Mike Covell’s Blogg

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 19^th 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 19^th 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

It seems like ages since I last wrote a blog, but to be honest, so much is happening right now that I barely have the time.  In the last few months and weeks I have been busy on a number of projects locally that are slowly taking off but with many of them I cannot state the nature of them until they are officially released and ready for everyone. 

 AMAZING HULL TOURS:

I am pleased to announce that AMAZING HULL TOURS has really taken off.  The Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/amazinghulltours has been gaining momentum and the number of people attending the tours is steadily increasing.  The Jack the Ripper – The Hull Connection tour has been proving very popular, and feedback from all who attend has been wonderful. 

The full list of tours available includes:

“Jack the Ripper” Hull Tours

“Jack the Ripper” Beverley Tours

Ghosts and Legends of Old Hull Tours

Ghosts and Legends of New Hull Tours

Unexplainable Hull Tours

The Haunted Inns and Hostelries of Hull Tours

The Ghosts of Beverley Tours

The Ghosts of Cottingham Tours

Heritage in Hull Tours

Lost Pubs of Hull Tours

Lost Churches and Chapels of Hull Tours

Lost Theatres of Hull Tours

Georgian Hull Tours

Victorian Hull Tours

F.S. Smith’s Hull Tours

The Old Hull Pub Tours

The Seven Seas Fish Trail

The Hull Heritage Plaque Tours

Hull’s High Street Tours

The Garden Village Tours

Victoria Dock Heritage Trail

The Marfleet Mystery Tours

The Caughey Street Murder Tour

The True Crime Tour of Hulls

The Hull at War Tour WWI

The Hull at War Tour WWII

 Anyone with an interest can contact me via the blog, Facebook, Twitter, or email me at mcebe@hotmail.co.uk

VIRTUAL AMAZING HULL TOURS:

With AMAZING HULL TOURS doing so well I tried my hand at some technology to create VIRTUAL AMAZING HULL tours.  A prototype of the project can be viewed on the screen inside The George Hotel, situated on The Land of Green Ginger and a stone’s throw away from the location of an October 1888 Jack the Ripper scare in Hull!  The current format is in the form of hundreds of old photos of Hull, so pop along and see how many you recognise. 

 The full list of VIRTUAL AMAZING HULL TOURS includes:

“Jack the Ripper” Hull Tours

“Jack the Ripper” Beverley Tours

Ghosts and Legends of Old Hull Tours

Ghosts and Legends of New Hull Tours

Unexplainable Hull Tours

The Haunted Inns and Hostelries of Hull Tours

The Ghosts of Beverley Tours

The Ghosts of Cottingham Tours

Heritage in Hull Tours

Lost Pubs of Hull Tours

Lost Churches and Chapels of Hull Tours

Lost Theatres of Hull Tours

Georgian Hull Tours

Victorian Hull Tours

F.S. Smith’s Hull Tours

The Old Hull Pub Tours

The Seven Seas Fish Trail

The Hull Heritage Plaque Tours

Hull’s High Street Tours

The Garden Village Tours

Victoria Dock Heritage Trail

The Marfleet Mystery Tours

The Caughey Street Murder Tour

The True Crime Tour of Hulls

The Hull at War Tour WWI

The Hull at War Tour WWII

 These are catered for youth clubs, community groups, schools and colleges.  Anyone with an interest can contact me via the blog, Facebook, Twitter, or email me at mcebe@hotmail.co.uk

JACK THE RIPPER – THE BEVERLEY CONNECTION:

On Thursday September 5^th 2013 I will be lecturing at the Treasure House in Beverley on “Jack the Ripper – The Beverley Connection.”  The lecture will start at 18:30 and tickets cost £5.

There are three ways to book:
- Book online at www.eastriding.gov.uk/events
- Visit the Archives and Local Studies research room desk on the ground floor of the Treasure House
- Call the booking service on (01482) 392699/392706

At the lecture I will be unveiling two suspects with links to the town, plus a series of Ripper scares that occurred in the East Yorkshire market town in the Victorian period. 

LECTURES:

I have a series of lectures booked with a number of private groups around Hull and East Yorkshire well into 2015, if you or your group wants a lecture please do not hesitate to contact me either through my blog, or via email at mcebe@hotmail.co.uk

OTHER PROJECTS:

In the past few weeks I have been involved in a number of projects locally that will soon become apparent, needless to say the people that I am working for are keeping details quiet for the moment, but all will be revealed soon.

NEWS ROUNDUP:

Notable Ripperologist Jennifer Sheldon has started up her own Ripper blog.  Jennifer is a great Ripperologist, historian, and researcher, and her work on the likes of Uncle Jack is the stuff of legend.  I hope her blog takes off and wish her, and Neal, all the best in the future.  Jenni’s blog can be found here: http://jacktheripperinvestigations.blogspot.co.uk/

 Jack the Ripper and Twitter have gone hand in hand for some time with some amazing Ripperologists, writers, researchers, historians, and people with an interest sharing and talking about the case on the micro blogging network, so it will come as no surprise that the people behind History press have launched a real time Ripper experience.   Follow them here: @WChapelRealTime.

Read about the project here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-23759777

  The Spooky Isles

Continuing on with Jack the Ripper Week is The Spooky Isles, with a fantastic post on The Top Five Jack the Ripper movies.  The post, written by Eric McNaughton, can be viewed here,

http://www.spookyisles.com/2012/09/top-5-jack-the-ripper-films/

Today, hot off the press, is another article on The Spooky Isles, from some fella called Mike Covell.  The article is entitled “Jack the Ripper Scares during the “Autumn of Terror” and can be viewed here,

http://www.spookyisles.com/2012/09/jack-the-ripper-scares-during-autumn-of-terror/

More on Charles Cross:

The theory that Charles Cross aka Charles Allen Lechmere, who was also mistakenly called “George” in the earlier press reports, and Ripper books, is gathering pace, with more publications featuring the story. 

Charles Cross was born Charles Allen Lechmere in the year 1849.  His birth was registered in St. Anne’s Soho, and he was the son of John Allen Lechmere and Maria Louisa Lechmere, nee Rouson.   

In 1858, Charles’ mother, Maria Louisa remarried, to Thomas Cross, who was a police constable.  Charles took his surname on occasion.

In the 1861 Census, they can be seen residing together, [RG9, P276, F29, P5, GSU542605]

Thomas Cross       36           Head      Police Constable

Maria Louisa Cross            34           Wife

Emily Cross                          14           Dau        Scholar

Charles Cross                      11           Son

 In 1871, at the age of 20, he married Elizabeth Bostock, who was at the time aged 21.  The marriage took place on July 3^rd 1870, in the Parish of Christ Church, Watney-street, in the Borough of Tower Hamlets.  Charles’ father was named as John Allen Lechmere, and Elizabeth’s father was listed as Thomas Bay Bostock.  Charles’s occupation is listed as Carman, and the marriage took place at the Christ Church.  [P93/CTC2, Item 026]

 The 1871 Census lists, [Class RG10, P530, F45, P28, GSU8213387]

In the Civil Parish of St George in the East,

Charles A Lechmere            21           Head      Carman

Elizabeth Lechmere            21

 The London Echo, dated September 3^rd 1888, featured the following,

 Charles A. Cross, a carman, in the employ of Messrs. Pickford and Co., said that on Friday morning he left his home about half-past three. He reached Messrs. Pickford’s yard at Broad-street, City, at four o’clock. He crossed Brady-street into Buck’s-row. Was there any one with you? - No, I was by myself. As I got to Buck’s-row, by the gateway of the wool warehouse, I saw someone lying at the entrance to the gateway. It looked like a dark figure. I walked into the centre of the road, and saw that it was a woman. At the same time I heard a man come up behind, in the same direction as I was going. He was about thirty or forty yards behind then. I stepped back to await his arrival. When he came, I said to him, “Come and look over here. There’s a woman.” We then both went over to the body. He stooped one side of her, and I stooped the other, and took hold of her hand, which was cold. Her face was warm. I said to the man, “I believe the woman is dead.” The other man at the same time, put his hand on her breast over her heart and remarked, “I think she is breathing, but very little, if she is.” He then said, “Sit her up,” I replied, “I’m not going to touch her. You had better go on, and if you see a policeman tell him.” When I found her, her clothes were above her knees. There did not seem to be much clothing. The other man pulled her clothes down before he left.

Did you touch the clothes? - No, Sir.

Did you notice any blood? - No, it was too dark. I did not notice that her throat was cut. I then left her, went up Baker’s-row, turned to the right, and saw a constable. I said to a constable - the last witness - “There’s a woman lying in Buck’s-row. She looks to me as though she was dead, or drunk.” The other man then said, “I believe she is dead.” I don’t know who this man was; he was a stranger, but appeared to me to be a carman. From the time I left my home I did not see anyone until I saw the man who overtook me in Buck’s-row.

The Coroner - Did you see anything of a struggle.

Witness - She seemed to me as if she had been outraged.

You did not think so at the time? - Yes, I did; but I did not think she had been injured.

You had no idea that she had been injured at all? - No.

 The Star, another London based newspaper, also published September 3^rd 1888, featured the following, which gave the address for Charles Cross,

 CARMAN CROSS was the the next witness. He lived at 22 Doveton street, Cambridge-road. He was employed by Pickfords. He left home on Friday at twenty minutes past three, and got to Pickford’s yard at Broad-street at four o’clock. He crossed Bradley-street into Buck’s-row. He was alone. He saw something lying in front of the gateway - it looked in the distance like tarpaulin. When he got nearer he found it was a woman. At that time he heard a man coming up the street behind him; he was about 40 yards behind. Witness waited until he came up. He started as though he thought witness was going to knock him down. Witness said to him, “There’s a woman.” They both went to the body and stooped beside it. Witness took the woman’s hand, and finding it cold said, “I believe she’s dead.” The other man put his hand on the breast outside the clothes - over her heart - and said, “I think she’s breathing, but very little.” He suggested they should shift her - set her up against the wall - but witness said, “I’m not going to touch her. Let’s go on till we see a policeman and tell him.” Before they left the body the other man tried to pull the clothes over the woman’s knees, but they did not seem as though they would come down. Witness noticed no blood; but it was very dark. He did not see that her throat was cut. They went up Baker’s-row, and saw the last witness. Witness said to him, “There’s a woman lying down in Buck’s-row on the broad of her back. I think she’s dead or drunk.” The other man said, “I believe she’s dead.” The policeman said, “All right.”

The following day, The Times, dated September 4^th 1888 featured the following testimony:

 George Cross, a carman, stated that he left home on Friday morning at 20 minutes past 3, and he arrived at his work, at Broad-street, at 4 o’clock. Witness walked along Buck’s-row, and saw something lying in front of the gateway like a tarpaulin. He then saw it was a woman. A man came along and witness spoke to him. They went and looked at the body. Witness, having felt one of the deceased woman’s hands and finding it cold, said “I believe she is dead.” The other man, having put his hand over her heart, said “I think she is breathing.” He wanted witness to assist in shifting her, but he would not do so. He did not notice any blood, as it was very dark. They went to Baker’s-row, saw the last witness, and told him there was a woman lying down in Buck’s-row on the broad of her back. Witness also said he believed she was dead or drunk, while the other man stated he believed her to be dead. The constable replied “All right.” The other man left witness at the corner of Hanbury-street and turned into Corbett’s court. He appeared to be a carman, and was a stranger to the witness. At the time he did not think the woman had been murdered. Witness did not hear any sounds of a vehicle, and believed that had any one left the body after he got into Buck’s-row he must have heard him.

Charles Cross died in 1920 and was survived by his wife, Elizabeth, who eventually passed away on 12 September 1940.  Her death was registered:

Name: Elizabeth Lechmere, Birth date: Abt 1849, Date of Registration: Jul- Aug- Sep 1940, Age at Death: 91, Registration District: Essex South Western, Inferred County: Essex, Vol: 4A, Page: 418.

Charles Allen Lechmere’s last will and testament reads:

Charles Allen Lechmere, of 2 Rounton-road, Campbell-road, Bow, Middlesex, died 23^rd December 1920.  Probate London, 2 June to Elizabeth Lechmere, Widow, Effects £262

Today, The Docklands and East London Advertiser, featured a follow up report on Charles Cross as a suspect in the Ripper Murders.  The article can be read here, http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/did_jack_the_ripper_s_family_die_in_1943_wartime_london_air_raid_disaster_1_1503479

 The story of Charles Cross as Jack the Ripper was also published in the past 24 hours in Pakistan!!!  The story, available online at Pakistan Today, can be viewed here:

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/09/04/news/entertainment/was-jack-the-ripper-a-cart-driver-from-bethnal-green/

Well 124th “The Autumn of Terror” is well under way and already the articles and theories are cropping up about Jack the Ripper, victims, and suspects.

In the press:

The Telegraph led the way with a series of articles that looked at the murders, some of which were good, some of which were not so good.

The first, worth a mention was a reprint of The Telegraph’s coverage of the murder of Mary Ann Nichols, which can be viewed here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9512915/Jack-The-Ripper-The-Daily-Telegraphs-report-of-Polly-Nicholss-inquest-from-1888.html

The second article, featured on The Telegraph’s website was a look at suspects.  Sadly this was mostly the usual suspects rounded up with little research done on them with mistakes and errors that have since been researched, debunked, and published.  The article can be read here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/9512906/Jack-the-Ripper-the-suspects.html

Finally, and I have saved the best till last, is the theory that Charles Cross was Jack the Ripper!!  The Telegraph article can be read here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/9512928/Was-Jack-the-Ripper-a-cart-driver-from-Bethnal-Green.html

Never one to miss a good theory, the Indian press picked up on the story, and featured the theory on News Track India!  The article can be read here:

http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2012/09/01/95-Jack-the-Ripper-may-have-been-cartman-who-found-body-of-1st-victim-.html

One of the oddest reports to surface was from Washington, which was published in The Sudan Tribune, in which the Sudanese government on Thursday formally informed the African Union (AU) that it no longer wished to be considered for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The article featured a quote from the Geneva-based UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer, who stated, “Electing Sudan to the international community’s highest human body is like putting Jack the Ripper in charge of a women’s shelter.”

The article is featured here:  http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article43768

Bloggs:

Jon Rees, Moderator of JTRForums.Com was featured on The Spooky Isle’s website discussing Mary Ann Nichols.  The article can be viewed here:  http://www.spookyisles.com/2012/08/how-the-jack-the-ripper-murders-began/

Social Networking sites have been awash with Ripper related posts, with Twitter leading the way for the first time over Facebook.

Television networks have also been keen to feature Jack the Ripper, with both Jack the Ripper: Tabloid Killer, and the Jack the Ripper documentary proposing Robert Mann featuring M.J. Trow being shown.

Members of Twitter can follow Gavin R at @ https://twitter.com/gavmr and follow his Twitter posts on Jack the Ripper live.  To join the conversation, and join in the chat, use the hash tag, #RipperLive

Popular web based ezine Spooky Isles begins a Jack the Ripper week on their website this week, to follow the articles by writers, researchers and Ripperologists, visit the site here: http://www.spookyisles.com/2012/08/jack-the-ripper-week-at-spooky-isles/

This morning I had the privilege of travelling to Hedon and Preston, on the trail of a 120 year old murder mystery.  The case occurred in 1891 when a young girl by the name of Mary Jane Langley was murdered on Long-lane, Preston.  Her body was discovered by her father, and despite a man being arrested and appearing before the magistrates, no one was charged with the murder.  A newspaper report at the time claimed,

 ”Startled by the terrible discovery, he rushed off to Hedon and obtained the services of… a medical man, who visited the spot, examined the body, and stated that life had been extinct for some time. The jugular on the left side had been severed. The gash in the neck appeared to have been with a large knife, which, however, could not be found.  There were footmarks in the ditch, and it appeared as if there had been an attempt to push the body under the archway which spans the dyke to connect two fields. All the circumstances pointed clearly to murder. When Miss Langley left home she was weaving a watch and gold albert guard. These articles were not on her when she was found, and it is believed that after her throat had been cut they were taken from her. It is hoped that her watch and chain will hereafter be important factors in bringing her murderer to justice.”

Although a suspect was found and interviewed, there was no evidence linking him to the murder of Mary Jane Langley and the jury returned a verdict of “Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown,”

It was a short whole later during the trial of an infamous murderer that it was discussed that this killer could have been involved.  At the moment the killer’s name will remain hidden, but I wanted to look into the murder a little more, and decided that the best way to do so was to take a field trip.

 The bus to Preston was bumpy and the wind and rain hammered at the windows.  I sat at the front on the top deck, watching the fields of Holderness and outlying villages that surround Hull.  I had been to Preston and Hedon some years ago, and had even been to Sproatley, so a few landmarks were familiar, but I took a map just in case I got lost.  

 Getting off the bus in Preston I decided to visit a location that I had been informed was known as “Long Lane.”  It was here that Mary Jane Langley’s body was discovered in 1891, although the lane is sign posted as “Neat Marsh Lane.”  I had asked a few locals prior to visiting, and all confirmed this was the right place.  The lane was 1.5 miles long, with drains and ditches along either side of the road.  Several farm houses, out houses, and homes were dotted along the lane, but the flat fields of Holderness, the rain, and the wind, made this an eerie place to spend time.  Eventually I came across a ditch with a bridge over that matched the newspaper reports from the period about 1.2 miles from the main road.  I took several photos of the ditch and looked over into the shallow depths trying to imagine what Mr. Langley must have felt when he found his young daughter brutally murdered in the ditch.

 After spending a few moments at the ditch I returned to Wyton-road, and proceeded to the Nags Head in Preston.  It was here at this public house that “Jack” Rennard had taken to drink before setting off along Long-lane back to Hull, and thus becoming a suspect in the murder of Mary Jane.  I spoke briefly to the staff who were really helpful, but sadly the landlord and landlady were ill and unable to talk.  I informed the staff what I was researching and they were interested to learn about the story and outcome of the trial, and the pubs connection to the case.  

 At this point I left the pub and headed through Preston, taking in the architecture of the local buildings and narrow streets.  Eventually I came across Hedon railway station, looking down along the track towards Hull.  Mary Jane had left the train at Marfleet, but my ill health stopped me from taking the track to that station.    

 Hedon was bustling as I had picked Market Day and the fresh produce on display was mouth watering.  The smells from local bakery’s and the hustle and bustle was amazing.  In the past I have visited Hedon on nights out, and passed through on the bus and in car, but this is the first time I have explored the shops and buildings.  I eventually found the Hedon Museum, and the staff were very keen to hear about Mary Jane, even going so far as explaining that Neat Marsh Lane was known locally as Long Lane.  

 Everyone was really helpful, and I aim to return in the past to look at the location in greater detail.  I took plenty of photos and am hoping to feature the story of Mary Jane Langley in print at some point in the not too distant future. 

 I must thank Ray Duffill of the Hedon Blog, found here, http://hedonblog.wordpress.com/

 And all the staff at the Nags Head in Preston, and the staff at Hedon Museum for the help and assistance.

Wow, it’s that time of the year already, I thought I would get this in early December so if there are any releases after this point I do apologise.  As many of the readers of this blog know, I have for many years written a “Year in Review” and for many this has become the most popular topic, with several people asking me over the last month or so, “Will 2010 have a Year in Review?”

So, for those people, and everyone else, here is the 2010 Year in Review.

It has been one hell of a year in Ripperology, with numerous fiction and non-fiction releases,

Books
Non Fiction

A new edition of the Jack the Ripper A-Z hit the shelves in September.  The release from Paul Begg, Martin Fido and Keith Skinner met with mixed reaction, but it’s still an indispensable book that should be on every Ripperologists book shelf.

The London of Jack the Ripper: Then and Now by Messrs Robert Clack and Philip Hutchinson got released as a Kindle Edition in November and paperback in October.  If you don’t have the hardback (why not?) this is the perfect time to get the paperback or Kindle Edition.

Jack the Ripper: The Theories and the Facts by Colin Kendell was released in October.

Jack the Ripper: The Final Solution by Stephen Knight was re-released in October as a Mass Market Paperback.  Whilst the theory is widely discredited, the book is one that brought many prominent Ripperologists into the study of the Whitechapel Murders, and is also notable for including the “Missing Suspect Files”

Jack the Ripper Suspects by Frederick P. Miller, Agness F. Vandome and John Brewster was released in August.  The list price was huge, and I have not heard of anyone that has purchased a copy.

Jack the Ripper: An Encyclopaedia by John J. Eddleston was re-released in July 2010.  There is nothing new in the book, but the cover size has been reduced, and I know many Ripperologists who have the first edition with pages falling out.

Jack the Ripper Revealed: The Truth at Last by Dr. Terry Weston was released in June both as a paperback and Kindle Edition.

Jack the Ripper Unmasked by William Beadle was released as a paperback in June.

Jack the Ripper: Scotland Yard Investigates by Stuart P. Evans and Donald Rumbelow was released as a paperback in May.

Jack the Ripper by Andrew Cook was released as a paperback in May.

Jack the Ripper: British Intelligence Agent by Tom Slemen and Keith Andrews was released as in May.

Fame or Infamy: The True Story of the Jack the Ripper Diary was released by Steve Powell in May.

The Crimes of Jack the Ripper by Paul Roland was released as a hardcover edition in April.

The London Job 2010 was released by Andrew Firth in April.

The Diary of Jack the Ripper by Shirley Harrison was re-released as a paperback edition in April.

Has Jack the Ripper Told You Chaps What His Real Name Was by Allan Downey was released in May.

Jack the Ripper’s Secret Confession: The Hidden Testimony of Britain’s First Serial Killer by David Monaghan and Nigel Cawthorne was released as a Hardcover in February.

Jack the Ripper. Crime, War and Conflict by iMinds was an Kindle ebook released in February.

Jack the Ripper’s Secret Confession: The Hidden Testimony of Britain’s First Serial Killer by David Monaghan and Nigel Cawthorne was released as a paperback and Kindle ebook in January.

Fiction

Robert Bloch’s Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper was re-released in October.

Ripper’s Row by Donnie Light and Shawn Weaver was released in October as a Kindle ebook. The book features Jack the Ripper fighting vampires.

Witches, Werewolves and Jack the Ripper by G.M. Jackson was released in October as a Kindle ebook.  The book features Jack fighting werewolves.

What Alice Knew, A Curious Tale of Henry James and Jack the Ripper by Paula Marantz Cohen was released in September.

Requiem for the Ripper: The Final Episode of a Study in Red Trilogy was released by Brian L. Porter in June.

The Passion of the Ripper by Nicholas Nicastro was released in June as a Kindle ebook.

Time After Time by Karl Alexander was released in March.

Jack’s Place by Steve Kenning was released in February as a Kindle ebook.  The story is set in the 21st Century .

Fatal Incision by William Park was released.

In Miller’s Court by Andrew Hoffman was released in February as a Kindle ebook.

Odd Jack the Ripper related title of the year?
Cheryl and Ashley- Love Wars, John McShane, April.
Page 13 mentions a Jack the Ripper suspect!

Film, TV and Audio

Mysteryquest 3 disk DVD set featuring an episode on Jack the Ripper was released in the UK.

Unmasking Jack the Ripper was released on DVD in the UK.

Whitechapel Series 2 appeared on ITV and on DVD in the UK.

Real Crimes: Jack the Ripper was released on PC CD, Nintendo DS in the UK.

Magazines

The Casebook Examiner began in April.
Issue 1 featured Tom Westcott’s article on Exonerating Michael Kidney, R.J. Palmer discussed the rise of Walter Andrews, Neal Sheldon discussed Morganstone, Elizabeth Pheonix, and Mrs Carthy, and the Ripper tour took in Leicester.
Issue 2 featured Tom Westcott’s article on Le Grand, Stewart P. Evans article A Rose Red? As well as contributions by Chris Phillips, who published a great photograph of Joseph Lawende, and R.J. Palmer on Dr. Anderson, Dr. Tumblety and a Voyage to Canada.
Issue 3 featured an article by John Malcolm challenging the work of Philip Sugden, Adam Went discussed the sinking of the S. S. Alice, Trevor Bond’s Ultimate Tour from Pimlico to Lambeth, and Robert Clack’s Scenes of Crime essay.
Issue 4 featured Tom Westcott’s article on the Cattleman, the Lunatic, and the Doctor, R.J. Palmer’s article on the goings on behind the scenes in America, and D. M. Gates article on Kelly’s 1888 Directory.  Jenni Sheldon took us on the Ultimate Ripper tour through Canterbury, to Hampton and Herne Bay, Kent.

Ripperologist Magazine is still going from strength to strength.
January saw Neil Bell and Rob Clack tackle PC Hutt in an excellent article.
February saw Jon Rees’s Appreciation of Jeremy Brett, and Jonathan Hainsworth poses questions on Anderson and Kosminski, and John Bennett took a look at 1970‘s London.
The issue also saw Rob Clack and Debra Arif win the 2009 Jeremy Beadle Award for their article A Rose By Any Other Name.
March saw Neil Bell and Rob Clack tackle Dr. Frederick Gordon Brown, John Bennett started a series on the letters sent to the City Police, Chris George discussed Jehovah the Ripper and Jon Rees gave us more Sherlock Holmes.
April saw MJ Trow discuss Robert Mann, Adam Went discuss the murder of Elizabeth Stride, John Bennett with the second part of his Letters to the City Police.
May saw Fiona Saint ask whether Gaugin was inspired by Jack the Ripper, and John Bennett’s final part of the Letters to the City Police.
June
July saw Neil Bell and Rob Clack’s article on DC Marriott, Tim Mosley on The House that Jack Built, Bob Hinton discussed his adventures in Researchland, and Andrew Firth looked at the East End Underground.
September saw Mike Hawley tackle the Elixir of Life, Tim Mosley on the House that Jack Built, and contributions from Dirk C Gibson, Glen L Bedsoe, and Arthur Morrison.
November saw Dirk C Gibson and Brooke N Weeber look at the correspondence involving Jack the Ripper, Eduardo Zinna with a Touch of Evil, Tim Mosley with more of the House that Jack built, and Bob Hinton speaks to Ripperologist.

The Journal of the Whitechapel Society still going from strength to strength.
October featured an article by Mei Trow, entitled Down among the Dead men, Joe Chetcuti discussed the Euston Arrest, and Peter Whitby looked at the Mean Streets- Bluegate Fields.
August featured Mickey Mayhew’s Coaxing Eddy from the Closet article, Chris Jones discussing Maybrick, and Ian Porter’s Thoughts on the Maybrick Diary.
June saw Trevor Spinage and Daniel Cox provide articles on Montague John Druitt in a Druitt themed special.
April saw Christopher Skolik discuss the Whitechapel Murders, Melanie Clegg, and Robert Clack take on Christ Church Spitalfields, and Robin Odell’s Off the Wall.
February saw Nicholas Connell discuss the research still left to undertake, J. J. Page looked at William Fishman’s work, and Alan Hunt wrote Food of the Gods.

Ripperana
July which featured cases such as Jill Dando’s murder, Eve Stratford, Jackie Ansell-Lamb.
April featured cases such as the San Francisco Zodiac, Egon Von Bulow, and the Yorkshire Ripper.

Events

The 2010 Jack the Ripper Conference, organised by Adam Wood, was once again held at the Kings Stores and was an amazing weekend for all involved.

The Frances Coles Memorial Appeal

Bloggs

Jack the Ripper and Me by Lavaugn Towell
http://www.jacktheripperandme.com/

All that You’ve Done by Trevor Bond
http://www.all-that-youve-done.com/

Jon’s Thoughts by Jon Rees.
http://jonrees.wordpress.com/

Random Observations From A Restless Mind by Nathen Amin
http://nathenamin.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/jack-the-ripper-conference-2010-a-review/

Notable finds and special mentions

Chris Phillips found, and shared, a wonderful picture of Joseph Lawende.
The ongoing newspaper research by the likes of Howard Brown, Chris Scott, Deborah Arif, Dave James.
Chris Scott transcribing the entire O’Donnell Manuscript.
Andrew Firth’s ongoing photography projects shared on Facebook.

Personal Achievements
The Jack the Ripper- Hull Connection Lectures have had a good year, from a lecture at the multi million pound Hull History Centre, which attracted it’s 10,000th visitor to the centre, who came for my lecture!  I was also privileged to speak at the 2010 Jack the Ripper Conference at the Kings Stores, and finally at the Hull Central Library.  The lectures have received great feedback.

I have made a number of finds through my research, some of which have made it onto my blog, others have made it onto Facebook, Twitter and the forums, some have been presented exclusively to the candidates of the Jack the Ripper 2010 Conference, and most of them have been kept for inclusion in the book.
Among these finds were;

Newspaper reports on Frederick Bailey Deeming in Hull, Beverley and beyond, his marriage certificate, and the newspaper announcements of his marriage, and death certificates of his mother and father.  I also traced documents pertaining to Deeming’s frauds in Hull, and newspaper reports linking Deeming with an unsolved murder that was committed in Hull when Deeming was released from Hull Jail.

Newspaper reports and primary sources connected with Robert D’Onston Stephenson, including several rare and out of print books discussing his articles in the London press, and several general crime and paranormal books and publications that mention Robert D’Onston Stephenson.

A wealth of information on Frederick Richard Chapman including marriage certificate, wedding announcement in the Hull Press, the dates of his employment with the Hull and Sculcoates Dispensary, the locations of his houses in the Hull Trade Directories.  Census entries for him and his family.  British Medical Journal information, Probate details, Birth, Marriage and Death details.  Articles written by him, and about him have also been traced.

I have had the pleasure of trawling through the Australian Newspapers, New Zealand Newspapers, American Newspapers, British Newspapers (19th Century) as well as 20th Century newspaper articles in the Daily Mirror Archive 1903 - current, Daily Express Archive 1900 - current, Sunday Express Archive 2000 - current, Daily Star Archive 2000 - current, Daily Star Sunday Archive 2002 - current, The Watchman Archive 1835 - 1885.
This has reaped hundreds of articles on Jack the Ripper, the Detectives and Officials linked to the case, notable theories and suspects, and notes on books, radio shows, TV shows and movies featuring the Whitechapel Murderer.

I have also had the pleasure of visiting Hull History Centre, Bridlington Local Studies, East Riding Archives, The Black Lion Public House in Bridlington, Islington Archives, London Metropolitan Archives, the British Library, the British Museum, as well as looking at several smaller private collections and several fantastic tours of Hull’s Guildhall.

I have met and spoke with people across the globe on Facebook, Twitter, and the forums as well as being able to meet with many Ripperologists and members of the media to discuss my work.
Special mentions should go to Jon Rees, Nathen Amin, Phil Carter, Paul Begg, Bill Beadle, Adam Wood, Gareth Williams, Norma Buddle, Andrew Firth, Kate Bradshaw, John Bennett and Laura Prietto, Trevor Bond, Rob Clack, Robert Anderson, Caroline Morris, Gail Dowle, Jackie Murphy, Jenni and Neal Sheldon, Liza Hopkinson, Mark Ripper, Suzi Hanney, the Cobb Brothers and the fantastic Philip Hutchinson.  All of which kept me smiling at the 2010 Ripper Conference despite the sad news I had received on the train to London.

In the New Year I have been invited to work on many local history and Ripper related projects, and I won’t spoil it, but I will say that 2011 will hopefully be a great year.

It might seem to some that I have not been around much recently but I can assure you that work is ongoing in the background in ripperological circles.  Among these projects are;

The writing of Jack the Ripper, From Hell, From Hull, volumes I, II, and III.

The writing of Jack the Ripper, Newspaper’s From Hull.

The presentations are still ongoing and already dates for 2011 are flooding in, including historical groups, and educational centres.

Several other local history projects are in the works including collaborations, guest spots, and new articles.

I am also working on what promises to be the largest “Year in Review” ever seen on a Jack the Ripper blog, with books, magazines, tv shows, documentaries, and many other forms of media and events getting a look in.

New finds are also being made, including work on several suspects, from Albericci to Xavier and a fair few stops in between.