UPDDATES FOR THE PAST 11 MONTHS

Archives, Books, E-Books, Events, Hull Press, Libraries, Movies, National Press, Podcast, Research, Ripper Fiction, Ripper Non-Fiction, TV/Documentaries, bloggs 1 Comment »

Well it has been one hell of a year.  I seem to have not written much on the blog at all this year, but believe me it is for a very good reason.  I have been so busy not just with “Jack the Ripper” but other projects that I rarely get to sit and update my blog.  So here, in one post, is all the weird and wonderful news since my last posting.  Forgive me if I go over the same ground again, but the projects are so exciting and it is fantastic to be a part of them all.

 

LONDON LECTURE

 

This week I had the pleasure of lecturing for a massive marketing company in London at Mindshare’s Huddle event. 

 

http://www.mindshareworld.com/uk/about/huddle

 

https://twitter.com/mindshare_uk

 

Massive thank you to Chris Bourke, for not only booking me, but making me feel very welcome at the event.  The lecture which was for Qriously Ltd, looked at “Jack the Ripper” and the media both past and present and was a very popular lecture.  Everyone made me feel very welcome and I had a lovely time in London meeting everyone.  

 

https://www.qriously.com/

 

https://twitter.com/qriously

 

BOOKS

 

This year has seen the release of ten of my books, they are all available to download via Amazon, and two are currently available on paperback.  Simply search for “Mike Covell” on the Amazon pages around the world and you will find the products. 

At the moment sales are really impressive and I cannot thank the Creativia gang for taking me on board and looking after me and my titles.  They are such a small tight nit group and they have worked wonders for me. 

 

http://www.creativia.org/

 

https://www.facebook.com/ctivia

 

http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull-s-Jack-Ripper-expert-Mike-Covell-storms/story-21328013-detail/story.html

 

MOVIES

 

As you can imagine I am limited in what I can say about the movies at present, I know I am a tease, but I can only recommend that you visit the Thunderball Films website for updates on the projects that I am involved in.  It is a very exciting time, and I look forward to working on some amazing projects as an historical director and executive producer that are heading our way.   

 

http://www.thunderballfilms.com/

 

https://twitter.com/ThunderBallFilm

 

http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hollywood-buys-script-real-life-Victorian-crime/story-20940257-detail/story.html

 

http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Jack-Ripper-expert-Mike-Covell-star-Mischa-Barton/story-20761947-detail/story.html

 

TV SHOW

 

I can confirm that there is a television show on the way looking at the “Jack the Ripper” case and other similar cases to ascertain fact from fiction, myth from reality.  Whilst I am very limited over what I can and cannot say, I can say that it is a very interesting and exciting project tackled in a way that has never been tackled before in Ripperology.  The title for the show is “Jack the Ripper: Reality and Myth.”

 

http://www.thunderballfilms.com/

 

https://twitter.com/ThunderBallFilm

 

TOURS

 

Many people will remember that earlier this year I set up AMAZING HULL TOURS.  Since that time I had carried out numerous tours, lectures, and research for numerous people.  The tours are going really well and recently were featured in the Hull Daily Mail after a number of people caught anomalous objects on camera.  I take a back seat and allow people to take photos on the tour and if they capture anything on film I do not sway their opinion.  That said, this last few weeks has seen a number of people capture unexplained activity on their cameras. 

 

http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Graveyard-ghost-Does-photo-capture-spooky-spirit/story-24024138-detail/story.html

 

PODCAST

 

Earlier this year I met with my good mate John and we recorded a show on Jack the Ripper – The Hull Connection.  Since then John and I have recorded more shows that look at the history of Hull.  Show two featured a virtual walk around Hull’s Old Town, visiting some of the allegedly haunted pubs and talking about their history. 
Show three featured a similar virtual tour around some of the pubs a little further afield.

To listen to the shows simply visit:

 

http://www.johninstein.webs.com/urban-legends

 

https://www.facebook.com/Urbanlegendhull

 

https://twitter.com/ULPodcast

 

HULL’S DARK MUSEUM

 

Earlier this year I teamed up with local businessman John Hemmingway to create a brand new visitor attraction in Hull.  The idea is to showcase 700 years of the darker side of Hull’s strange history, from witchcraft to the hanging of pirates, ghost sightings, local legends and true crime.  The project is moving at a great pace and I look forward to releasing news about this very soon.  One area we hope to showcase is “Jack the Ripper” The Hull Connection.

https://twitter.com/HullDarkHistory

 

https://www.facebook.com/HullDarkHistoryMuseum

 

http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Death-murder-disease-New-Hull-dungeon-museum/story-20513987-detail/story.html

 

FUTURE PROJECTS

 

I am very pleased to announce that due to the popularity of the URBAN LEGENDS podcasts that next year for the second season we have even bigger plans.  Watch out for John and I around Hull filming in locations associated with true crime, Jack the Ripper, and the paranormal. 

I am pleased to be the historian at the fascinating project housed within Annison’s Stables, on Witham, above and behind the 24 hour pharmacy.  A lot of attention has been paid to this building and its magnificent history and in the future you will see some amazing tours, lectures, and the occasional paranormal investigation at the property.  You will also see lectures on Mary Jane Langley being given at the property where Mr. William Mortimer Edmonds had his photography shop!

The “Chocolate Factory” on Wincolmlee, a lovely 19th century tallow mill will also see some magnificent projects taking place there.  These will be run in conjunction with local businessman John Hemmingway, who I spoke about in regards to the DARK MUSEUM above.

 

2015 will see a wide range of new lectures and new tours, taking in aspects of Hull’s history long since forgotten.  Among the new lectures will be a new Amy Johnson lecture, a new William Papper lecture, and a new lecture on Hull’s infamous Silver Hatchet Gang of the early 19th century.

 

New Books!!!  Next year will see the release of a series of new books that will explore the darker side of Hull’s history.  The series is all but finished and they will be submitted just after Christmas for a steady release through the year.  It will mean a year of no “Jack the Ripper” releases from me, but I am saving the new “Jack the Ripper” projects for 2016.

 

LECTURES

 

The AMAZING HULL TOURS lectures have had a very busy year and bookings are coming well into 2015 with a lecture booked for December next year!  All bookings for both tours and lectures can be made through AMAZING HULL TOURS at the following;

 

http://www.amazinghulltours.co.uk/

 

https://www.facebook.com/amazinghulltours

 

 https://twitter.com/AMAZINGHULLTOUR

 

Or via emailing us at amazinghulltours@hotmail.com

 

 

David A. Green’s Indexes

Books, Opinion, Podcast 2 Comments »

In 2005 Euan Macpherson released The Trial of Jack the Ripper – The Case of William Bury 1859-1889, with Mainstream Publishing Company.   The book was well written, well researched, and well received by Ripperologists, with many supporting the theory, which was first put forward in 1889.  One thing the book was lacking was an index.  Granted, they are not always important, but for many researchers who love nothing more than quickly picking up a weighty Ripper tome and flicking straight to a quote or reference these indexes are worth their weight in gold. 

Luckily, David A. Green was on hand to help with this, and in 2009 published the second in a series of indexes for Jack the Ripper titles that are missing indexes.  The index was invaluable, and quite rare, with only 50 published.  Being able to slide the index into the back of the original title and use it as a reference tool is fantastic, and the time and effort that has gone into producing them is outstanding, especially as David never asks for payment, and sends them out at his own expense.

2005 also saw the release of the excellent The First Jack the Ripper Victim Photographs, by Robert J. McLaughlin.  Robert is a great researcher, writer and gentleman who I had the pleasure of chatting to on numerous occasions on the Rippercast podcasts set up by Jonathan Menges.   The book, published by Zwerghaus Books, was a very limited edition, with all copies being snapped up, and recent sales of the book reaching four figure sums!  Sadly, Robert’s book also failed to include an index, so David A. Green set to work again. 

Earlier this month David contacted me again, and informed me that the index to Robert’s book was complete, and again very kindly offered to send one to my home.  Again the work that has gone into the index is outstanding, and it is well presented, with cover piece and even an illustration.   Once again only 50 of these were made.

I cannot thank David enough for these, and they certainly cut down time in researching specifics of the case.  I must also thank Rob for sending me a free signed copy of his ultra rare book back in April 2008. 

Thank you gents.

Year in Review 2011

Archives, Books, Deeming, E-Books, Events, Hull Press, Jack the Ripper Doc's, Libraries, National Press, Opinion, Podcast, Press Reports, Research, Stephenson Family, TV/Documentaries, Theories No Comments »

Every year around this time I always post a Year in Review, showing the books, magazines, articles, TV shows and research that other Ripperologists have done throughout the year, but this past year has seen so many changes and I have been so busy that I have not really kept up with the latest developments.  Plus a major hard-drive explosion and the loss of several files didn’t help.  Luckily much of the material was on pen-drives.  So this year I thought I would write a year in review based on my research, rather than other peoples work, to show what has been done locally and nationally.

January
In January I was cast head first into the world of Frederick Bailey Deeming when it was revealed that a skull had turned up in Australia and was possibly his.  The find caused mush debate and discussion and was covered in blogs, newspaper reports, and even made its way onto TV.  At the time I was fortunate enough to have quiet a large collection of newspaper articles that showed the passage of Deeming’s skull, from the hanging in 1892, it being buried, dug up, allegedly stolen and through various hands of ownership.  It has to be the most talked about skull in Australian history, second only to Ned Kelly, and I am pleased to say that the skull turned out to be that of Ned Kelly’s and not Deeming as previously thought.  The case did mean that several members of the Deeming family came forward, and I certainly got a lot of messages and emails from people wishing to know more.

February
February saw me visiting Hedon and Preston in search of material for a book and articles on the murder of Mary Jane Langley.  Mary Jane was murdered in 1891 and at the time Frederick Bailey Deeming had just been released from Hull Prison.  His name actually came to light in relation to the investigation in 1892 when Deeming’s links to Hull and Yorkshire were explored in both the Hull and Beverley press and so it would only be a matter of time that I explored the case.  What was weird about this, is that some of the descendents of Mary had actually previously been in touch and mentioned the case to me, and asked if I knew anything, so it was lovely to be able to send them material and news every time I researched Mary and her family and to be able to answer some of the question and queries they had regarding the case.

March
March saw a trip to Beverley’s East Riding Archives, where I secured newspaper cuttings on Frederick Bailey Deeming and his frauds in 1890/1891, and the Rainhill and Windsor Murders of 1891/1892.  I also visited several locations associated with Deeming, and Helen Matheson and her family and secured interviews and photos of some of the locations.

April
April saw the discovery of Frederick Bailey Deeming in the Hull Watch Committee Minutes.  These proved invaluable as it put a price on the manhunt for Deeming after his frauds in 1890 in Hull.  Many of the books and publications mention Deeming in relation to Hull in only a passing manner, many of which erroneously state that he was married in Hull, and stayed at the Station Hotel in Beverley.  The Hull Watch Committee Minutes are a great find as they finally reveal how much was spent on following Deeming to Southhampton and Monte Video, and then returning him to Hull.  With this information I was able to find shipping manifests that showed Deeming on board with Detective Grassby of the Hull Police as well as several other documents that were created at the time and show the events that transpired.

May
May was filled with another Deeming related file. The Hull Watch Committee Minutes books also helped me discover the massive Hull Trial File, which is packed with primary sources from his time in Hull, and features letters, telegrams, and eyewitness statements.  It also made me realize that as well as Deeming and his alias Lawson, I should be aware that sometimes the authorities get it wrong and can often misspell names!  It also saw an exciting visit to the Hull Prison Exhibition which was fascinating.

June
June saw some newspaper based research, tackling Frederick Bailey Deeming and Robert D’Onston Stephenson from a different angle and helping me uncover 40 new articles associated with them, their lives in Hull, and the people whose lives they affected.  It also saw me get my hands on another Frederick Bailey Deeming file, the Home Office Files.  These featured 43 pages filled with material on Deeming and his life and the legal wranglings that were going on over his arrest in Monte Video.  This year I visited Whitby with my wife and took in the Lewis Carroll and Bram Stoker/Dracula locations.  I also managed to obtain several books on the duo, including one that links Stoker to the murders!  Stoker, it is claimed, was inspired by the Ripper Murders and stated so in an Icelandic Edition of Dracula.

July
July saw some research trips to the East Riding Archives in Beverley where I uncovered material on Robert D’Onston Stephenson, Frederick Bailey Deeming, and the murder of Mary Jane Langley.  I was also back in the Hull History Centre and found yet another file on Deeming, this time it was in the Hull Watch Files and covered Thomas Reynoldson and his quest for justice against Deeming.  Also at the Hull History Centre I found several reports on Deeming in the Hull Watch Committee Minutes, and Hull Finances Committee Minutes.  At the Hull Reference Library I discovered information pertaining to the ships that Thomas Sadler had sailed on.  This month saw the discovery that Deeming had been discussed in the House of Commons, and that police officers were sent to Australia from Scotland Yard, and asked to help with the Rainhill Murders.  Despite these snippets being mentioned in the local and national press to date there have been no files that cast any light on who went and why.

August
August was the month of Mary Jane Langley, with my article appeared in Ripperologist Magazine, on my blog, and the case attracting attention in the local media.  It also gave me a chance to finally meet Mary Jane’s descendants in a rather touching moment at her graveside.  This month some some material on Annie Deary/Stephenson surface.  I had been researching the events leading up to and surrounding her death and not only traced the location, but several other primary sources from the period.  I also managed to secure a photo of the building in which she died.  David Knott had found Annie Stephenson’s death certificate some years ago, and from the information contained within I was able to search the logs that were written when Annie died.  They proved quiet interesting and showed what she was up to in the latter years of her life in Lincolnshire.  August was also the annual Heritage Open Days and I once again visited the Customs House in Hull, filming and taking photos of the visit.

September
September saw a visit to London for material on both Frederick Bailey Deeming and Robert D’Onston Stephenson.  I had the pleasure of visiting the British Library and searching numerous books, periodicals and correspondence and came away with pages and pages of new material.  These included material on Robert D’Onston Stephenson and Grant Richards, Robert D’Onston Stephenson and Theosophy, Robert D’Onston Stephenson and the Workhouse, Robert D’Onston Stephenson and Betty May’s Tiger Woman, Robert D’Onston Stephenson and Highgate Hill Infirmary, Robert D’Onston Stephenson and the Islington Board of Guardians,   It was a lovely trip and I also had time to visit the British Museum, Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.  This month also saw some fascinating finds on Robert D’Onston Stephenson’s Religion that I posted on jtrforums.com.  Sadly the registers never had him down as a Black Magician!  Despite this numerous books have been released since that still claim he was a black magician!

October
October was devoted to researching some paranormal material that I had been working on for some time. I was able to secure interviews with key witnesses and appeared on West Hull Radio to discuss some of my research.

November
November began with an appearance on BBC Radio Humberside discussing the Central Library Lecture.  The interview went really well, and the lecture at the library was packed out.  I also met and spoke to a number of people that helped with my research, and got more bookings for 2012!

Sadly in early November I was back in hospital with my heart, investigations are ongoing, and hopefully next year the cardiologists will get to the bottom of it.

Other projects:
This year has seen Jack the Blogger, in Ripperologist Magazine, go from strength to strength, sadly the computer outage has stopped me for a while, but the column will be back in 2012 bigger and better than ever.  I cannot thank the gang at Ripperologist enough for their ongoing support.
The year also saw some new lectures at both the Hull History Centre and the Hull Central Library, both of which were well filled with every seat taken and great fun.  I have more lectures booked into 2012 so it should prove to be another good year.  I do not charge for any of my lectures and my time is free.
This year also saw me meeting with a film production crew making a documentary on Frederick Bailey Deeming.  Hopefully the show will air soon so I can discuss the matter in detail.  All that I can say it that it was great fun and the team that I had the pleasure of working with were all a lovely bunch and it was nice to have them in Hull and show them the sights.
I have also been approached about other possible future projects but cannot divulge what they are!!!
The books
This year has seen a number of developments with the writing projects, and a number of fantastic names are on board to write the forewords of some of the titles.  The first quarter of the year was devoted to the writing and research on the Mary Jane Langley project, which was a by product of the work on Frederick Bailey Deeming.  The same occurred with the Deeming newspaper book, and the Dawber history book which was created when editing the Robert D’Onston Stephenson book.
The decision to split the paranormal book into three was made when it was discovered that at its present phase it was just too big, so it was split into three.  Earlier this year a lot of the material was lost when a computer outage took over 100 pages of work, luckily I still had the research so it is being typed up again.

Jack the Ripper - From Hell, From Hull? Vol I Robert D’Onston Stephenson 261,423 words over 362 pages

Jack the Ripper - From Hell, From Hull? Vol II Frederick Bailey Deeming 207,113 words over 259 pages

Jack the Ripper - From Hell, From Hull? Vol III 66,493 words over 101 pages

Jack the Ripper - From Hell, From Hull? - Newspapers From Hull 104,379 words over 133 pages

Frederick Bailey Deeming and the Murder of Mary Jane Langley 101,831 words over 136 pages

Frederick Bailey Deeming in the International Press 175,320 words over 200 pages

Mike Covell’s Haunted Hull 133,521 words over 217 pages

Mike Covell’s Haunted Hull - The Press Perspective 31,256 words over 43 pages

Mike Covell’s Haunted Hull - Paranormal Hull 108,087 words over 155 pages

Emily Dimmock Camden Town Murder Project 37,633 words over 35 pages

The History of the Dawber family in Hull 1700-2000 15,296 words over 31 pages

Untitled Fact vs Fiction Project 161,669 words over 165 pages

Thank you for a great year:
All the staff at Hull City Council’s Hull History Centre, including the Local Studies and Archives.  All the staff at Hull’s Central Library, Reference Library and Holderness road Library for putting up with me.  All the staff at Hull Museums and the staff at the East Riding Archives in Beverley. Rob Nicholson of Her Majesty’s Prison, Hull.  Adam Wood and Chris George at Ripperologist.  Howard and Nina Brown at Jtrforums.com.  Ray from the Hedon Blog, All the staff at the Nags Head, Preston, the staff at the Hedon Museum, All the staff at the British Library, British Museum, Natural History Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, for putting up with my emails and requests and for providing a brilliant service.  And a thank you to all my Facebook and Twitter friends that have supported me through what has been a tough year.  Here is to 2012!!

2009 Year in Review

Books, Events, Jack the Ripper Doc's, Podcast, Research No Comments »

NON-FICTION

MJ Trow’s tie in book, Quest for a Killer

Andrew Cooks tie in book, initially subtitled “Case Closed

Philip Hutchinson and Robert Clacks The London of JTR then and now 2nd edition

Philip Hutchinson’s The Jack the Ripper Location Photographs.

Nicholas Connell and Stewart P. Evans The Man Who Hunted Jack the Ripper new edition. 

Paul Woods and Gavin Baddeley’s Saucy Jack-The Elusive Ripper

John Bennett’s E1 a Journey through Whitechapel and Spitalfields

Robin Odell’s Written and Red

Tim Riordan’s Prince of Quacks

William Beadles Jack the Ripper Unmasked

Andrew Firth’s Past Traces

A History of British Serial Killers by David Wilson, uses Jack the Ripper as a starting point.

FICTION

Brian L Porter’s sequel to a Study in Red, Legacy of the Ripper

John Gaspard’s Ripperologists

Rob Thompson’s From Hell- The Final Days of Jack the Ripper

Marcello Antelo’s Whitechapel 1888 is released in Italian, Marcello hope’s an English translation is available soon!!

RIPPEROLOGIST

Ripperologist’s run of articles by Robert Clack and Neil Bell

Paul Begg’s Leather Apron Article

Paul Begg and Chris George’s Harry Dam series

Andrew Spallek looks at the Druitt archives.

Simon Wood’s look at Tumblety and whether or not Inspector Andrews followed him to New York.

Jon Rees looked into the Ripper as a serial sexual murderer.

John Bennett and the lodging houses of Flower and Dean-street.

Jonathan Hainsworth and the legend of the drowned doctor.

John Savage’s excellent work on The Early Life of Roslyn D’Onston.

Jon Rees looked at textbook psychopaths.

Chris Scott’s continuing efforts to provide new, fresh, press reports.

Suzi Hanney on the life of a working Victorian donkey.

Suzi Hanney on the life of a working Victorian Horse.

The 100th Issue of Ripperologist with Don Rumbelow, Stewart Evans, Martin Fido, Paul Begg, Robin Odell… Stephen Ryder, How Brown, Jonathan Menges… Gareth Williams, John Bennett, Lauren Davis, Laura Prieto… the Peabody Trust, Bishopsgate Library, and the return of Christopher-Michael DiGrazia!!

 

AUDIO VISUAL

MJ Trow’s Documentary on Robert Mann, aired on Discovery

Andrew Cook’s Documentary on the name “Jack the Ripper” Jack the Ripper- Tabloid Killer Revealed

ITV’s Whitechapel starring Rupert Penry Jones, Phil Davis and Steve Pemberton.

Rippercast, going from strength to strength and especially the one on one shows with Martin Fido and Stewart P. Evans.

JTR Forums Ripper Radio launched on you tube.

EVENTS

Ripper Conference in London

OBITUARIES

Jean Overton Fuller, author of Sickert and the Ripper Crimes, which pre-dates the Patricia Cornwell effort.  Fuller also wrote the Magical Dillema of Victor Neuburg, which features a chapter on Robert D’Onston Stephenson, Cremers, Collins, and Bernard O’Donnell.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Overton_Fuller

PERSONALLY

It’s been quite a year with appearances in Hull Daily Mail, Hull Advertiser, on Radio Humberside and of course on BBC’s Look North. Then the Jack the Ripper- The Hull Connection Lecture at Carnegie Heritage Centre.

I am very pleased to announce that during the writing of this year in review, Adrian Morris, of the Whitechapel Society has kindly accepted an offer to write an overview of the Whitechapel Society and the Whitechapel Society Journal.

A YEAR IN WHITECHAPEL by Adrian Morris.

Four major events affected the Whitechapel Society this year:

The Whitechapel Society Short Story Competition

The Jeremy Beadle Lecture in aid of Children With Leukaemia

The invitation for the Whitechapel Society to be on the Bancroft Road Library & Archive Steering Group

The Victims’ Series in the Whitechapel Society Journal

THE WHITECHAPEL SOCIETY SHORT STORY COMPETITION

This was launched earlier in 2009 and was eventually backed by the Book Trusts of both England and Scotland. The BBC Short Story Campaign also added their support.

The main coup, however, was the appointment of the renowned writer, Brian L. Porter to judge the entries. The entries duly flooded in.

Brian was so impressed by the entries that he decided that the top ten entries be put forward to be published in a separate portfolio by the publishers, Mythica.

It is the Whitechapel Society’s firm intention to repeat this competition again this year.

The most surprising aspect was that most entries came from people who do not have any connection with Ripper-based resources. Only one came via the Casebook!!

THE JEREMY BEADLE LECTURE

Was this the most successful event held this year by an organisation with a connection to the Ripper world? Maybe!

Held in October, (it is the intention to hold this event every year from now on), the JBL was based around a lecture by the great crime/Ripper author and Whitechapel Society contributor, Robin Odell. Robin spoke about the crisis caused by the Whitechapel murders as raising the social conscience of the nation at the time. Robin was also on hand to sign editions of his new book, Written & Red - the collected Ripper lectures he has produced over the years.

Later a very successful auction was held, organised by Liza Hopkinson and Philip Hutchinson. In conjunction with a later raffle and satellite events, the JBL helped raise the staggering sum of £1,700 all in aid of Jeremy Beadle’s favourite charity, Children with Leukaemia.

BANCROFT ROAD LIBRARY & ARCHIVE STEERING GROUP

2008 saw a vociferous campaign by many local groups - including the Whitechapel Society - to save the Bancroft Library & Archive based in the Mile End. This vital archive holds a tremendous amount of historical data concerned with the history of the East End and the Whitechapel murders.

The campaign was ultimately successful and the local Council, Tower Hamlets, decided to therefore consult with these local groups who had been part of the campaign. One of these groups was the Whitechapel Society. This was to be realised in the form of a steering group to help decide on the refurbishment of the vital resource.

THE VICTIMS’ SERIES IN THE WHITECHAPEL SOCIETY JOURNAL

The remit of the Whitechapel Society Journal is to cover events within the Society, East End history and associated topics, but also the Whitechapel murders. In this I can only draw readers attention to the magnificent work Frogg Moody does on the production side of the Journal and the procurement of articles and contributors.

2009 saw the decision to embark on a series of Journals throughout the year centred on each of the famous victims of Jack the Ripper (whether they were, or not). So we started off with Martha Tabram in February, finishing with Mary Kelly in December.

February: Martha Tabram We had a revamped cover design which featured the murder of Tabram at George Yard. The main article was in fact a rare Star Interview with Jon Ogan entitled, The Forgotten Victim. The gist of the article was that Tabram WAS a Ripper victim.

Whitechapel Society Chairman and Ripper author, Bill Beadle produces a chairman’s message arguing the same.

Author and researcher, John Bennett begins and then continues his highly popular series, MAP OF THE DAY by looking at the area surrounding George Yard and how it has changed over the years. Bennett will produce more in this series for each murder site throughout the year.

Historian, George Fleming, who has had extensive military experience, looks at the Victorian soldiers’ bayonet, a weapon thought to have been used in Tabram’s murder.

Elsewhere, the editor does a review of the recent Jack the Ripper exhibition at the Dockland’s Museum provocatively entitled; Ripperologists need not apply!

Liverpool author, Chris Jones contributes a fascinating article on research he has done on Florence Maybrick in the U.S. I review his book on the Maybrick ‘diary’ elsewhere in this edition, giving it the thumbs up.

April: Mary Ann Nichols The front cover features an old photograph of members of the Nichols family. This has been restored by the Whitechapel Society and was sent in by the writers and researchers, Sue and Andy Parlour to accompany their article on the Nichols clan, centred mainly on William Nichols, a relative of theirs.

John Bennett produces a very well received article concerning the history of the board school in Durward Street (Bucks Row).

Whilst Robin Odell reviews the recent Ripper-based drama that had been on British television, Whitechapel and concludes that it is where “‘Spooks’ meets ‘The Sweeney’”.

June: Annie Chapman This edition includes a world exclusive article on Annie Chapman by Neal Shelden and some family history that had been uncovered about her. Classic stuff.

John Bennett looks at the changing face of Hanbury Street in his Map of the Day section.

Whitechapel Society Development Officer, Frogg Moody conducts a Star Interview with the author of the Sherlock Holmes meets Jack the Ripper novel, Lyndsay Faye.

I review a recent book by D. J. Leighton ‘Privileges & Pitfalls’. It is a superb biography of Ripper suspect, J.K. Stephen.

We also have time to include an article by Trevor Spinage concerning a previous ‘Open House’ day in the East End where various site, usually off-limits to the general public, are opened up to one and all.

August: Elizabeth Stride For some reason the Stride murder seems to instil intense debate within the Ripper world and this edition witnesses a Star Interview with the researcher and Stride authority, David Yost. Vital reading for anyone interested in the Ripper world, especially those interested in the vast debates around the Stride killing.

David Yost also includes an article on Elizabeth Stride entitled; Long Live Liz.

Intense research on the Stride family is updated by Dave Cuthbertson in an article entitled curiously, A Tangled Skein? 1888.

Elsewhere, there is a review of Whitechapel Society chairman, Bill Beadle’s recent book on William Bury by John Plant.

Also, we are able to report on a well attended book launch by John Bennett to promote the recent publication of his new book; E1 - A Journey Through Whitechapel & Spitalfields.

Trevor J. Wicks reports on the colourful history of a public house in his home city of Norwich that is known locally as The Murderers.

John Bennett could not produce a Map of the Day for this edition as, according to the Whitechapel Society Journal, he was “unwell” and was “recuperating in the sunny environs of Bournemouth conducting researches on old Victorian railway timetables covering the Dorset area with special interest being made of the Poole branch.”

October: Catherine Eddowes An astonishing article, and brilliantly footnoted one at that, by Cheyenne Kiernan. It is a comparative look at the murders of both Catherine Eddowes and Elizabeth Short otherwise known as the ‘Black Dahlia’. In both cases correspondences are supposedly to have come from their respective killers.

John Bennett ,fully fit and returned from his study of Victorian timetables in Dorset, takes us down memory lane and into Mitre Square with his regular feature, Map of the Day.

The editor of the Whitechapel Society Journal looks at the curious research Sue & Andy Parlours conducted on the purported shawl of Catherine Eddowes.

Frogg Moody takes time to look at the history of Kearley and Tonge, once of Mitre Square.

The editor is able to publish a review of John Bennett’s recent book, E1 and pronounce it a classic.

There is also a book review of Lyndsay Faye’s recent book, Dust & Shadow by Tim Rutten. Faye had been the subject of a Star Interview in the June edition of Whitechapel Society Jounal.

December: Mary Kelly The big talking point would undoubtedly be the previous event that had been held at the October meeting of the Whitechapel Society with the Jeremy Beadle Lecture which played host to Robin Odell and the associated auction and raffle helped raise £1,400 on the night! A full review of that night’s events was contained within this edition.

Also contained within this edition was a review of the recent Jack the Ripper Conference by Jackie Murphy. The event itself had been a great success and was capped by Robert Clack’s Life Time Achievement Award. However, is he a ‘nice man’ or ‘nicer man’? We can only but wonder!

The Kelly theme is explored within John Bennett’s regular Map of the Day. He indulges us with two features here. One for Miller’s Court and the other for Dorset Street.

Former Ripperologist editor, Paul Daniel produces an article along the Kelly theme looking at the later murder of Kitty Ronan in Miller’s Court. Full research is done, explored and presented here.

We publish the winning entry of the Whitechapel Society Short Story which is an excellent entry by Thana Niveau called From Hell to Eternity.

We also have opening comments from the judge, the world famous author, Brian L. Porter. There were also revelations by Brian that the top ten entries to this competition will be published in a portfolio by the publishers Mythica.

There is a review of Robin Odell’s recently published book, Written & Red.

OTHER THINGS

Of course, there are other regular features contained within every edition of the Whitechapel Society Journal.

We have the editor and chairman’s comment. We have had the writer, Mickey Mayhew’s take on the Victim’s series that has won him quite a following.

We have the Off The Wall column by Robin Odell with his worthy takes on anything that is of interest to those interested.

We have all the news and views in the regular Central News Agency section that contains news of books, films and other releases and vital updates on East End history and events, especially concerning the status of Bancroft Library & Archive.

We have even seen members of the of the Whitechapel Society and its committee appear on television and radio. For instance, John Bennett was featured on the a Ripper documentary on television whilst both Mark Galloway (WS1888 founder and President) and Bill Beadle were interviewed for a BBC Radio Scotland documentary on the suspect William Bury. The editor was also on Nick Quinten Woolf’s Art Show on Xstream East Radio.

SPEAKERS AT THE WHITECHAPEL SOCIETY IN 2009

February: Maggie Bird - Jill the Ripper.

April: Bill Beadle - William Bury.

June: Philip Hutchinson - The Whitby Collection.

August: Yasha Beresiner - The Freemasons & Jack the Ripper.

December: The WS1888 Christmas Bash.

 Adrian Morris.

The final word

It has been an amazing year, and I thank you all for reading and following, there are some great things planned for 2010 and I am sure the finds will keep coming! 

Here is to another year, and another decade of research, books, magazines, shows, and happenings!

Jack the Blogger!

Podcast, Research, Stephenson Family No Comments »

Thanks to Jonathan Menges, for pointing this out to me.

Some days ago I was chatting to a Hull/Hedon resident about “Twitter” and the pro’s and con’s of Blogging, and especially “micro-blogging”. I have never used Twitter, but it has become a popular place for micro-blogging, with several celebrities and journalists posting information on the website.

Mr. J. Menges posts details of the Rippercast on “Twitter” so that fellow followers can keep upto speed with shows, and news.

Mr. Ray Duff, earlier posted details of our conversation on Hull’s links to the Jack the Ripper mystery!

http://hedonblog.wordpress.com/2009/02/13/jack-the-ripper-hull-connections/

Ray has also very kindly asked for people to support “The London of Jack the Ripper, Then and Now” by joining the Facebook group,

http://twitter.com/RayDuff

Thanks Ray!

2008 YEAR IN REVIEW!!

Books, Jack the Ripper Doc's, Podcast, Press Reports, Research 11 Comments »

Notable Finds,

Tim Riordan’s photo of Tumbelty. Philip Hutchinson’s Berner Street photo.

Andrew Spallek’s Druitt research and the mass of photo’s he uncovered!

ADAM Wood’s Lawende photo.  (Good old edit button!)

Written Word,

Jack the Ripper Casebook by Richard Jones, The National Archives in book form! The Worst Street in London by Fiona Rule, A well written piece, that helps create a vivid picture of the infamous Dorset-street!!The Prince, His Tutor and The Ripper, Deborah McDonald, a well researched and well written book!

The Maybrick A-Z, Chris Jones, The must have for those interested in the Maybrick family.

Elizabeth Stride and JTR, Dave Yost, a veritable treasure trove of information.The Ripper in Ramsgate, Chris Scott. A local historians dream!The Fox and the Flies, Charles Van Onselen. A thoroughly researched book.

A Study in Red, Brian L. Porter. A fictional romp involving a diary and JTR!!Audio Visual,

Jonathon Menges Rippercast set a new standard in Ripper Media, and to everyone that has participated in the shows.

All the people that helped get Casebook up and running after the crash! Stephen P Ryder, Casebook has expanded with a ripperwiki, and some really nice bloggs.

Howard and Nina Brown, for the JTR Forums Studies, a selection of articles and news stories for Ripperologists everywhere!

The documentary “The World Of Jack The Ripper” with Lindsay Siviter & Phil Hutchinson.A Study in Red, Brian L. Porter. With an Audio version announced, and a movie in the pipeline!!

Ripperologists, Chris Scott for his generous census work, newspaper transcriptions and for being such a nice bloke!
 

Philip Hutchinson and Rob Clack, these two men should be knighted for everything they do in and around London.Howard and Nina Brown, for their ongoing genealogy work and newspaper transcriptions

Everyone who has participated in Ripperologist, Ripper Notes and the Whitechapel Society.

Everyone who has participated in both JTR Forums and Ripper Casebook, and Rippercast!

Special mentions must go to Jon Reese, Brian L Porter, Howard Brown, Jonathon Menges, Christopher George and Stephen Leece, all of which have helped me loads this year. Many Thanks!!

Events,

The JTR exhibition at the London Docklands Museum, lets hope there is another soon!! The USA Ripper Conference, which saw many lectures given by Ripperologists such as Robert J McLaughlin and Philip Hutchinson, and run by Dan and Kelly Norder.

Gone, but never forgotten.

Jeremy Beadle, Wilf Gregg,

Julian Rosenthal,

Albert Johnson,

Things to look forward to in 2009!!

A Study in Red - The Movie! Whitechapel - The ITV crime thriller!

A UK Ripper Conf?

I will be meeting with a living relative of Robert D’Onston Stephenson next year!!

And another great year of people sharing and helping each other in their research. 

All the best for 2009!!

Updates, Findings, and other News!

Podcast, Research, Stephenson Family No Comments »

Updates and Findings 

It has been a busy time, and as such I have not been able to devote enough time to this blogg.  This is a blessing in disguise however, as I had made significant find’s on Stephenson and will continue to digitise them.

A month ago I began dissecting the “Dead or Alive” story.  I have since found several different versions which fall after Stephenson’s tale and several versions which pre-date Stephenson’s tale.

I also managed to track down the Weather charts for the night’s that Stephenson states he had the encounters, and I also have the lunar patterns for the night’s in question.

All of which go someway in putting this myth to sleep once and for all!

Other News 

In other news, I have been approached by an American company with a view to creating an online talkshow about the paranormal, the producers have stated it will be my show, and would like a healthy does of local history, ghosts and Jack the Ripper!

Rippercast 

The Ripppercasts are doing well and loads of great feedback has been passed onto the team who participate.  It is always nice to know people appreciate them, and all the hard work that Johnathan Menges has put into them!

Check the Rippercasts site here…

http://www.rippernet.com/Rippercast/HOME.html

Humberside Paranormal talks JTR

I am still involved with Humberside Paranormal’s Radio show, and after this evening’s Rippercast, I will be jumping onto a different channel to record a radio show with them.  The team at Humberside Paranormal get loads of requests to discuss Jack the Ripper, which is always nice!

Check the site here…

http://humbersideparanormal.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=49&Itemid=79

JTR Studies 

A new Ripper Studies site has been set up, this is to act as a holding space for the O’Donnell Manuscript, several Dissertations and Archives and acts as a sister site to the JTR Forums.com  The site is run by Howard and Nina Brown and can be found here,

http://studies.jtrforums.com/index.php

Other than that, it’s pretty quite….

Jack the Ripper Podcast Episode 8

Podcast No Comments »

Last night the latest Jack the Ripper Podcast was recorded.

The usual suspects were on the show, Jonathon Menges, Howard Brown, Robert J. Mclaughlin and myself.

Paul Begg and Andrew Spallek joined us to ask our special guest questions on the case, his intrests, and just have a good old natter!!

Stephen P Ryder, the man behind the Jack the Ripper Casebook, and of course the creator of these Bloggs was the special guest, and what a show it was.

I could tell you all about it, but that would spoil the fun!!!!

Here is the link for the podcast, http://www.rippernet.com/Rippercast/Podcast/Podcast.html

Here is the link to the Casebook, http://www.casebook.org/index.html

here is the link to the jtrforums.com, http://www.jtrforums.com/

The show is becoming popular in terms of both guests and listeners, and is there for You!!

New Jack the Ripper Podcast…..tonight

Podcast No Comments »

Tonights episode will be a great episode, with the usual suspects, Jonathon Menges, Myself, Howard Brown, Robert J Mclaughlin.

Special Guest this evening is none other than,

Stephen P Ryder

Author and Researcher Paul Begg will be joining us also to chat to Stephen, so this should be one fantastic show!!

Rippercast, Home of the Whitechapel Murders Podcast,

http://www.rippernet.com/Rippercast/…t/Podcast.html

To participate, give feedback or find out more contact,

Jonathon rippernet@mac.com 

Myself mcebe@hotmail.co.uk

Howard Brown donston1888@aol.com

Threads for discussing the Podcasts have been set up at,

Jtrforums.com

Rippercasebook.org

Jack the Ripper Podcast….so far

Podcast 2 Comments »

The Ripper Podcast, The story so far,
Current mood: accomplished

The Ripper Podcast was an Idea devised by Jonathon Menges, and has exceeded everyones expectations, it really is growing more than we could ever have imagined.

The podcast is up and running!!!!

Episode 1; SUDDEN DEATH A Discussion of Robert Donston Stevenson

1 hour 20 min.

With: Howard Brown and Myself

and a host who needs a new microphone….

Jonathan Menges.
Episode 2; Capturing the Victims - Photographing the Whitechapel Murders

With, from Western Canada, Robert J. McLaughlin, author of The First Jack the Ripper Victim Photographs, Howard Brown in Philly, our man in Hull Mike Covell, and myself.

Episode 3; Jack the Ripper on Film,

Jonathon Menges, Myself, Howard Brown, Robert J. McLaughlin and special guest Justin Dombrowski.

Episode 4; Sour Grapes: Myths From The Whitechapel Murders

with very special guest Dan Norder

Special thanks to Dan Norder, How, Mike and Robert for making a great show!

Episode 5; The Barrister of Bright Talent: Ripper Suspect Montague John Druitt

with Special Guest Andy Spallek, Jonathon Menges, Myself, Hoaward brown and Robert J. McLaughlin.

Episode 6; Martha Tabram,

with Jonathon Menges, Myself, Howard Brown and Robert J. McLaughlin. 

Episode 7, Philip Hutchinson, the Tourguide from Hell.

With Philip hutchinson, Myself, Jonathon Menges, Howard Brown and Robert J. Mclaughlin.
 

Rippercast, Home of the Whitechapel Murders Podcast,

http://www.rippernet.com/Rippercast/…t/Podcast.html

To participate, give feedback or find out more contact,

Jonathon rippernet@mac.com 

Myself mcebe@hotmail.co.uk

Howard Brown donston1888@aol.com

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