Ripperologist 129: December 2012

[Bridewell]

Another illusion shattered!

Regards, Bridewell.

[AdamNeilWood]

Hi Chris,

Yes you're correct - the photograph used in Martin's article in of the Aberconway version, written by Lady Aberconway and copied from the rough notes made by Macnaghten.

I agree with you that she copied the word 'seen' too early in the sentence.

Best wishes
Adam

[Chris]

Have just read Martin Fido's thought-provoking article on rethinking Kosminski & Cohen. Has anyone established what the word is which MacNaghten began, then crossed out before substituting 'the' to read
"This man in appearance strongly resembled the individual seen by the City PC near Mitre Square"?
It looks to me like 'Slev' or something similar. (Apologies if I'm barking up an ancient tree, but I've never run up against this before.)

I thought it was 'seen', the copyist having jumped ahead a couple of words before correcting the error. (If I understand correctly, this page was written by Lady Aberconway, not by Macnaghten himself.)

[Bridewell]

Have just read Martin Fido's thought-provoking article on rethinking Kosminski & Cohen. Has anyone established what the word is which MacNaghten began, then crossed out before substituting 'the' to read
"This man in appearance strongly resembled the individual seen by the City PC near Mitre Square"?
It looks to me like 'Slev' or something similar. (Apologies if I'm barking up an ancient tree, but I've never run up against this before.)

Regards, Bridewell.

Answering my own question, I guess it's taken to be 'seen', but placed too early in the sentence - rather an odd mistake though, to my mind. It could also be the beginning of 'Stevens', 'Stevenson' Slewinski' or 'Sliwinski'. Am I being fanciful here or might MacNaghten have begun to write a name and thought better of it?

Regards, Bridewell.

[Monty]

Really enjoyed Gentle Authors piece this issue.

As one who looks out for such things it was a joy to read.

Monty

[Bridewell]

Slev?

Have just read Martin Fido's thought-provoking article on rethinking Kosminski & Cohen. Has anyone established what the word is which MacNaghten began, then crossed out before substituting 'the' to read
"This man in appearance strongly resembled the individual seen by the City PC near Mitre Square"?
It looks to me like 'Slev' or something similar. (Apologies if I'm barking up an ancient tree, but I've never run up against this before.)

Regards, Bridewell.

[ChrisGeorge]

I think Chris has nailed it too; in more ways than one. His editorial was spot on.

Many thanks for your kind words, Hunter.

Cheers

Chris

[Hunter]

I think Chris has nailed it too; in more ways than one. His editorial was spot on.

[lynn cates]

yes

Hello Chris. Thanks. I think you've nailed it.

Cheers.
LC

[lynn cates]

hope springs eternal

Hello Mike. Thanks. Well, when contracts pick up, I'll see what can be done.

Cheers.
LC

[ChrisGeorge]

"...regular police and secret police arrived en masse." This certainly confirms Spiro's book about special branch being involved. Back to reading.

Hi Mike, Lynn, et al.

Yes I think they were actually just referring to detectives rather than secret police. We have to be careful in assessing the rendering of the Yiddish and sometimes not be too literal. For example, the reference to "little Jews" apparently meaning the observant Jews with whom the Socialist Jews were carrying on a running propaganda battle and occasionally real battles in the streets of the East End. It does occur to me though that it's probable that Special Branch was in and around the Socialist club keeping an eye on them, even if in this instance the "secret police" referred to were just regular Scotland Yard detectives.

Best regards

Chris

[mklhawley]

Yes, I assume that Russian Jews would probably refer to detectives as secret police. I do not think it is too sinister... I think the term "secret police" mainly refers to the fact that they were "plainclothes" detectives, hence not overtly obviously policemen. When the CID was formed I believe there was some public backlash to the formation of a secret police force, partially because they did not want to be like Russia.

RH

My guess is that this Yiddish paper made comments about secret police at other times, and possibly the answer could be gleaned out. Any future translations Lynn?

Sincerely,

Mike

[lynn cates]

C I D

Hello Neil. Quite right.

Cheers.
LC

[lynn cates]

liberal Britain

Hello Rob. Thanks.

An astute observation. The whole concept of secret political police was inimical to the British, as Bernard Porter observes in his book.

Cheers.
LC

[Monty]

Secret Police or Private Police are often confused with CID.

Monty