Author: Stewart P Evans
Tuesday, 25 June 2002 - 03:02 am |        |
I have recenty returned from a week's holiday during which I spent the whole time in southern England visiting Weymouth (my home town) and Eastbourne.
As a result of a visit made during this trip I have been sent a hand-written letter stated to have been found 'in a nineteenth century book'. The letter is addressed 'To The Editor' and is from a female (named) stating that she is the daughter of 'Wack the Whipper, or as my mum said, Jack the Ripper.' She claims that her mother was the killer and that she was 'always looking for the bastard child that her husband had fathered...'
I guess it's another spin on the 'Jill the Ripper' theme, but one I hadn't heard before. It just goes to show that there is always something fresh to be found. |
Author: Monty
Tuesday, 25 June 2002 - 07:20 am | |
Stewart,
Another book on the way ?
My Mum & Dad have just spent 3 weeks in Weymouth. Did you spot the Dolphin ?
Monty
PS now your back..and settled, dare I say 'Bulls-eye" to you ? Cheeky, aint I ? |
Author: Christopher T George
Tuesday, 25 June 2002 - 01:02 pm | |
Hi, Stewart:
Thank you so much for this intriguing tidbit. I do think that a book entitled "Wack the Whipper" certainly would be a novelty and would be a sharp departure from the existing (samey) titles in the field. I also know that you had told me that you are originally a Dorsetman from Weymouth, though you are now a longtime East Anglian! I hope you had a pleasant visit to your old haunts, Stewart.
Can you reveal more about whom the "Editor" was to whom the letter was addressed? Or is that unknown from the manuscript? Of course, it must be said that due to the notoriety of the case virtually everybody had a theory or a suspect, or a neighbor or relative they wished to finger. No doubt this will make a tasty little article in Ripperologist or, dare I say it, our own Ripper Notes here in the U.S.
All the best
Chris |
Author: Stewart P Evans
Tuesday, 25 June 2002 - 01:26 pm | |
Unfortunately the letter is not dated, nor is the address it was sent to shown. It's written on notepaper in what appears to be red ball-point pen, so it must have been written since the advent of such pens.
I assume that that the writer used the name 'Wack the Whipper' as her rendering of the name when very young and unable to pronounce her 'j's'. The letter was sent to me by an elderly and distinguished author who gave only the above information on provenance. I shall be putting some questions to him needless to say. |
Author: Peter Wood
Tuesday, 25 June 2002 - 03:03 pm | |
Hi Stewart
"Whack the Whipper: The Final Chapter" ???
I love Weymouth, so surprised to hear that you are from there. I have very fond memories of a pleasant evening spent at the hotel on Portland Bill.
For the uninitiated Portland Bill is a place, not a person.
Wash your mouth out with soap and water, Monty!
Peter |
Author: Tom Wescott
Tuesday, 25 June 2002 - 03:21 pm | |
Stewart,
How come you can't even go on vacation without unearthing some old Ripper document/confession? That's just not fair! I hope you take Chris George up on the offer and publish this in Ripper Notes, because I think we'd all love to see it.
Yours truly,
Tom Wescott |
Author: Stewart P Evans
Wednesday, 26 June 2002 - 01:58 am | |
It would be premature to speculate too much on this letter and it is probably just another example of how people like to claim some connection with this famous case. The interest lies in seeing yet another spin on the revenge motive theme and the fact that the writer suggests that the killer was female.
It was no great feat of research to find it as it was given to me by another author, in a different field, who is aware of my Ripper interest. In going through his files for things that may be of interest to me, as my visit had rekindled his Ripper interest, he came up with this item. |
Author: Ashleah Skinner
Saturday, 20 July 2002 - 12:20 pm | |
| The Jill The Ripper idea is a good theory. One of the politians believed it was a jealous woman and becuase of mary jane kellys neat room many people believed it was a nurse carrying out an abortion though the inquest show she was NOT pregnant. |
