|
 |
 |
|
|
|
** This is an archived, static copy of the Casebook messages boards dating from 1998 to 2003. These threads cannot be replied to here. If you want to participate in our current forums please go to https://forum.casebook.org **
Stephen Wright (1922-2000)
Casebook Message Boards: General Discussion: General Topics:
Stephen Wright (1922-2000)
Author: Stephen P. Ryder
Thursday, 16 August 2001 - 11:59 pm |        | Some time ago it was rumored that Stephen Wright, founder and editor of Whitechapel Journal, had passed away. Although at the time I took the news with a grain of salt, I've heard today that he did indeed pass on in early 2000. I'm not sure if this is general knowledge, but until this evening I had not known the rumor to be true.
Its always sad to see a fellow Ripperologist go, but even sadder not to realize it until a year and a half after the fact. He and I shared a brief correspondence at one time, and he was generous enough to submit a small donation to the Casebook. If anyone else has any information on Mr. Wright's passing, please share it here.
- Stephen |
Author: Christopher T George
Friday, 17 August 2001 - 09:20 am | | Hi, Stephen:
Thanks for the information about Stephen Wright's passing. I have done a search of the web but so far have not been able to come up with any further information about his death. You say you think he died in early 2000. I wonder how early in 2000 Stephen could have died, however, because I had thought I was in contact with him and was receiving submissions to Ripper Notes until shortly before the Park Ridge, New Jersey, convention which which took place in April 2000.
Best regards
Chris George
Co-Editor Ripper Notes
Organizer, Jack the Ripper Weekend 2002
BWI Comfort Inn, Baltimore, April 19-21, 2002
http://www.casebook-productions.org/ |
Author: Stephen P. Ryder
Friday, 17 August 2001 - 10:12 am | | | April 2000 may indeed be the date.... a quick search through the Social Security Death Register shows a "Stephen Wright", born 30 November 1922, died 18 April 2000 in Manhattan, New York. Its a fairly common name so I can't be sure this is indeed him, but the timing seems right and his post-office box was NY, NY. |
Author: Tom Wescott
Friday, 17 August 2001 - 01:46 am | | To Everyone,
If you are like me, you were shocked, saddened, and surprised to read Stephen Ryder's news of Mr. Wright's passing. It makes me sick to my stomach that something like this could have escaped all our attention. Ironically, I have recently been in the market for a copy of Stephen's book on the case, 'Jack the Ripper: An American View'. In the past when I've had the chance to buy it I didn't have the money, now that I've got the money, I can't find it! I regret that I never had the opportunity to discuss with him his theories and opinions on the case. It's my loss.
While I didn't know Stephen very well at all, I will share with you what I did know...He was an outgoing, friendly, and helpful man, and among the most enthusiastic of Ripperologists. Not only did he publish his own book on the case, but through his 'Whitechapel Journal' publication, made an honest attempt at offering aspiring writers the opportunity to make their views known in a printed format. While I've made many remarks through the years (and as recently as yesterday on these boards!), mostly in jest, regarding the quality of the magazine, you will never have heard me say anything derogatory of the industrious man behind it.
Whether you've ever heard of Stephen Wright or not, whether you liked him or loathed him, he was one of us. Investigating the Ripper case was a passion for him and he was a big fan of the Casebook, recognizing it as the international gathering place for students of the case. It's continuance in these difficult times when so many websites fall by the wayside due to lack of funds would no doubt be of much importance to Mr. Wright and it is in this spirit that I will be making a donation to the Casebook in his name. I urge all reading this to do the same. If you're like me and don't have much to spare, then give sparingly. It's a good way to honor a man and his passion by helping to maintain something that was as important to him as it is to us.
Stephen Ryder had absolutely no idea that I planned to do this, and neither did I until just a few moments ago. I hope Mr. Ryder will understand and post the address that he'd wish all donations be sent to.
Donald Rumbelow once remarked how when the Ripperologists of the worlds reach the pearly gates and ask the REAL Jack the Ripper to step forward, we will take a look at the strange face and exclaim 'Who?' Stephen Wright's mind can now rest at ease. At least in that respect, he's beaten us all to the punch.
Rest In Peace, brother.
Yours truly,
Tom Wescott |
Author: Stephen P. Ryder
Friday, 17 August 2001 - 10:15 am | | Hi Tom -
Thanks for the impending donation in Mr. Wright's name. Anyone wishing to donate can obtain my address by privately emailing me, as I would prefer not to post it publicly. If possible it would be nice to set up a section on the Casebook devoted to those Ripperologists such as Dan Farson, Donald McCormick, Stephen Knight and, now, Stephen Wright, who have passed before us. If anyone is interested in submitting short biographical sketches for such a project, please email me. |
Author: Christopher T George
Friday, 17 August 2001 - 10:28 am | | Hi, Stephen:
I should think that you probably have identified Stephen Wright's correct date of death, 18 April 2000. I regret that I never had the opportunity to meet him, and that he was unable to attend our convention in Park Ridge, New Jersey, which took place not far from his home in Manhattan. I am glad to hear that Tom Wescott has suggested that contributions to the Casebook be made in Mr. Wright's name. The Casebook is indeed a worthy cause and it is nice to know that Wright's own generosity to the Casebook and his spirit of enquiry will be made to live on through the memorial fund set up in his name.
Stephen, might I suggest that this thread be archived rather than in "Pub Talk" where I believe it will time out. Another chore for the under-appreciated but hard working Alegria to perform! Thanks Ally!
Best regards
Chris George |
Author: Tom Wescott
Friday, 17 August 2001 - 07:23 pm | | Chris,
I second that about this thread not timing out. That's why I created my original thread under 'General Discussion'. It's good to see that Stephen has tidied things up a bit under one thread.
Stephen,
Since I'm posting, anyway, please consider this my email to you. If you would, please send me your address to Tcwes@aol.com so I can get my donation off. I like the idea of a memorium thread. I would love to help with the biographical info, only I don't have any! Martin and Paul knew some of these guys personally, though, and would surely have some interesting antecdotes.
Yours truly,
Tom Wescott
P.S. For some reason, I was under the impression that Mr. Wright was much younger than he was. Must have been the enthusiasm, ey? |
Author: Jeff Bloomfield
Friday, 17 August 2001 - 10:50 pm | | Back in December 1995 I was contacted by Stephen
who wanted to exchange ideas on the Ripper. He
had gotten my address from Camille Wolfe's
secretary, as the two of us had contributed
articles to the book WHO WAS JACK THE RIPPER?
At the time I worked in lower Manhattan, and I
arranged to meet him for lunch at a nearby
restaurant called Elaine's (now, unfortunately,
no longer in existance downtown). Stephen
certainly was an enthusiast on the subject of the
Whitechapel Case, and told me about his newsletter
(which he made sure the New York Public Library
had a complete file of at the 42nd Street Main
Branch). He later sent me a copy of his article
Was Jack the Ripper an American? from THE
CRIMINOLOGIST. He offered me a chance to subscribe to his enlarged newsletter, but I declined...a move I will always regret.
Jeff |
Author: ross strachan
Saturday, 18 August 2001 - 08:05 am | | hi,
i heard quite recently about the sad death of stephen wright.
would i be correct in stating that tom cullen has also died very recently?
rs |
Author: Stephen P. Ryder
Tuesday, 21 August 2001 - 01:00 pm | | Hi Ross -
Thanks to one of our contributors for the following info:
Tom Cullen has recently died, his obituary appeared in the Daily Telegraph on 3 August
2001. He was 88 years old, and was born on 16 May 1913 in Oklahoma City, the son of a hotelier. He moved to Long Beach, California, with his family, when he was 7 years old and went to school in San Pedro. He studied economics and political science at the University of California
then started work as a journalist on the United Progressive News. In the 1930's he campaigned on behalf of Upton Sinclair who ran unsuccessfully as the Democratic party candidate for Governor of
California.
He joined the US Army in 1942 and served in Europe and Africa during WWII as a military journalist. He was discharged in the rank of
Technical Sergeant in 1946 and worked for a while on trade magazines. He used the GI Bill to attend the Sorbonne in Paris. During the 1950's he freelanced in France, Germany and India before arriving in Britain. The American Government confiscated his passport because of his
Communist connections. He obtained leave to stay on in Britain on a visitor's passport on the condition that he stayed out of trouble.
He then began research on his first book, Autumn of Terror: Jack the Ripper, His Crimes and Times (1965). His next book was The Empress Brown (1969), followed by books about Maundy Gregory, the Vicar of Stiffkey and Dr Crippen. |
Author: Tom Wescott
Tuesday, 21 August 2001 - 01:52 pm | | Hello all,
Yet another sad passing. I had no idea that Tom Cullen was an American, let alone from the same state where I live. The Communist thing was a surprising twist as well. Thanks for the background on this very important author, Stephen.
Yours truly,
Tom Wescott |
Author: Simon Owen
Tuesday, 21 August 2001 - 10:00 pm | | Thats very sad because I only got Tom's book ' When London walked in Terror ' the other week , and I really enjoyed it.
RIP Tom - at least you will know who the Ripper is now. You will be sadly missed.
( I wonder if the Ripperologists who have passed on can guide us from the spirit world and make important clues and documents come our way ? Well if you don't ask , you don't get...)
Simon |
Author: adam wood
Wednesday, 22 August 2001 - 06:17 pm | | Dear all
Reading the news of Stephen Wright's death, I felt a pang of guilt over my review of his JTR: An American View for Ripperologist.
Readers may remember that I panned it mercilessy, drawing caustic personal comments from Mr Wright, probably deservedly.
The point of this message is that it seems to me that it is very easy to become an 'opponent' of some other student of the Ripper case if you take nothing more than a slight dislike to their point of view.
Is it possible that attendees of the all-too-soon conference can get along without harbouring - or creating a new - grudge against someone met with whom you don't agree? And no - for once, this isn't a plug.
Adam |
Author: Tom Wescott
Thursday, 23 August 2001 - 12:19 am | | Adam,
No need to feel guilt, my friend. I've made plenty of disparaging remarks about Whitechapel Journal, and I stand behind all of them. Just because he's dead doesn't make it a great journal, nor 'an American View' a great book.And just because I didn't like WJ doesn't mean I ever thought Stephen was a bad guy. I found him interesting, amusing, and pleasant, if a little big-headed at times (no more than the rest of us, I'm sure). I certainly admired his effort. He's published a zine and a book. I haven't. Nuff said.
Yours truly,
Tom Wescott |
|
|
|
|
