Mike Covell’s Blogg

During the last two weeks I have been pouring over reports in the Hull Packet and East Riding Times, for reports on Stephenson and Dawber families.  This has led to over 60 new reports!

The reports cover dates from 1840 to 1890 and feature,

• Richard Stephenson Snr and the selling of several tons of manure,
• Richard Stephenson Snr and the selling of the Union Mill,
• Richard Stephenson Snr and his attempt to become a voter,
• Richard Stephenson Snr and the suicide of his cousin,
• Richard Stephenson Snr and his investments with The Yorkshire banking company,
• Richard Stephenson Jnr and his election to become Hull City Councillor,
• Richard Stephenson Jnr and his election to become a Sculcoates Guardian,
• Isabella Dawber Stephenson/Richardson and her wedding,
• Isabella Dawber Stephenson/Richardson and her dealings with the Yorkshire banking co.
• A Sermon by Rev Prest, on his work in Italy.
• A Service by Rev Prest for Isabella Dawber Stephenson/Richardson
• A report on the finances of the Hull Weslean Home Missions by Secretary Richard Stephenson junior.
• Several auctions held by Joseph Dawber and his Solicitors firm.
• Several donations made by Joseph Dawber to various charitable institutions.
• Alexander McLennan Fowler being charged for poaching!
• William Dawber being charged with leaving handcarts unattended.
• Richard Stephenson Junior being present at the laying of the foundation stone for St Silas Church!

Work is already underway to transcribe the reports, and already the current Stephenson chronology stands at 52376 words spread over 83 pages, and thats just the time line!! 

I must take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been in touch since the TV, Radio and Newspaper appearance, and all those that have offered help.  It is all appreciated and full acknowledgements will appear in print in the book.

Yesterday was a frantic race to film a short piece in Hull’s Ferens Art Gallery, including an interview, before the crew returned to edit it for a lunchtime slot.

Then an afternoon session was recorded to create the much longer piece on Look North last night.

The show was created as part of a look at Hull’s Hidden History, which will prove to be a popular slot, and was the first of what looks to be many looking into Hull’s past. 

What did strike me, was the fact that my statement on Stephenson being a Walter Mitty type charector, and being an inpatient at the London Hospital at the time of the murders was ommitted.

But, that small point aside, it was a valuble lesson in working with the local media, at creating awareness, and hopefully making others want to research the mystery themselves.

Hot on the heels of the Hull Daily Mail article came a call from BBC’s Radio Humberside, asking me to discuss local history research and Jack the Ripper. 

The show ran for just 15 minutes, but we discussed the bug of researching local history, and how it can lead to finding out more than expected.

Taken from the Hull Daily Mail

A writer has claimed there are several people with links to Hull who could have been Jack the Ripper.

No one has ever been able to identify the man who stalked the streets of London’s East End in 1888, killing women.

But Mike Covell, from Severn Street, east Hull has devoted his time to tracking down the killer – and told the Mail there are plausible suspects linked to Hull and the East Riding.

Mr Covell, 30, has now started writing a book on the subject.

He said: “I first got involved the case when I visited Ferens Arts Gallery, in Hull, and they told me they had Jack the Ripper’s paintings.

“I did some investigating and it led me into all sorts of different areas.

“There have been 120 suspects who have been involved so far and some have strong links to Hull.”

Among them is Frederick Bailey Deeming, a bigamist who married in Beverley and honeymooned in Hull.

He was later jailed in the city for fraud and went on to kill two of his wives by slitting their throats.

Robert Donston Stephenson, born and raised in Hull, was another suspect.

Stephenson was accused of the killings by one of his friends, but told police he knew the identity of the killer – a doctor at the London Hospital.

Both men were staying in Whitechapel at the time of the murders.

Mr Covell said: “I’m writing a book about the connections called Jack The Ripper: From Hell, From Hull.

“I have all the newspaper articles published round here about the case since 1888. I would like to release them as a complete record.”

Jack the Ripper murdered 11 women from 1888 to 1891 in areas around Whitechapel.

Mr Covell regularly posts on the user-generated website Your Mail, keeping those interested in the case up-to-date with his latest research.

Article: http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Jack-Ripper-Hull/article-1079694-detail/article.html?cacheBust=3Ysw8FO118Cb&authid=sSdf4iUsy52lgXrYQzLE1PAbIg4EbIdN5fIrL3bQLys9VKXZ1245140924251&success=true#community

Follow On Article on Thisisyourmail: http://www.thisisyourmail.co.uk/posts/your_patch/view/62009-jack-the-ripper-from-hell-or-hull-