Ripperologist 111

[Tom_Wescott]

Am I the only person who read the editorial? I'm surprised there have been no comments considering it contained not one, not two, but three major announcements:

1) Don Souden and Jennifer Shelden (nee Pegg) have left the magazine. This is no small deal since Don's partnership with the journal coincided with what could be called the 'golden era' of Ripperologist. I'm certainly not saying that Don is solely responsible for this success, but he, Adam, and Chris G. seemed to make a good team.
2) Ripperologist will become available in print form as well as the usual electronic format, much like the Lizzie Borden journal, The Hatchet. I wonder what impact this will have on the format of the journal as we've come to know it since it went electornic with issue #62?
3) Rip will publish specialized publications with articles from their vast archives suited to topic. I think this is a great idea and I'm anxious to learn more. Will this be a selective 'Best of' or include literally every article pertaining to a topic that the mag has ever produced? The latter would be almost impossible to do as a 'print' option, but would be great for sale as a pdf or disc.

There are many excellent articles from the print days of Rip that so many newer students don't even know exist, so hopefully this will breath new life into them and make them accessible to a new generation. Zinna's 'Philip Krantz and the Berner Street Club' is the first to come to my mind, and also some of Scott Nelson's early Kosminski work. If Rip does a specific edition on the Ripper Letters (as I hope they will), they're more than welcome to include my 'D'Onston' and 'Bulling' pieces.
Of more recent essays, I consider Gavin Bromley's 'Mrs. Kuer's Lodger', which I only read recently, to be one of the best Ripper essays I have ever read. However, it's like two essays in one. I'd recommend splitting it into two sections - one on the lodger, the other on Schwartz, so that way no one misses anything they might be looking for. Anyway, I suppose I should get some work done, so I'll stop here for now.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Natalie Severn]

I did notice Tom and tend to agree with you.However,forgive me if I am wrong---I always think of it as Paul Begg"s baby- a lot of the current people around the mag seem either close to Paul or help him with his research etc
I am very sorry indeed,I have to say,that Don and Jenny have left .

[Tom_Wescott]

Hi Nats, I've always thought of Pirate Jack as Paul Begg's baby, but I digress. You are aware that he didn't join the staff until issue #28 (which so happens to have been my first issue!)? It's really Adam's baby, if you ask me, but I guess since Paul is the 'big name' it's perceived as his. I'm not downplaying Paul's contributions, which Lord knows have been many, but I've always perceived it as a 'team' project, at least at certain points in its history.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Septic Blue]

I've always thought of Pirate Jack as Paul Begg's baby, ...

Perhaps 'Pirate Jack' can fill the void created by the departures of 'supe' and 'jdpegg'.

[Natalie Severn]

Come to think of it Tom and Colin,Paul seems to have fathered his own little family of RipperologistsBut quite right,Pirate Jack leads the way!

[Tom_Wescott]

That's a horrifying thought, Septic. My money is on Monty.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Monty]

Smart money too Tom....
or is it?

Monty

[Tom_Wescott]

I'm rarely wrong, Monty. Take the graffiti, for instance. I'm dead on the nose there. Actually, I'm not privy to special info. Just seemed logical based on a number of factors. I'll wait until the official announcement to congratulate you though.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

P.S. Make bringing back Gavin Bromley your first duty of office! Seriously, anyone know what happened to that guy?

[Natalie Severn]

Are there now going to be lots and lots and lots of big long articles about Kosminski and Anderson and Swanson and Dr Bond and the paraphernalia stuff ?

[Monty]

Tom,

I was in regular contact with Gavin until around 12 months ago.

We were to collaberate on a piece however other far more important comitments, they took Gavins time.

I believe he isnt lost to us. Incidently, he has moved down the road from me...we must catch up.

And I think others are more apt for the job. John Bennett springs to mind (excellent piece by John in this months Rip, awesone in fact) as does Ben Holme. However my money would be on Gareth Williams aka Sam Flynn. And seeing Im on a roll after picking winners in Rob Clack, twice, and Debs, I trust my nose.

Monty

[Tom_Wescott]

I'm glad to hear Gavin's doing okay. We all must occassionally take a step away. Lord knows I have, and it seems that's what Sam's been doing, which is why he didn't spring right to my mind.

Are there now going to be lots and lots and lots of big long articles about Kosminski and Anderson and Swanson and Dr Bond and the paraphernalia stuff.

Yes, to edit for Rip you must bring your own paraphernalia. It's required, as Begg insists on a cootie-free bong hit.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Natalie Severn]

I am saying no more Tom.Feathering and nests are coming too readily to mind!

[Tom_Wescott]

I don't know what you're talking about half the time, Nats. But I greatly enjoy you the other half of the time!

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[The Grave Maurice]

...and it seems that's what Sam's been doing....

You raise a good point, Thomas. I had been wondering why these boards seemed to be about 10 or 12 posts a day lighter than usual. And, come to think of it, it's been a while since we heard anything from babybird. You don't suppose that they've flown the coop together, do ya?

[Natalie Severn]

Well thanks Tom!
To be honest I didnt enjoy this months Ripperologist very much at all .I thought the writer of the Kosminski piece wrote very well ,but really if we need anything its not any more of Anderson"s tired old "definitely ascertainable facts" we need,but fresh statistics or medical views that might possibly support a case against a man who so far was considered harmless for thirty years. Solid evidence of his medical history is what is needed from Colney Hatch and Leavesdon.So far there isnt a jot of solid evidence to support anything Anderson or others have to say about Aaron Kosminski being Jack the Ripper.It just seems to get more and more absurd to me.

I used to think some of Wolf"s research very impressive,and Dan"s and as I have said before, your own articles have often had that fresh sense of inquiry and engaging written style that counts for a lot in a magazine article.Rob Clack"s piece on Mary Austin was another piece of research I found really important and impressive.

Lately I , personally, have not found anything, in terms of factual analysis of the case or illuminating insight into the objective circumstances of the case to quite to equal the above.
Moan over!
Night Tom.