Mike Covell’s Blogg

Newspapers from Hell, From Hull
The book is expanding at an alarming rate, it’s huge, over 250+ articles, and many of these, I believe, have not appeared before. I also spent several hours this week looking at when each newspaper was launched, when it ceased, who owned it, who published it, wether it was a daily, or weekly paper, wether it was morning or nightly, where the offices were based, which had telephones in 1888, which had London offices in 1888, etc.
A study on Hull Newspapers was undertaken in 2005, funded by Hull City Council, but it was nowhere near as large as the work I have undertaken. 

A New Newspaper added to the list,
Initially I was to include only 4 of the Hull Newspapers, but since I made that decision, I was faced with a microfilm of another Hull newspaper. I now have all the reports pertaining to the Whitechapel murders, and I have began transcribing those.

A New Newspaper?
One of the only newspaper for the period I cannot get my hands on is The Hull Globe, but after several internet searches, I have tracked down a copy. I am in the process of arranging a sitting to access the newspaper, and try to get copies of the Whitechapel Murder articles!!

Stephenson - Dawber and Co,
Some new finds came this week into the families of both Stephenson and Dawber. The finds where made in Trade Directories, which had previously been unavailable, and show some of the missing years of the families chronologies. I was also able to track down later trade directories which show a little more about the Dawber family.
It is quite possible a Non-Ripper article will be written, concentrating on the Dawber family, and submitted to a local genealogical magazine. Watch this space…

Jack the Ripper, From Hell-From Hull?
The book was heavily editied this week, after I got rid of some of the global news reports and replaced them with some local news reports. I also added several new dates to the Stephenson chronology.

Mike Covell’s Haunted Hull,
Another book to be heavily edited, but purely for technological reasons. The picture files were massive and taking up too much space, so I have deleted all the images, and left it as a text document, at least until I get round compacting all the wonderful images!!

Last night,
Last night I was granted access to a wonderful building which was built in the late 1890’s as a relieving and vaccination office. I was there to speak to the residents as it as now become a homeless shelter, and I was lecturing on local history and the paranormal. By the end of the evening, the chat turned to JTR and it was a fun evening, with some really nice people.

Health

This last few months seem to have been an uphill struggle, as I always seem to be attacked by viruses due to my pathetic immune system.  I have had to put up with vomiting, dizzyness, nausea, and loads of other nasty symptoms.  I look towards the day that everything is sorted and I can continue on as normal.  But until then, I have my ongoing research to keep me busy!

Newspaper Transcribing 

I have had a busy time transcribing Hull Newspaper reports from 1888, covering 4 newspapers and their views on the case which was unfolding in Whitechapel. 

Among the reports are numerous tales of suspects, witnesses, victims, letters, officers, and lots of information that appears to be unique to the Hull correspondents in London during the period!

I also managed to get the full coverage in the Hull Press of,

Thomas Sadler’s trial,

Frederick Bailey Deeming’s trial,

The Tranby Croft Scandal,

The Maybrick trial,

The Torso murder series,

The William Waddel trial, aka “The Gateshead Ripper murder”

And much much more!!

Heritage Days

The old buildings of Hull, usually off limits to people like me, recently threw their doors open, and elcomed visitors as part of the Heritage days! I gained access to the wonderful Customs House, which is situated on Whitefriargate, former workplace of Robert D’Onston Stephenson.

The pictures are posted here, http://www.thisisyourmail.co.uk/posts/your_say/view/39534-heritage-day-a-look-back

The post won me yet another accolade as I walked away with a Hull Daily Mail/Yoursay Mousemat and Pen!

5^th December 1888 Hull Daily Mail
THE EAST END OUTRAGES
TEXT OF THE “JACK THE RIPPER” LETTER
On Tuesday Mr Saunders, the presiding magistrate at the Thames Police Court, received a letter, addressed “Mr Saunders, Chief Magistrate, Police Court, Whitechapel”. The contents were as follow:-
 
“Dear Pal- I am still at liberty. The last job in Whitechapel was not bad, but I mean to surprise them on the next. Shall joint is. Ha! Ha! Ha! After that shall try on the lazy lurchers who live on unfortunates. We have just enrolled several pals for the job. I am in the country now, for the benefit of my health. I met the super here (Wellingborough) the other day, and like him immense. He looks like a yard of pump water starched. Shall try a job here next time. So look out for news from “JACK THE RIPPER”

15^th October 1888 Eastern Morning News
ANOTHER LETTER FROM “JACK THE RIPPER”
“Jack the Ripper” writes to a Welsh newspaper the following letter, bearing a London postmark:-
London October 9^th, 1888
Dear Old Boss,
What do you think of my little games here? Ha! Ha! Next Saturday I am going to give the St Mary Street girls a turn. I shall be fairly on their track, you bet. Keep this back until I have done some work, ha! ha! Shall down Friday.- Yours &c,
Jack the Ripper (trade mark)
To the Editor of the Western Mail

13^th October 1888 Hull News
THE “JACK THE RIPPER” MANIA
A LETTER TO THE “HULL NEWS”
The following letter was brought to-day, about noon to the office of this paper. It was enclosed in an envelope and left surreptitiously on the office counter, it is believed by a lad, who immediately ran away. Of course no importance is attached to the effusion, it being only an attempted hoax:-

Hull Oct 5th’I arrived in Hull last night from Manchester, and may as well inform you that I have a job or two to do here.
London’s got two hot for me.
‘It’s all that I want is blood, blood, blood.
For why, you will know when I’m (copped?)
I’ll sharpen my knifes and I’ll take their lives,
and enjoy myself till I stopped.

The letter is written in pencil on a leaf torn from a pocket-book, and at the bottom is the drawing of a knife represented to be dripping with blood.