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** 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 **
What Brought Your Interest to the Case?
Casebook Message Boards: General Discussion: General Topics:
What Brought Your Interest to the Case?
Author: Richard P. Dewar
Wednesday, 13 November 2002 - 07:15 pm |        | Hi Brian,
Thank you for your kind words - it appears we do agree on much of the case. I am not familiar with that particular work of Douglas.
When I was perhaps 10 years old I saw a movie entitled, if memory serves, "Terror in the Wax Museum" with Elsa Lanchester. Jack the Ripper was a character of sorts in that movie and my introduction to the case.
Shortly thereafter, I saw a BBC documentary on the case and an episode from the TV series "In Search Of. . ."
I was fascinated by the melodramatic image of the murderer portrayed in those works - the black-caped, top hatted, Gladstone bag carrying malevolent sinister character stalking the streets and writing jeering letters to the police.
I then recall going to the school library and reading Donald Rumbelow's "Complete Jack the Ripper." That book dispelled many of the notions I'd had.
Since that time, my interest in the case both peaks and wanes at various times. Today, what I find as exciting as the mystery, is how people's interpretation of the events often reflects who they are.
I find very few people involved in the case, even those I respect enormously, able to keep a neutral and unbiased approach to looking at the evidence. Even those of us who may not have a specific suspect in mind seem to view the evidence through the prism of the kind of person we expect to have committed these crimes.
Regards,
Rich |
Author: Brenda L. Conklin
Wednesday, 13 November 2002 - 10:01 pm | | | I just wanted to add my part in....I got interested just this year in part from reading "The Cases that Haunt Us".....from my prior readings of the Lizzie Borden case, I figured it wouldn't be smart to just read one person's take on the murder, and boy was I ever right!!!!!!!! I havent had a hobby take on a life of its own like this in many moons. |
Author: Stuart
Thursday, 14 November 2002 - 06:03 am | | I've always been interested in JTR type cases, and have books on murders and so on. Read the "Diary" years ago.
Watched Patricia Cornwells TV programme, and that got my interest up again.
Bought Sugdens Complete History and The Mammoth Book of JTR. Read those 2 straight off.
Now I'm a bit stuck I suppose. Aren't we all eh!! |
Author: Esther Wilson
Thursday, 14 November 2002 - 09:21 am | | I first got hooked on JTR when I was in school and had to do a project on crime. Since then nothing on JTR passes by me without either being bought or at least looked at.
Esther |
Author: Christopher T George
Thursday, 14 November 2002 - 09:30 am | | Hi, Brian and Rich:
I have posted the story of how I became involved in the case a number of times on the website but will do so again for those of you who have not heard my story. I actually got drawn to Jack the Ripper and this website in particular through the fact that I come from Liverpool and did a search on "Maybrick" and "Aigburth" soon after I joined the Web in 1998. I have had an interest in the Maybrick Diary since I saw the 1993 segment on the Diary on "Sixty Minutes" with Ed Bradley. My immediate suspicion was that the Diary was a hoax. I subsequently contacted Shirley Harrison, Richard Whittington Egan, and Harold Brough of the Liverpool Daily Post about the Diary.
I have though had an interest in murder since my teenage years living in England in the 1960's. I recall seeing a British TV series called "The Other Mr. Churchill" on gunsmith Robert Churchill and his involvement in murder cases involving firearms in the first half of the Twentieth Century. I subsequently obtained a copy of Browne and Tullett's biography of Home Office Pathologist Sir Bernard Spilsbury, which is a wonderful, well illustrated rundown of the cases the famous pathologist was engaged upon, e.g., the Crippen, Armstrong, and Seddon cases. At that time, I had no specific interest in Jack the Ripper but can remember a few years later being intrigued by seeing a young Donald Rumbelow being interviewed on television with his supposed "Ripper" knife which stuck in my mind -- er, the interview, not the knife. 
I am glad now to be involved in some small way in the investigation into the Great Victorian Mystery and credit Stephen Ryder's website and the great people I have met through this site in getting me so interested in the case.
All the best
Chris George |
Author: Richard P. Dewar
Thursday, 14 November 2002 - 09:47 am | | Hi Chris,
I agree that this website is a great source of enjoyment for those of us who have this iconoclastic hobby.
Rich |
Author: judith stock
Thursday, 14 November 2002 - 01:57 pm | | Hello all,
As I have said on another board, I read my first Ripper book when I was 12, and it's been a roller coaster ride since then. And, for those of you good with math.....I am now 56. Like Esther, I collect the books, too, and that has required a whole library room for me...not that I hate THAT! There is only one elusive title left, and that's the first book I read, AND the toughest to find....a nice Stewart first...anyone have one in the attic that they would like to sell?
And, YES, I have the Cornwell, too....
Cheers to all,
J |
Author: Scott E. Medine
Thursday, 14 November 2002 - 05:39 pm | | I hold a BA in History. So anything historical attracts me, especially if it is well researched and written.
I cannot remember exactly when I first heard of Jack the Ripper. I think it may have been in my pre-teen years. I cannot recall if it was from a television program or in school. But I know, that the name has been familiar to me ever since I can remember.
It was not until 1994 that I actually started reading about the crimes. I was in Chicago at a gang crimes investigation school. After dinner one night, I went to Barnes and Noble for something to read. I wound up in the true crime area and two books stood out at me. Philip Sugden's book and the diary. I thumbed through both and immediately dismissed the diary as fiction and settled on Sugden's. I read it and shelved it. Three years ago, I was sitting in my office bored stiff and noticed the book on my shelf. I then did an internet search for Sugden and got nothing. I then did one for Jack the Ripper and eventually landed on this site. For some reason, I never book marked the page. In fact, try as I might, I could never the name of the site. And it was not until last year that I happened to find the site again. I was researching Victorian Forensic Thought, for an unrelated article, and I saw this link on a web page. Since then, the site and the people here have spurned an interest in me, that borderlines obsession.
Since coming back I have re-read Sugden's book twice, highlighted sections, took notes and started filing away information, and, after almost selling my soul, I have also spent two weeks in England pouring through the archives and researching old news papers in the libraries.
I must add, that people here in the U.S., should check the libaries of the local universities as they usually have the London newspapers and those of other major cities, on micro-film and fiche. Also check your local Clerk of Courts and libraries for your local newspaper archives. You would be surprised what Small Town USA reported on the murders.
Peace,
Scott |
Author: Julian Rosenthal
Thursday, 14 November 2002 - 11:08 pm | | G'day everyone,
It's been a while since I've been on the boards and it looks like I've got a lot of catching up to do, but this looks like a prettty good place to start.
My interest in Jack probably started some time ago when I was working as a counsellor for sexually abused and violent men. At the time I was writing (and still am) a book/training manual for other workers in the community sector who were also working with these people.
As an introduction to each chapter I'd do some research to find something relevant to start that particular chapter off.
It was during this research that I came across Bonds autopsy report on Mary Kelly and at that time I was unaware that Jack was full-on into mutilation. I had heard about him but only in the sence that he went around and slashed a few prostitutes throats.
Like most other people I became morbidly facinated with Jack the myth, and Jack the person. Since then I have been 'hooked' into trying to uncover the identity and motives of this man who has captivated the imagination and minds of many a person fo rthe past 114yrs.
Jules |
Author: Jeff Bloomfield
Saturday, 16 November 2002 - 04:42 pm | | I was originally interested in Criminal History
when I read a book, The Meaning Of Murder by
John Brophy back in the late 1960s. Soon I began
collecting books on crime (one of the earliest
being Beyond Belief by Emlyn Williams, about the
Moors Murderers - Ms Hindley died yesterday). In
college (where I was a history major) I continued
reading up on the subject, especially Richard
Altick's Victorian Studies In Scarlet, and
When London Walked in Terror [Autumn of Terror]
by Tom Cullen. My interest in the Ripper really
got underway when I came across the B.B.C. series
in 1975 with Stafford Johns. Soon after I read
Donald Rumbelow's book, which completed the hooking of your's truly.
Jeff |
Author: Sheila Barnes
Thursday, 19 December 2002 - 02:42 pm | | Is anyone old enough to remember a big red book called 'The News Chronicle 100 best Crimes'?
Age 8 I swapped a fountain pen for this prize.
The other 99 fascinated me & have claimed my attention over the past 50 years but Jack the Ripper is my main study.
The book shelves now groan under the weight of my collction of 'Ripperology'
I would be interested to know if the above named book is known to anyone else & if it inspired other members of Casebook? |
Author: chris scott
Thursday, 19 December 2002 - 07:50 pm | | Hi all - here's my story of how I got involved:-)
I remember my grandmother telling me how when she was very young the name Jack the Ripper was used as a "boogeyman" if she played up or stayed out playing too late. Her mother used to tell her "If you don't come in, Jack the Ripper will get you!"
Hardly sound child psychology!!!
My gran was born in 1893, 5 years after the murders and they lived well outside London so it shows that Jack passed into folklore pretty quick
Best regards
Chris Scott |
Author: stephen stanley
Friday, 20 December 2002 - 02:42 pm | | Stared off with a general interesr in Victorian/Edwardian crime...2 streets down was the house of Crippen's mistress..5 mins took me to West Green R.(where Chapman hung out) & 10 minutes to the site of The Tottenham Anarchist outrage...Then My Dad went to work in Spitalfields...& the rest is history.
Steve |
Author: Diana
Saturday, 21 December 2002 - 08:59 am | | | Started as a child with Nancy Drew, then Agatha Christie, then true crime, saw the Michael Caine film and the Douglas presentation in 1988 and got hooked. |
Author: Garen Ewing
Saturday, 21 December 2002 - 06:12 pm | | In about 1987 (I think) I did an illustration for a short story on Jack the Ripper by Roger Johnson (not a very good drawing - I did no reaserch and it was early on in my career). I was intrigued by the story and wanted to know if Johnson had his facts right so read Donald Rumbleow's book. Since then my interest has faded and strengthened. Most recently I have enjoyed Stewart Evan's book on Tumblety.
I am interested in the various myths and theories no matter how crackpot, but also find it a strange and necessary feeling to try and put myself into those terrifying last moments of Kelly and the other victims. I find it interesting (and sad) that these women and their lives would have been forgotten in time, but now - because of 'Jack' - their foggy lives are scrutinised for every little detail.
It's a fascinating thing... as you all know! |
Author: K. Lindbergs
Saturday, 21 December 2002 - 06:19 pm | | Hello all,
This is my first post to the forums, but I've enjoyed reading various articles, etc. at casebook.org for the past few years. This is a fabulous site!
Like the person above me, I also first got interested in "mysteries" after I was given a huge collection of Nancy Drew mystery books when I was a child. This interest has followed me into adulthood and I now enjoy reading true crime books, forensic books, etc. and I'm currently hooked the TV show C.S.I. My interest in Jack the Ripper specifically started thanks to various TV programs I saw growing up like "In Search Of" and "The Nightstalker". As well as Ripper related movies that I saw on TV such as "Man in the Attic", "Murder by Decree", "Time After Time", etc.
Recently my interest has become more intense thanks to the comic book series and movie "From Hell" and Patricia Cornwell's recent book "Case Closed".
I now want to explore the case more on my own since I have serious doubts about the case being "closed" by Cornwell, so I find myself here posting for the first time and I hope to start reading more books that are available, etc.
Yours,
~ K |
Author: Jon
Tuesday, 24 December 2002 - 03:35 pm | | Well, now this makes me feel old...
My earliest recollection on this subject was back in the late 60's at home at dinner one evening when my father was talking about someone called Rip or Ripper. Since that time I have wondered if he was actually talking about Rip Van Winkle, it was something to do with "rip", thats about all I remember.
Some months later (1970) I happened to come across a paperback book called "The Identity of Jack the Ripper" (McCormick), it was 5/- (five shillings), and I only bought it for my father to read as at that time I had no idea who this character was. I think it is safe to say I had never heard of the name before.
He never did read it but possibly a year later I was off work sick and completely bored and took it off the bookshelf to see what it was all about.
After the first chapter I was totally mesmerized, I mean kids (I was in my late teens) have always had an interest in murder, shootings, stabbings and such but this was different, what on earth was a killer doing taking body parts from his victims. This was so intriguing, both bizarre & sensational that I had to wonder why I had never heard of Jack the Ripper before.
Well, thats how it started, and in 1972 I made two visits to London, purely by coincidence I happened to find myself in the East-end and could not resist exploring the back streets in the hope of finding some trace of the crime scenes.
Little did I realize that very little had changed up to that year. Hanbury St, Dorset St & Berner St had been changed but I found Bucks Row and Mitre Square. The houses on the south side of Hanbury St were much the same as what had been demolished along the north side, replaced by the brewery.
Bucks Row was much smaller than I had visualized it and Mitre Sq. was possibly the eariest place I had visited to that time.
I walked the crime scenes in daylight to get an overall feel for the area and then again at midnight to get some appreciation for the atmosphere that darkness brings. Darkness & a little imagination :-)
My biggest regret is that as on neither occation did I have a camera with me. No-one I knew was interested in Jack the Ripper in the early 70's, precious few of my age had even heard of him.
Little did I know the phenomena that this series of murders was to become in later years.
What a missed opportunity that was.
Best wishes to all & have a happy & safe holiday.
Regards, Jon |
Author: stephen stanley
Tuesday, 24 December 2002 - 04:29 pm | | Jon,
Strange thing is ...we must have been wandering about the same places, at roughly the same age, at about the same time.......small world,etc.
Steve |
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