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Stephen P. Ryder
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 2619
Registered: 10-1997
| | Posted on Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 10:11 am: |       |
Thanks to a new, high-speed scanner that just arrived this week, I finally finished archiving the complete text (2,012 pages in total) of Jack O Estripador, an illustrated, five-volume Ripper fiction published in Portgual in 1889. There's no way I (or anyone else, I'm sure) will ever have the time or money to translate the complete text, so I figure the best I could do with it is to make the entire mammoth work available online.
http://casebook.org/ripper_media/rps.middleton.html
A few hardy souls have helped in providing plot synopses for the first several chapters, which I will be posting here. If anyone else has the inclination to continue these synopses, please email me at spryder@casebook.org.
Thanks! |
Stephen P. Ryder
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 2621
Registered: 10-1997
| | Posted on Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 11:11 am: | |
Synopsis
Chapter 1 "The police superintendant"
Here we have two main characters. Ralph Johnson, the superintendant of the London police, is a man in his thirties. His girlfriend, Elen, is visiting him for dinner. Elen is a good looking woman in her twenties, we don't really know where she comes from. There is also a servant who is in fact a secret agent, Tom.
The two lovers first chat about unimportant things ("Oh, I love you so
much", "Why did you take so long", "I want to live with you", kisses, etc) but it gets interesting when we learn more about Ralph's job. Elen admires him a lot and sees him as a hero who fights against evil. Ralph agrees but then talks about the frustration of unresolved cases, and he takes the Whitechapel murders as an example. Here we learn that this chapter takes place before the Stride murder, as Ralph says at one point: "What troubles me the most is that in the last murder, that of Annie Chapman, the killer took the womb". Ralph also reveals to Elen his "secret theory", that apparently no-one else has thought of before, that is, that all the murders were the work of the same man. He also mentions that the police has 320 men in the Whitechapel district to prevent further murders.
This chapter in a way introduces the ignorant readers to the Ripper case.
Chapter 2 "the Berner Street murder"
Just as the two lovers are talking, a police officer, M. Black, enters and informs Ralph that a new murder has just been discovered in Berner Street, close to the Socialist Club.
Elen insists to go there with Ralph and they arrive at the scene of the
murder around 3 o'clock in the morning. There's already a crowd there. Ralph looks at the body: the throat has been cut, the victim is holding a slice of bread and grapes. For Ralph there is no doubt: it is the same murderer. Interesting that the writer notes that "in spite of the facial bruises, it was apparent that this woman had been beautiful". He obviously hadn't seen pictures of Elizabeth Stride...
Chapter 3: "Questioning".
After looking at the dead body, Ralph interrogates Lewis Diemshitz, the Jew who discovered Stride. Diemshitz comes across as a totally ridiculous character, saying things such as "I don't know anything, but I know something", and then telling about his life when Ralph asks him simple questions. But the jist of what he says conforms to real Ripper history: he discovers (or rather, his pony discovers) the still warm body around 1AM. Someone from the club, Fred Harburg, had passed by that spot at midnight and hadn't seen anything.
Ralph is really determined to catch the murderer and is further motivated by Elen.
Chapter 4: "The Mitre Square murder"
Suddenly inspector Watkins arrives in Berner Street and informs Ralph of a new crime in Mitre Square, that he discovered himself, "one hour ago". Here we learn that Ralph's character is extremely vain and his subordinates sometimes call him "Your honour" in order to get better treatment. Ralph leaves Elen and goes to Mitre Square where there already is a gathering of people. Emphasis is put on how everybody in the crowd makes fun of and insults the police for not being able to stop the murders. The mutilations are roughly described. Ralph then encounters Dr. Phillips.
The doctor urges Ralph to close the case because of the growing unrest among the population, and asks him not to tell anyone of his "secret theory" (that there is only one murderer), as it might further encourage panic and riots. Ralph replies that he is fully determined to give his life if needed to find the killer.
Chapter 5 "The Three Swans Pub"
The chapter begins with a long description of the pub. It has a very good reputation in Whitechapel, a pub that never causes any trouble to the police. It is owned by a Mr. Bennett, a very strong man who is an excellent manager and apparently prefers to turn a blind eye to the occasional prostitutes that come to his otherwise respectable pub.
On that night (probably sometime after the double event), discussions get quite heated, which is unusual for this quiet place. Everybody talks about the murders and how the London police is humiliating England in front of the rest of Europe, where according to some, the murderer would've already been caught.
Then they talk about the audacity of the murderer and an old man called Dr. Weller surprises everyone by showing the bottom of his hat, where are written the words "Jack the Ripper". He says he found the words written there on the same day.
Chapter 6 "The viscount of Kerdoval"
The viscount of Kerdoval then enters the pub, he is a well known figure
there. A guy called Emerson also takes active part in the discussions. We also learn of a young beautiful girl named Rosa, she appears to work at the bar.
Anyway, Dr. Weller, Emerson, and a few others put Kerdoval up to date (he had been travelling), telling him of a new murder in Westminster, that was discovered three days after the double event. A woman there has been discovered without her arms and without her legs, and partially disembowelled. Everybody assumes it is the work of the same man. The words "Jack the Ripper" also seem to pop up everywhere, in letters sent to the police, in Ralph Johnson's house, and even on the Queen's own mirror! This chapter brings a great sense of helplessness. The police appear ridiculous and the murderer seems to be omnipotent and ubiquitous.
Chapters 7 and 8: Uncle Samuel (they have the same name)
The chapter begins with the description of a silent figure so far, who had been sitting on a nearby table and suddenly leaves. It is Uncle Samuel, an old Jew, totally inoffensive and "deaf as a door" according to mr Bennett, the pub owner. Kerdoval however appears suspicious of Samuel and half an hour later leaves the pub as well.
He arrives on the desert street, looks carefully around, and goes to Oxford Street with a cab. Once there he walks to Park Street and gently whistles in front of a door. The door opens, and a voice asks in an Irish dialect: "Come in, they are following you. There are spies all over".
Right after Kerdoval enters the building, a spy emerges from the darkness, whistles up the other spies, and they go together to Ralph Johnson's office. Once there they report the situation to the superintendant. They followed Kerdoval to Park Street but weren't able to enter the building. His house has been thoroughly examined but there are no traces of secret passages. Ralph then dispatches the spies, except for agent Tom, who as we know is also his servant and his best friend. Ralph then reveals to Tom that the Ripper murders are a pretext to spy on Kerdoval. In reality he suspects Elen to betray him with Kerdoval, that's why he has men following Kerdoval day and night. However, noone except Tom is to know this, and Kerdoval cannot be arrested as he has links to the high society and he comes from a noble French family.
Chapter 9: "Miss Elen"
This chapter takes us back to the night of the double event. We see Elen take a cab secretly as Ralph hurries to Mitre Square. However Tom has time to jump onto the back part of the cab and therefore takes a secret ride all the way to Oxford Street where he sees Elen enter a house...
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Stephen P. Ryder
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 2749
Registered: 10-1997
| | Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 11:30 am: | |
X — A Loyal Friend
Tom returns to Johnson’s house. There’s a short conversation with the gate-keeper: Tom wants him to wake up Johnson to tell him what he found out about Elen; the gate-keeper is afraid to wake him up because he’ll become angry. But Tom replies he’ll be even worst if he doesn’t hear what Tom has to say.
However, Johnson isn’t sleeping at all — he’s sitting at the desk, holding his head in his hands, quite nervous. So Tom explains him how Elen didn’t go home, in Park Street, but instead went to Regent Street. Johnson is mad about this, and at first refuses to believe Tom — that Elen would ever sleep in another man’s house — and thinks that it probably wasn’t really her he saw.
There’s a lengthy conversation about Tom’s loyalty to Johnson (how he’s dedicated to him since he saved Tom’s life) and that he only wants the best for his friend. Proving he still trusts Tom, Johnson assigns him the task of returning to Regent Street and finding out who lives in that house before nightfall. Johnson will be waiting for him at the ‘Three Swans’ pub that night.
(Thanks to Luis Rosa for the translation....)
Stephen P. Ryder, Editor
Casebook: Jack the Ripper |
Stephen P. Ryder
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 2751
Registered: 10-1997
| | Posted on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 1:59 pm: | |
XI — Questions and Jealousy
So Ralph Johnson and Tom meet as agreed at the Three Swans pub the next night. What Tom finds out about the Regent Street house is this:
It’s Viscount Kerdoval who lives there; he’s French and rich. He’s been living there for about a year now. He always goes out for meals, and has a charwoman working for him. He seldom sleeps there and is always out. He’s famous and respected in Regent Street.
Meanwhile, the viscount has arrived at the Three Swans — Ralph orders Tom to follow him in his whereabouts after he leaves the pub again. Kerdoval is sitting with Dr. Weller and another man called Emmerson. When he sees Ralph, the viscount gets up and leaves with the excuse that he has an important appointment to attend… he won’t say where, but teases it might be somewhere in Whitechapel. Tom also leaves.
Ralph takes Kerdoval’s place at the table and chats with the others — whereas Weller believes Jack the Ripper to be one single entity, Emmerson instead believes it’s the work of many suspects: and it’s also Kerdoval’s theory.
Then Weller gives a bit more insight into Kerdoval’s background — he met his father years ago; father and son were both expatriated to the Antilleans when Kerdoval was still a young boy. Weller only met him last year in Paris: according to him, he’s a bit of an eccentric man.
Weller explains Kerdoval came to England because of a woman — Johnson gets tired of listening to the doctor’s talk and leaves abruptly.
Stephen P. Ryder, Editor
Casebook: Jack the Ripper |
Stephen P. Ryder
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 2752
Registered: 10-1997
| | Posted on Saturday, June 28, 2003 - 6:27 pm: | |
XII — Certainty
Ralph Johnson leaves the Three Swans pub and enters a cab — to Regent Street. Ralph’s out of his wits, filled with ideas about killing Elen. When he arrives at Regent Street, he realises there’s no one in the house; so he goes to Miss Elen’s house, in Oxford Street. There, Tom surprises him — which means the Viscount Kerdoval is also nearby.
Tom informs Ralph that Kerdoval entered the house through the front door and hasn’t come out yet. Ralph is mad with rage and demands Tom call 10 policemen from the precinct and come pick up the Viscount.
But Tom explains him they have no motive to arrest him since he’s not committing any crime — instead, he suggests the two remain there waiting for Kerdoval to come out and then grab him and beat all the information out of him.
The two stay there the whole night, and by half past five in the morning he still hasn’t come out.
Suddenly, Miss Elen’s face appears behind the window glass…
Stephen P. Ryder, Editor
Casebook: Jack the Ripper |
Stephen P. Ryder
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 2753
Registered: 10-1997
| | Posted on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 7:31 am: | |
In these chapters, the narrator takes a detour from the story to explain the background of some characters…
XIII — The Past
Ralph Johnson was born in Glasgow; he inherited his rich and influential father’s wealth at the age of 22, and came to London seeking entertainment. In less than 3 years he was in absolute ruin, surrounded by debts and contemplating suicide.
In order not to stain his family’s good name with suicide, he sought help in Lord Charington, a friend of his father, who offered to pay all his debts. Ralph refused and asked for a job instead, and a few days later he was police superintendent in Liverpool. In less than 2 years his feats made him famous in London.
Then he received a letter by Lord Charington, saying that because of his hard efforts, he was taking the place of the late and famous London police superintendent, Robert Turner. This made him some enemies, but his reputation only grew with time: there wasn’t a crime he couldn’t solve in a week.
Then Lord Charington, who was dying, decided to marry his granddaughter, Maria, with Ralph, because both loved each other. Ralph was 35.
XIV — Shadows
Two months later they both marry, and a year later Lord Charington passed away. Then their relationship began crumbling — Maria was always too cheerful, was always busy and too extroverted; Ralph, on the other hand, was too melancholic, didn’t communicate too well and was too secretive. Besides all this, Ralph had twice Maria’s age, which created a further gap between both.
Although they knew how to fake a good relationship publicly, they were getting more distant from each other. Ralph hardly frequented her chambers and never accompanied her to parties or strolls, always pretending to be too busy with work or in important businesses. Both found a middle term and tolerated each other.
But when Ralph was around 45 years old, and Maria was 30, at a party of her friend, Lady Scott, she met a doctor: Richard Maney, aged 28. And she loved him — unfortunately, so did Lady Scott…
XV — Love and Jealousy
But Richard didn’t have eyes for Maria. She went many times over Lady Scott’s house to see him and felt a horrible jealousy over her friend. Alone in her room, she would think about Richard and Lady Scott together, and that drove her mad.
One day Lord Scott went abroad over a business for 2 months, and Lady Scott and her lover, Richard, spent the whole time together. At one point Maria considered writing Lord Scott a letter denouncing his wife’s unfaithfulness, but refrained from doing so.
Then one day Lord Scott returned and went with Lady Scott to live in Scotland — which made Maria very happy because Richard would have to stay and she could seduce him.
But Richard still didn’t care about Maria and only thought of Lady Scott.
Stephen P. Ryder, Editor
Casebook: Jack the Ripper |
Aaron Connor
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 2:07 pm: | |
I am doing a report on JAck the Ripper....and i need peoples opion om him and what he did so please email me with any opions you have |
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