address)
<2> Dear Sir,
(Formal, conventional way of opening letter to another man)
<3> I was pleased to receive your letter
(description of feelings in relation to receiving letter)
<4> which I shall put away in 'good company' to read again,
(suggestion that this man has a number of correspondents and retains them, suggestion of a reader, may or may not be the norm for those raised in Victorian era)
<5> perhaps some day when old age overtakes me and when to revive memories of the past may be a solace.
(Clearly already a worry for writer, perhaps concerns that his memories have or will begin to fail)
<6> Knowing the great interest you take in all matters criminal, and abnormal, I am just going to inflict one more letter on you on the 'Ripper' subject.
(suggestions of prior correspondence on issues of crime and possibly other miscellaneous topics, definite prior correspondence from the writer’s side on the subject of the ripper)
<7> Letters as a rule are only a nuisance when they call for a reply but this does not need one. I will try and be brief.
(Does not require a reply, feedback, potentially suggesting that prior correspondence with this recipient or others had led to an inundation of mail. Possibility of previous critique of a long letter)
<8> I never heard of a Dr D. in connection with the Whitechapel murders
(clearly he’s been asked about Dr D most likely by the recipient)
<9> but amongst the suspects,
(writer was of aware of more than one)
<10> and to my mind a very likely one, was a Dr. T. (which sounds much like D.)
(Dr T is identified by the writer as likely being the suspect the recipient was interested in, not the only suspect but one of a larger group of whom the writer believes this one to be a good one, a personal opinion - not necessarily backed by his former colleagues)
<11> He was an American quack named Tumblety
(does not regard qualifications as legit)
<12> and was at one time a frequent visitor to London and on these occasions constantly brought under the notice of police,
(Emphasis on Tumblety’s criminal record in a London context)
<13> there being a large dossier concerning him at Scotland Yard.
(see above)
<14> Although a 'Sycopathia Sexualis' subject he was not known as a 'Sadist' (which the murderer unquestionably was)
(Separates Tumblety from the Ripper, continues to draw attention to Tumblety’s criminality)
<15> but his feelings toward women were remarkable and bitter in the extreme, a fact on record.
(there is documentary evidence for Tumblety’s misogyny possibly based on US reports possibly Scotland Yard file)
<16> Tumblety was arrested at the time of the murders in connection with unnatural offences and charged at Marlborough Street, remanded on bail, jumped his bail, and got away to Boulogne. He shortly left Boulogne and was never heard of afterwards.
(Once more writer draws attention to his criminal record, up to this point offences not defined)
<17> It was believed he committed suicide but certain it is that from this time the 'Ripper' murders came to an end.
(believed by whom, clearly subject of ‘water cooler’ speculation)
<18> With regard to the term 'Jack the Ripper' it was generally believed at the Yard that Tom Bullen of the Central News was the originator,
(Gossip in Scotland Yard, little to back it up will address Bullen at next point)
<19> but it is probable Moore, who was his chief, was the inventor.
(slight ambiguity most likely credits Bullen as writer of JTR letters but Moore’s idea, chance of being vice versa, speculative)
<20> It was a smart piece of journalistic work.
(justification for previous point, clear attribution to a journalistic source and therefore a journalistic motive)
<21> No journalist of my time got such privileges from Scotland Yard as Bullen.
(Suggestion Bullen had abused a privileged position, sense of betrayal at an intuitional level)
<22> Mr James Munro when Assistant Commissioner, and afterwards Commissioner, relied on his integrity.
(continued suggestion of the individual betraying the institution)
<23> Poor Bullen occasionally took too much to drink, and I fail to see how he could help it knocking about so many hours and seeking favours from so many people to procure copy.
(portrays Bullen as a figure who while having integrity had a personal which damaged his reliability)
<24> One night when Bullen had taken a 'few too many' he got early information of the death of Prince Bismarck and instead of going to the office to report it sent a laconic telegram 'Bloody Bismarck is dead'. On this I believe Mr Charles Moore fired him out.
(continues previous theme supporting it with an instance to illustrate the point, suggestion of a moralistic attitude on the part of the writer in regards drink)
<25> It is very strange how those given to 'Contrary sexual instinct' and 'degenerates' are given to cruelty,
(also moralistic based on Victorian attitudes to sexuality, start of
extrapolation on either the Ripper or Tumblety)
<26> even Wilde used to like to be punched about.
(suggests linkage of previous point to homosexuality)
<27> It may interest you if I give you an example of this cruelty in the case of the man Harry Thaw and this is authentic as I have the boy's statement. Thaw was staying at the Carlton Hotel and one day laid out a lot of sovereigns on his dressing table, then rang for a call boy on pretence of sending out a telegram. He made some excuse and went out of the room and left the boy there and watched through the chink of the door. The unfortunate boy was tempted and took a sovereign from the pile and Thaw returning to the room charged him with stealing. The boy confessed when Thaw asked whether he should send for the police or whether he should punish him himself. The boy scared to death consented to take his punishment from Thaw who then made him undress, strapped him to the foot of the bedstead, and thrashed him with a cane, drawing blood. He then made the boy get into a bath in which he placed a quantity of salt. It seems incredible that such a thing could take place in any hotel but it is a fact. This was in 1906.
(continues linkage of homosexuality to cruelty, also carries on a tendency to provide a case study as evidence for each of his points)
<28> Now pardon me -- it is finished. Except that I knew Major Griffiths for many years. He probably got his information from Anderson who only 'thought he knew'.
(Wants to end correspondence on JTR, An attempt to dismiss published account of Griffiths based on his probable source not being reliable, clearly is not certain that Anderson is the source, seems to suggest that he is guessing based on social circles ie knowing the Major)
<29> Faithfully yours,
J. G. Littlechild
(author signing letter)
<30> George R. Sims Esq.,
12, Clarence Terrace,
Regents Park N. W.
(recipients address)
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