Rippercast- The Jack the Ripper Podcast

[The Good Michael]

Dan,

Yeah, I lean to the hoax thing, but I'm not really sure why except that Bulling's name always crops up. It does seem that the Whitechapel murders set the precedence for hoaxes, doesn't it? I'm just starting to reexamine my thoughts on this.

Cheers,

Mike

[Dan Norder]

I don't think it'd have to be a member of the press. The double event happened in early a.m. hours of Dec. 30. The postcard wasn't postmarked until October 1. That's more than a full 24 hours available for anyone to have heard details, and people certainly would have talked about it in the East End before the papers came out. Of course members of the press would be more likely to have heard the information, but that's all.

As far as whether it's likely, hoax letters of all sorts have definitely happened in numerous cases, but if you're specifically looking for examples prior to the Whitechapel Murders the documentation is a little thin once you get that far back.

[The Good Michael]

With regards to the letter of the first of October, I just want to say that I agree it is possible that someone could have hoaxed it by looking at an early edition of the paper, or by being a member of the press and having a look at the copy going to press. Though I have no real opinion of this, I'd like to ask if there are any precedents for this kind of hoax? This type of behavior seems to me to be something that might be an example of what the police, disguntled at their portrayals in some newspapers, might THINK newsmen capable of, but is it accurate? Are there precedents where newsmen, or anyone else deliberately sought out early editions of papers for the sole reason of firing off a hurried postcard complete with bloodsmears and in an unhurried hand. One might suggest that the use of a postcard shows the haste in which it was done, and I can't argue with that. Yet, when else has this been done prior to the Whitechapel murders?

Cheers,

Mike

[Bailey]

Chris, do you realised I had to do actual maths to ask that question? Maths, with counting and numbers and stuff! Very cruel of you, sir! Words I can do, numbers are very hard indeed

In all seriousness, thanks for the speedy reply. I believe, however, that your point re the quick movement of news is still valid - clearly this article has been published within 24 hour or thereabouts of the event, halfway around the globe. In the context in which it was discussed on the podcast, clearly there would have been more than ample time for the news of the double event to reach the (alleged) forger of the Saucy Jacky postcard.

Keep up the good work Chris - how you have the patience for it is beyond me, but well done indeed!

Cheers,
Bailey

[Chris Scott]

Hi Bailey
You are right to take me to task as the report I referred to appeared on 10 November, the day after the Kelly murder.
It appeared in the Port Philip Herald and you can read it here

http://www.casebook.org/press_reports/port_philip_herald/881110.html

Apologies to all for the mistake
Chris

[Bailey]

On the subject of last week's podcast re letters, I wanted to mention something. As he had done on a previous podcast, Chris mentioned - as an example of the speed at which news travelled in the era - that an Australian newspaper dated November 9th had a report of the Kelly murder.

What strikes me as odd about this is that we're in a different time zone down this wee corner of the globe. Right now my computer's clock tells me it's 6.46 am on Monday. http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/ tells me that in London it's 7.46pm Sunday and in Sydney it's 4.46am Monday.

According to Casebook's victim timeline, Bowyer peeked in the window of Miller's Court at 10.45am on Friday morning. At this time in Sydney it would have been 7.45pm on Friday. Even if it Bowyer went to the press agency before the police, and their first response was to get in contact with Aussie right away and then the Aussies whipped out an extra at lightning speed, we're talking 9-10pm at night for this to be published. Even if it had been Perth rather than Sydney, which is two hours earlier, it's still very late to publish a paper.

Please note, in the spirit of avoiding conflict, that I'm no way disputing the evidence put forward by the highly respected Mr Scott, whose extensive work in the areas of newspapers, census records, et al I find very impressive, considering that I would never have the patience to attempt it. It's just something that struck me as very odd both times he's mentioned it and I wondered what others thought, and perhaps if Chris could provide more info on the paper in question?

Cheers,
Bailey

[jmenges]

Hi all,

I want to announce officially that tomorrow's podcast (Rippercast Episode 28) will tackle the subject of the suspect Kosminski, with researcher/author Rob House as special guest. Plus a gathering of co-hosts, all of them special as well

Stay Tuned,



JM

https://www.rippernet.com

iTunes Music Store kw: Jack the Ripper

[George Hutchinson]

Hi Jonathan - yes, it is all one and the same. The 1996 SECRET HISTORY is the Marshall Cavendish WHITECHAPEL MURDERS is SPE & Paul Gainey talking about FT.

PHILIP

[BillyE]

Since that video is from 1996, and says it offers a new solution based on new evidence all this points to Stewart's suspect Tumblety, so you are thinking of the right one, I'm thinking. Since I'm all DVD, and none of my dinosaur VCR's work anymore I haven't seen any of it. One of these days I'll save up enough to buy a VCR with a DVD burner attached, so I can actually watch the video. Anyway, thanks to Jonathan, and Philip with your help in identifying the video. Maybe someday I'll get to watch it.

[jmenges]

But correct me if I'm wrong, 1996's Secret History was 'The Whitechapel Murders' w/ Stewart Evans and Gainey about the Littlechild letter and Francis Tumblety.

Confused,

JM

[George Hutchinson]

Hi Billy.

That is absolutely the one you have.

The TV show came first, in 1996, as you say. When Marshall Cavendish were bringing out the weekly partwork magazine MURDER IN MIND in 1997-8 they issued the video as a stand-alone you could order through the post initially but it soon found its way into the shops too. MURDER IN MIND was just an updated version of MURDER CASEBOOK, which is the series that really got me into the subject in a big way - I read every word of every copy of the 250 magazines. I've obviously still got them all, though the commercial value is way, way beneath what I paid for them back in 1990-92.

PHILIP

[BillyE]

I have a question about the documentary episode for anyone who cares to answer it. I have a VHS tape of a Ripper documentary titled "Marshall Cavendish Murder In Mind: The Whitechapel Murders: Who was Jack the Ripper?" I was wondering if this was the Secret History episode about Jack the Ripper. I remember Philip talking about it on the podcast, and it sounds most like the one I have. It is from 1996, and from Channel 4, all things Philip mentioned, so I'm inclined to believe so, but I didn't hear "Murder In Mind", or Marshall Cavendish talked about so I'm not sure. What can you tell me about the doc I have? Thanks to all.

[jmenges]

Hi all,

This Sunday, 14 September, for episode #27 of Rippercast, we'll be talking about the letters sent in from the public to the press and police during the Autumn of Terror. Letters claiming to be from the killer as well as letters offering solutions to the killings will be discussed.

Joining the show this weekend will be Gareth Williams (aka Sam Flynn) !!!

also on the show, at the very least- myself, Ally Ryder, Mike Covell and Robert McLaughlin.

I'll start the discussion thread once the show is available to download.

Thanks for listening!



JM

[jmenges]

Episode #26

Hi all,

There's been a delay in getting the new episode online. I won't be able to release it until sometime today. Sorry. Other commitments prevented me from working on the show yesterday.

But, look for Episode #26

Dorset Street: Fiona Rule on 'The Worst Street in London'

to be released today.

I wish to thank author Fiona Rule, Coral Kelly from the Whitechapel Society, and Robert McLaughlin for participating in last Sunday's podcast!

Sorry for the delay...

Stay Tuned



JM

[katiaintheworkshop]

I went to Frightfest a few years ago when Ginger Snaps was being shown (it was either 1,2,or 3) and some bloke called Robert Englund was there!

I used to recieve Timecoded Horror movies back in the day and have thousands on VHS, and just as many on DVD, but the best and one which still gives me nightmares is "The Wickerman", which is bloody terryfying!

Jonathon is a great host, laid back and has a dry humour that usually has the guests in stitches and relaxes everyone, his podcasts reflect this great atmosphere.

Hi Mike,

I am back from Frightfest and had a really great time there.
I must say am very jealous of your DVD's and VHS's collection, are you sure that you have enough room for it in your house? You could leave some of your movies in my house, I will look after them very carefully!

Anyway, looking forwards to listening to the new installment of Rippercast!