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AP Wolf
Assistant Commissioner
Username: Apwolf
Post Number: 1266
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 4:04 pm: | 
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The Many Lives of Mabel Collins
Kim Farnell
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Youth, Mariage, the writing of Light on the Path
Theosophy
Jack the Ripper, A new stage in life, Abolition of Vivisection and Final Years
Jack the Ripper
In 1888, when Mabel was still active at theosophical headquarters, the discussions of Jack the Ripper and his activities were grabbing as much attention there as anywhere else. The Ripper was never found, and to this day there is no certainty about who he was, although numerous theories abound. I’m not going to even attempt to try and unravel this riddle here. What matters is that Mabel was soon to believe that she was sharing her home with the Ripper himself.
In 1888 an article in the Pall Mall Gazette appeared, suggesting that the Ripper was a black magician. In January 1889, two articles appeared in the Pall Mall Gazette about Rider Hagar’s incredibly popular novel She. Numerous readers had written in requesting more. ”RD” obliged by happily launching into an account of devil worship, horror, blasphemy and obscenity and signed himself Roslyn D’Onston.
Stephenson had been at the London Hospital in 1888 and admitted again in 1889, suffering from “chloralism”, brought on by the use of chloral hydrate. It was during his second stay that he received a letter from Mabel. After a few weeks she received a reply – Dr Roslyn D’Onston wrote to say that he was ill in hospital but as soon as he recovered he would arrange to meet Mabel. He did so and Mabel began her association with a man she believed to be a great magician.
Robert Donston Stephenson was the son of a Yorkshire seed mill owner who had studied chemistry in Munich and medicine in Paris. He fought for Garibaldi in the 1860’s, working as a battlefield medic, and studied the occult under Bulwer Lytton. Married in 1876 he was separated from his wife – it is unknown what happened to her. He was a heavy drinker and reputed to use other drugs. By the time Mabel was to make contact with him, Stephenson had already begun to build a mythology around himself.
Stephenson had a nervous breakdown and after going to Brighton for a cure was transferred to the London Hospital in July of 1888, diagnosed with neurasthenia. He was a patient there again in 1888 and became convinced that Dr Morgan Davies was the Ripper, after he saw what he believed to be a re enactment. Stephenson was in fact a patient in the London Hospital for 134 days from July 1888 through December 1888 covering the whole time span of the murders. He had told his Davies story to an unemployed ironmongery assistant called George March, and the two of them passed themselves off as private detectives, investigating Dr Davies. On Christmas Eve 1888 March went to Scotland Yard and told them about Stephenson. Stephenson was investigated by the police.
Vittoria Cremers arrived back in England and almost immediately called at Mabel’s home to be told that Mabel was away in Southsea. The next day Vittoria took a train to visit her. She found Mabel lodging in a shabby, dingy house. Here she met Stephenson and heard from Mabel what a great magician he was. Mabel explained that she was caring for him and planned to return to London where the three of them would be able to set up in business. Two weeks later Mabel and Stephenson joined Vittoria in London. Vittoria arranged for Stephenson to take lodgings where she was staying.
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Natalie Severn
Assistant Commissioner
Username: Severn
Post Number: 1053
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 4:59 pm: |
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Thanks for this too AP.Must look him up again.I think he was 5ft10 and 47 which wouldnt fit the one or two likely witness descriptions passed down to us.But you have to ask yourself ,"Did anyone really ever see the killer?"----we cant be sure of this.He did live on and convert from Black magician stuff to Christianity in 1893or so.Myself I firmly believe the ripper was either dead or locked away after the Mary Kelly murder.But he is a most fascinating suspect is Stephenson.
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AP Wolf
Assistant Commissioner
Username: Apwolf
Post Number: 1270
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 5:52 pm: |
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Thanks Natalie...
One hopes that when Stephenson went down to Brighton to seek cure for his nervous breakdown that he might have enjoyed the balmy and barmy hostel of the Police Seaside Home located there.
Now that would be a laugh!
One can imagine all the suspects nested down there at Hove. I'm sure you wrote a poesie on that theme? |
Tee
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Sunday, November 21, 2004 - 6:29 pm: |
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The name of the person D'onston spoke to was George Marsh. An Unemployed wannabe Detective. Who was lead to believe (by Donston) that he knew who the Ripper was. Donston signed a contract under the name "Sudden Death" agreeing that they would share the reward for catching Jack the Ripper with Donstons help. But Donston deliberately coated the chats with syrup leading Marsh to believe that Donston was infact Jack the Ripper. (as intended?)
Duped by Donston to snitch him up to the police . Which he did. Hook line and sinker!
He went to Inspector Rootes on Christmas eve 1888 and gave a statement along with the agreement to the reward.
Inspector Rootes knew Donston for 20 years or more. On a proffesional level. Not as a criminal
Donston had already by then notified the Police of his Morgan Davies theory (also of London Hospital)
Donston could`ve deliberately injected himself into the enquiry so that he may be overlooked and swept aside????}
Thanks for putting up what info on Donston you did A.P.
Best wishes.
Tee. |
Howard Brown
Chief Inspector
Username: Howard
Post Number: 601
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 11:08 pm: |
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One thing to keep in mind about the statement..
"On Christmas Eve 1888 March went to Scotland Yard and told them about Stephenson. Stephenson was investigated by the police. "
Stephenson himself went to see Roots at Scotland Yard two days afterwards. An impression can be developed that the Police went to Stephenson,when it was the other way around.
This prevalent belief that Stephenson became involved in the ways that he did in order to avert or avoid suspicion by injecting himself into the fold of suspects is merely a conjecture....and will always be just that.
A better,although unproven,propositition is that after talking too much with Marsh,who may not have been a dupe or dunce,considering if what he described to Roots was based on deductions that only he knew from his meetings with RDS and not on our "guesswork", Stephenson HAD to go see Roots to see what he may have said inadvertently that could have caused his arrest or detainment. No such record exists for RDS being arrested in connection to the WM.
Being questioned on the basis of one's own trip to the police,to be a snoop,is not an arrest...or even a detainment.
HowBrown
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Howard Brown
Chief Inspector
Username: Howard
Post Number: 615
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 7:53 pm: |
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I just recieved the book, "Mystical Vampire" by Kim Farnell, which A.P. Wolf inaugarated the thread with 10 months ago....albeit with a different title.
The book I have in my possession was copywritten in 2005.
In any event, the book has some interesting facts regarding a woman who never went to school and yet became a very popular novelist.
Two of the reference sources that Ms. Farnell cites are well known Ripperologists Melvin Harris and Ivor Edwards.
Ms.Farnell,while not a Ripperologist,per se,knows a bit about the crimes and atmosphere,which is evident in her writing.
I will place a book review on a separate thread shortly.
One quick note...unfortunately,Ms.Farnell states that [ on page 106 ] that RDS "may have been arrested" for indecent assault on October 30th, 1888. The source for this disinformation isn't mentioned. Stephenson was,as any Ripperologist interested in RDS knows, was still residing at London Hospital and would continue to do so for 38 days after this October 30th date. Can't be in two places at once...not even RDS.
Stephenson likewise "may have been arrested" in June 1887 ,according to Ms.Farnell's uncredited source. If this is the case, it means absolutely zero in reference to arrests made during the Whitechapel Murders in 1888. This also may be found on page 106 of that book,published by Mandrake Press.
HowBrown
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