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Which Letters are authentic?

Casebook Message Boards: Ripper Letters: Ripper Letters: Which Letters are authentic?
 SUBTOPICMSGSLast Updated

Author: Diana
Wednesday, 05 June 2002 - 03:21 pm
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In addition to the kidney, the Lusk letter has a different quality about it than the others, somehow sicker.

Author: Richard P. Dewar
Wednesday, 05 June 2002 - 07:36 pm
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Hi Diana,

I don't know if you have seen Evans/Skinner's book "Letters From Hell." Over 200 letters are transcribed in that book - many with photos.

I found that there were many anonymous letters as grotesque as the Lusk letter - though today they are not as infamous as the Dear Boss and Lusk letters.

Regards,

Rich

Author: David Radka
Wednesday, 05 June 2002 - 09:35 pm
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Rosey,
You know me well.

David

Author: Joseph
Wednesday, 05 June 2002 - 11:55 pm
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Hello David,
Do you plan on responding to my e-mail any time soon?

You wrote two messages in reply to my comment regarding the unusual amount of time it is taking you to put your solution thesis together. You were so eager to have me e-mail you privately that you used capitals letters on the second occasion.
A number of days have passed since I e-mailed you.
Has some problem developed in the interim?

Joseph

Author: Rosemary O'Ryan
Thursday, 06 June 2002 - 07:54 am
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Dear David,

Somebody else knows you better than I.

Author: David Radka
Thursday, 06 June 2002 - 12:06 pm
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Joseph,
I have not found any e-mail from you in my in box. I apologise if I have inadvertantly deleted it without realizing it came from you. I receive 30 or more e-mails per day, most of them junk mail, and I knock them off the tray casually without reading them. Many of them are trying to sell me products to enlarge my penis, etc. What does your e-mail say in the subject line? I will try to locate it in my delete folder. I do wish to correspond with you.

My address is dradka@snet.net

David

Author: Joseph
Thursday, 06 June 2002 - 12:34 pm
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Greetings David R.,
No problem. I understand what you mean exactly, I do the same thing. If you can't find it let me know, and I'll re-mail it to you.

David M.
You crack me up. Apparently we share the same wise
ass. :-)

Joseph

Author: Tom Wescott
Saturday, 08 June 2002 - 12:22 am
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NEWSFLASH! Joseph and David share an ass!!

P.S. Thanks to Joseph, I now know that 'ass' is acceptable on the boards. This means I can stop using the stupid dollar signs (i.e. 'A$$')! :)

T-Dubs

Author: Robert Maloney
Tuesday, 09 July 2002 - 07:12 am
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"Whence do you come?" "From hell" "Who are you?" "The devil's sooty brother, and my king as well."

And who was Suty's sooty brother?

(O)SIRISendyouhalfthekidneitookfromonewomanPRESERVEDit

Robbie

Author: Warwick Parminter
Tuesday, 09 July 2002 - 03:20 pm
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Jack the Ripper was RUMPLESTILTSKIN

Author: Robert Maloney
Tuesday, 09 July 2002 - 04:42 pm
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No. And I can't believe that you!, of all people, got that wrong. How shocking. Very witty though.

Author: Timsta
Tuesday, 09 July 2002 - 07:44 pm
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Calling Mishter Begg..primarily, although all offers of assistance gratefully accepted :)

Seems like a good place to resubmit my request for info of a couple of months back. In the A-Z a DOB of 1839 for our friend George Akin (Aken?) Lusk is given. I asked Martin F about it, but he says either Mr Skinner or yourself did that piece of research. Can you help? Any indications as to place of birth? I found his marriage details in the IGI, but no birth record.

(I'm trying to check on a wacky theory of mine that GAL might have been Irish or of Irish descent, and the "Sor" and "Mishter" a sarcastic attempt to render his accent in print.)

Regards
Timsta

Author: Tom Wescott
Tuesday, 09 July 2002 - 10:32 pm
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Timsta,

Does your theory pertain to any particular individual as the sender, or account for how he would have known of Lusk's Irish heritage, and would have been able to procure a human kidney? I'm curious as to what you've come up with.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

Author: Timsta
Tuesday, 09 July 2002 - 10:35 pm
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ok, I just got told in the chat room tonight that Stewart Evans has conclusively debunked the 'inch of renal artery' business.

Is this true?

Regards
Timsta

Author: Timsta
Tuesday, 09 July 2002 - 10:37 pm
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Tom,

Perhaps the word 'theory' was a bit too strong. 'Wild speculation' might be better.

My line of thought is simply this: a quick search of the IGI shows the surname Lusk appearing several times in Ireland in the 18th and 19th centuries. If Lusk was indeed Irish or of Irish descent, the use of a 'stage Irish accent' might well jibe with the overall sneering tone of the letter.

The sender could, for example, have heard Lusk speak at the weekly meetings of the WVC in the Crown on Mile End Road.

I have no particular sender in mind, and hence no comment on how he might have obtained a kidney.

Just thought it was worth checking if only for elimination purposes.

Regards
Timsta

Author: graziano
Wednesday, 10 July 2002 - 01:24 am
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Robert,

OK for OSIRIS.
As I told you before there is corroboration for that in the Goulston street Graffito.
But "PRESERVED" ?

Thank you. Graziano.

Author: Robert Maloney
Wednesday, 10 July 2002 - 08:32 am
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Hi Graziano,

'Preserved' refers to the relationship between OSIRIS and mummy preservation as part of the OSIRIS myth. Also, you have the parcel being received on the date of the 16th, which, depending upon what secret society was involved, might be symbolic. Most tales have OSIRIS cut into 14 pieces by his "evil" brother (SUT, SET etc.) but 16 is common enough. Then you have Lusk suggesting a kidney from a "Dog" which is also kind of 'nise' in this context. And since this letter does seem very clever, one has to wonder if the writer knew that 'nise' meant fake.

It would be great, Graz, if the 'writing on the wall' and other key symbolism link up. As Rosey has said, it is hard to be certain of anything in this case. But for me, the symbolism of: "From hell" = Osiris/Sut, is about as certain as I can get for now anyway.

Thank you very much,

Rob

Author: Christopher T George
Friday, 17 January 2003 - 02:29 pm
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Hi, all--

I found the following in "The Humors of Newspaper Editing" by John Pendleton in the American periodical "Littell's Living Age," Vol. XI, August 1, 1896, p. 309 (article runs pp. 305-309), reprinted from "Gentleman's Magazine," a British monthly magazine published in London from the 18th century through the early 20th century:

"'Dear Sir,--I am now in this city, and in three days you will hear of another crime.

'Yours,

'JACK THE RIPPER.'

The above letter is sent two or three times a year by some lunatic, who adds that he has 'a buzzing in his head.' The note is generally written in red ink, to represent blood, and bears as a crest a human heart pierced by a stiletto."

The above anecdote might possibly be interpreted by us as evidence of the fact that newsmen and certainly this journalist viewed such letters as hoaxes, as did apparently the newsmen of the Central News Agency on receipt of the original "Dear Boss" letters in 1888.

Best regards

Chris George

Author: Dr. Anna-marie Brown
Monday, 10 February 2003 - 08:05 am
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Hello everyone.
I am new to this board. It's nice to be here :)

Am I right in thinking that there were some letters which seemed to be painted? When I looked at photographs of these, it immediately struck me that they could easily have been written by a musician/composer. The 'I's and the 'J's are perfect treble clefs. Not easy to do without lots of practice...
Although I do accept that the letters may not have been written by the Ripper. Had anybody else come to the same conclusion?

Anna

Author: Ally
Monday, 10 February 2003 - 08:56 am
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Welcome Anna,

Being the most musically inept person on the planet, I wouldn't recognize a treble clef from a chin cleft, but that's an interesting thought.

Hope that you enjoy your tour of the boards.

Author: Dr. Anna-marie Brown
Monday, 10 February 2003 - 11:32 am
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Hi Ally, nice to meet you! :)

Here is an image of a treble clef (Its on a key ring because I couldn't find a simple notation character.

treble clef on a key ring

Best wishes,
Anna

Author: Jon
Monday, 10 February 2003 - 12:34 pm
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Dr Anna
Welcome.

I think you may have picked up on the fact that certain script characters taught in schools before the turn of the century were more ornate than they are today.
Interesting thought though.

It never occured to me that Jack was 'Chopin' his way through Whitechapel.

Best regards, Jon
:)

Author: Dr. Anna-marie Brown
Tuesday, 11 February 2003 - 05:26 am
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Hi Jon and thanks :)

Yes, I agree lettering was more ornate in those days. Here's another thought along the music lines..

Another Ripper letter (featured on pge 294 of Paul Feldman's book (The final chapter) mentions being on stage. It reads :

Dear Sir,
I beg to state that the letters published in yours of today are lies. It is somebody gulling the public. I am the Whitechapel purger. On 13th, at 3pm will be on stage, as am going to New York. But will have some business before I go. Yours truly,
Jack the Ripper.

Now Paul Feldman says the 'stage' is reffering to the landing stage for boats...which of course may well be true, but it could also mean literally the stage. Was the Ripper giving a clue?

I may be way off here, but I just can't get it out of my head that the Rippers rhymes have choruses...they are just like songs (well most of them).

Thanks for listening to my ravings,
Anna :)

Author: richard nunweek
Tuesday, 11 February 2003 - 07:15 am
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Hi everyone,
In answer to which of the ripper letters are authentic.
I did a search last night of all the letters on file, and my conclusion is about 95-99 per cent of them are complete rubbish, childlike , and some just plain rude.
The only one that I would take seriously was the telegram sent to Inspector Abberline, scotland yard on the 21st nov 88.Letter as followes..
Jack the Ripper wishes to give himself up, will Abberline communicate with him atnumber 39 , cutler street ,houndsditch, with this end in view.
Jack The Ripper.
This is written with the blood of Kelly, all Long Liz blood is used up.
The reason why I believe in the authenticity of this telegram, is because it is the only correspondence that mentions the number 39,[ rather strangely written].
Anybody who has read my posts in the past will know the significance of that number in these crimes.Also the telegram mentions the name Long Liz, not Stride, the former being the name she was known as throughout Whitechapel, again that is significant in the number 39.
Regards Richard.

Author: Robert Maloney
Tuesday, 11 February 2003 - 07:54 am
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Hi Richard,

The letter that Anna posted may support your theory. "On 13th at 3pm..." 13x3=39? :-)

Rob

Author: richard nunweek
Tuesday, 11 February 2003 - 10:53 am
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Hi Anna-Marie.
Robert just pointed out On 13th at 3pm =13x3=39.It is amazing this number crops up everywhere during these murders.
As for the reference being on stage, you may have a point. I know that the actor Richard Mansfield was performing his Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde when the murders began in London, and it has just been discovered that in the 1881 census he boarded in london with a lawyer and a clerk of holy orders.
The latter being of intrest as a letter dated 27th sept 89, has the writer saying I am a clerk of holy orders.
My imagination is now working overtime Mansfield and a member of the clergy being responsible , i doubt it , but that would be a refreshing new theory.
Regards Richard.

Author: Leanne Perry
Tuesday, 11 February 2003 - 03:11 pm
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G'day Richard,

What do you think about the letter written to an unknown witness, on the 6th of October 1888? (page 88 'Letters From Hell').

This one took my interest because it is in the same handwriting as the original 'Dear Boss' and wasn't sent to the press or police for quick impact by a hoaxer. In fact it threatens the recipient not to show it to police or he'll rip the recipient up. It doesn't begin 'Dear Boss', 'Dear Sir' either, which I think a hoaxer would have been tempted to do.

I'm no handwriting expert, but I noticed that the date written up the top is in the same position as 'Dear Boss' and appears the same (ie day in single digit 6/abbreviated month Oct/ and year in full 1888 - 6 Oct 1888)
This is the only letter besides the original that does so!

If the recipient did show the police, and it entered the files straight away, it didn't cause the slightest stir. I can't find information on it in 'The Ultimate Companion' or any other book. It took the interest of handwriting expert Sue Iremonger too.

Maybe it didn't cause a stir in 1888 because the Lusk communication, (which was received the next week), took the spotlight!

What are your thoughts? I am writing a story for 'RIPPEROO'!

LEANNE!


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