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History, Reference, Research, and GrogTalk => References and Research => Topic started by: besilarius on February 07, 2018, 07:51:06 AM

Title: Jack the Ripper letters analysed
Post by: besilarius on February 07, 2018, 07:51:06 AM
http://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/jack-the-ripper-letter-mystery/
Title: Re: Jack the Ripper letters analysed
Post by: JasonPratt on February 07, 2018, 09:51:11 AM
I like your title better than theirs: analyzed? Sure, yep. "Solved"!?! mmmmmm.... no, nothing about them was solved. Linguistic analysis adds some non-deductive weight toward two of the letters which most scholars on the topic already think were genuine, being genuine. I'm pretty sure I've even seen remarks about the subtle linguistic similarity of those two letters before. The main new result (I think?) is a linguistic connection suggested between two of the core letters and a popular secondary letter often regarded as a hoax. What does this mean? Almost nothing: it might mean the two core letters were also hoaxed by the same person; or that the "Moab and Midian" letter wasn't a hoax after all; or that whoever in the Central News Agency hoaxed the third letter did a good job accurately noticing subtle linguistic similarities of those two core letters. Or everything could combine, like Voltron!  :D -- someone in the Central News Agency was Jack the Ripper.

Still, interesting topic.  O:-)


Up through around 2002, Philip Sugden had collected all known contemporary evidence about the Ripper case, including major reference to the primary documents (but not all 400 letters sent to the newspapers), in this very well-compiled book: https://smile.amazon.com/Complete-History-Jack-Ripper/dp/1841193976

Readers should aim for the 2002 paperback edition, not the 1994 hardback, as the paperback includes some updates in the 8 years since original publication. The book is long out of print, but reasonable used and even 'new' copies can usually be found. (It was offered on Kindle for a while, too -- I know, I own a copy that way -- but this is no longer available for reasons I don't know.)
Title: Re: Jack the Ripper letters analysed
Post by: bbmike on February 07, 2018, 09:54:13 AM
Bah, Sherlock Holmes solved this case many years ago.
Title: Re: Jack the Ripper letters analysed
Post by: BanzaiCat on February 07, 2018, 10:43:19 AM
EHHHNNT Incorrect!

Everybody knows Malcolm McDowell handled that business! ;)

Title: Re: Jack the Ripper letters analysed
Post by: DoctorQuest on February 07, 2018, 10:46:50 AM
+1. Fun movie.
Title: Re: Jack the Ripper letters analysed
Post by: bbmike on February 07, 2018, 10:52:41 AM
^Do NOT watch the recent TV series "based" on that movie.
Title: Re: Jack the Ripper letters analysed
Post by: BanzaiCat on February 07, 2018, 10:53:52 AM
Quote from: bbmike on February 07, 2018, 10:52:41 AM
^Do NOT watch the recent TV series "based" on that movie.

I didn't even know that was a thing. I'd be inclined to avoid it.

Man I loved that movie back in the day. Funny I'd just now remember it. I'll have to find it online or get a DVD.
Title: Re: Jack the Ripper letters analysed
Post by: bbmike on February 07, 2018, 11:39:15 AM
The movie was based on a book and there was a sequel (book) to it:

Jaclyn the Ripper (https://www.amazon.com/Jaclyn-Ripper-Karl-Alexander-ebook/dp/B003BGGYEQ/ref=pd_sim_351_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=0R8ZHQZR9RWJYBP08NVR)

And no, I have not read the book. The premise alone scares me.