Ripperologist 125: April 2012

[AdamNeilWood]

Ripperologist issue 125 is out now!

EDITORIAL: A DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF TIME
by Gareth Williams

ADA WILSON: DOUBLY UNFORTUNATE
by Mark Ripper

THE CASE AGAINST JACOB ISENSCHMID
by Lynn Cates

OCCAM’S RAZOR
by Simon Wood

A LESSON UNHEEDED: WALTER LEWIS TURNER
AND THE HORSFORTH CHILD MURDER
by Barry Diggle

CHRIS SCOTT’S PRESS TRAWL

AMAZING DOGS
by Jan Bondeson

SPITALFIELDS LIFE
by The Gentle Author

OBITUARY: LINA ROMAY

VICTORIAN FICTION: HOW THE MAIL STEAMER
WENT DOWN IN MID ATLANTIC
by W T Stead

DEAR RIP

I BEG TO REPORT: NEWS ROUNDUP

REVIEWS
Jack the Ripper: The Hand of a Woman and more!

https://www.ripperologist.biz

https://www.facebook.com/ripperologist

[Bridewell]

Hi Adam,

Looks fascinating - the first of my subscription and I look forward to reading it.

Best Wishes, Bridewell.

[Tom_Wescott]

Ada Wilson mystery solved?

I'm at work. It's a little slow so I started reading the new work. Sam Flynn writes the editorial, where he tells us we're too hard on flighty Ripper fiction, then goes on to describe Ripper non-fiction as "premature ejaculation". So apparently we're not too hard on non-fiction.

Anyway, I read Mark Ripper's article and it's outstanding. He not only finds the likely Ada Wilson in the census, but tracks her throughout her young life (this one died at age 37), and finds evidence naming the man who likely attacked her in 1888. Serious stuff.

The only question is - Is the Ada Wilson that Mark is following the right one? I'd like to hear more from other data-heads out there, who would be as familiar with the census and such as Mark is.

But I think his article is an outstanding piece of work. I look forward to reading the rest of the issue.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[lynn cates]

coda

Hello Tom. I second that. Mark's piece may allow "coda" to be written for her case.

Cheers.
LC

[Tom_Wescott]

Hi Lynn,

I've always thought Ada a red herring and haven't really understood how she found such purchase with researchers. But yes, if a consensus of sorts is reached that Mark found the 'right' Ada, then I'd say we can conclude this one was a domestic.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[lynn cates]

profile

Hello Tom. I don't wish to sound hasty, but I think her stock went up as a result of the FBI profile. If the profile is correct, then one needs one or two furtive killings preceding the canonical ones.

Cheers.
LC

[lynn cates]

Cutbush

Hello All. Kudos to Simon Wood for the excellent Cutbush piece.

Is it possible for yet another suspect to bite the dust?

Cheers.
LC

[Tom_Wescott]

Hi Lynn. I don't think you're being hasty at all. In fact I'd say you hit the nail on the head with the popular emergence of serial killer profiling and the search for Ripper-like attacks and murders lending strength to Ada Wilson.

I just arrived home from work and plan to do some writing. I made the mistake of glancing at your Isenschmid article and ended up staying 15 minutes late at work! Still not done though, so I'll finish it after I tend to my own work.

I will say this, I was in the chat room with Chris George yesterday and he was clearly very excited about this issue, which considering this guy has edited Ripper zines for like 50 years is probably not something you see all the time. Anyway, he was very proud of the contributors this issue and I can see why.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Tom_Wescott]

Return of the Beadle award?

I really think the Rip should bring back the Beadle award, or something like it. I'm not sure why they stopped it, but I think it has to do with all the delicate egos in Ripperology. I said every year that the Beadle award was around that I wouldn't want to be in Chris' shoes (or the other editors), because they're damned if they do and damned if they don't. I don't think many of you out there realize how seriously egotistical many of the writers in the field are, especially the ones who don't openly show it on the boards. Half of my posts are essentially a lampoon of these people and how they see themselves.

My suggestion would be to put up a well-rounded group of 'finalists', maybe 10 or 15, and let the readers vote, either by contacting the magazine directly, or by polls on the two forums. This would take the onus off the editors and would allow the readers to have a say. I would also strongly encourage there be a 2nd and 3rd place, with maybe a year's free sub for winning.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[lynn cates]

profile

Hello Tom. Thanks for the kind words. Delighted you have a similar opinion about the profile.

The last time I published something was in 2003. At that time I swore off. Looks like I lied.

Cheers.
LC

[Phil Carter]

Hello All. Kudos to Simon Wood for the excellent Cutbush piece.

Is it possible for yet another suspect to bite the dust?

Cheers.
LC

Hello Lynn,

I could not agree more. Simon Wood has put together something VERY special here. It raises questions that run deep. Perhaps even a box opener. I think Cutbush has reached the end of the road- Cutbush City Limits. Simon has to my mind at least prodded Macnaugthen's memoranda into the position it should be- and Melville himself into a corner. Ostrog is now a total dead
duck and Druitt- well there you go. He only touched on Kosminski- but having taken the memorandum to pieces, it didnt need to do much to Kosminski anyway.

Your own piece Lynn, SHOULD be a classic. But will the people dare to accepti t?

You are getting there my friend- a very convincing argument indeed.


Phil

[Tom_Wescott]

Hi Lynn. Please remind me what you published in 2003 and where?

Phil,

No spoilers! I'm saving Simon's for last. Since he's writing about Daddy Mac, I'm sure we'll here a word or two from Hainsworth.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Phil Carter]

Hello Tom,

Just enjoy it Tom- its a piece of briliance with a twist.

Best wishes

Phil

[mariab]

The last time I published something was in 2003. At that time I swore off. Looks like I lied.

Lynn, was the 2003 publication philosophy-related? I've always been saying, you teach too much! :-)
And it's nice to hear that folks are being on and writing on their articles/books left and right.
I'll read Rip #125 in about a week or so, when I've finished with some urgent work-related/bureaucracy stuff I'm taking care of big time right now and get rid of that stupid cold. And looking forward to Simon Wood on the “pencil pushers“.

[lynn cates]

well named

Hello Phil. Thanks. Yes, Simon has written a fine piece. Seems Cutbush is out of the picture. Pity. Loved his name. (heh-heh)

Cheers.
LC