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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 **
Wearside Jack (Lavelle, 1999)
Casebook Message Boards: Ripper Media: Specific Titles:
Other Books (Non-Ripper):
Wearside Jack (Lavelle, 1999)
Author: Stephen P. Ryder
Monday, 12 July 1999 - 04:46 pm |        | 
Wearside Jack: The Hunt for the Hoaxer of the Century
Patrick Lavelle, 1999.
Softcover, 191 p., illus.
ISBN: 0951996878
[Press Release]
Twenty years ago, on June 26th 1979, millions of people across the UK heard the voice of a man who claimed to be the Yorkshire Ripper.
The Assistant Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, Goerge Oldfield, had received an audio tape from the man who called himself "Jack."
The tape, along with three letters from "Jack," were all posted in Sunderland.
Police were so convinced the man was the serial killer they broadcast the tape nationwide in a £1 million publicity blitz.
And the hunt for Britain's most prolific killer switched almost overnight from his stalking ground in West Yorkshire to Wearside.
But while police were on the trail of a man with a strong Wearside accent, the real Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, went on to kill another three women.
Now, after 20 years, the real story of what went wrong and why and the true extent of the Ripper inquiry is revealed in a new true crime book.
Journalist Patrick Lavelle has spent months researching the case to produce the book "Wearside Jack: The Hunt for the Hoaxer of the Century."
The book reveals:
o The full extent of the police inquiry and the often bizarre "leads" followed up by Ripper Squad detectives.
o The content of the hoax letters never revealed by police.
o What convinced George Oldfield the Ripper was a Wearside man in March and June 1979.
o Why police did not fully act on the first two hoax letters they received from Jack in March 1978.
o The human cost of the hoax, which cast a shadow of suspicion over the north of Sunderland and led to the break-up of marriages.
o The first detailed interviews with many of the innocent men suspected of sending the hoax tape and letters.
o The claim that there was a second hoax tape made by Jack which was never made public.
o A North East woman's obsession with the case which led her to befriend the Ripper and write to him for 15 years.
o The evidence that links the hoaxer to the brutal murder of a mother-of-two in 1975.
o Claims that once the Ripper was caught the hoaxer was forgotten.
o The fact that scores of people never interviewed still had their facial characteristics examined by the Ripper squad.
The book, priced £7.99, is on sale today.
_________
[Review]
While not a book about "Jack the Ripper," this is an interesting True Crime book with some links to the original 1888 case. The similarities between the Ripper letters of 1888 and 1975 are interesting, particularly the fact that they were hoaxed in both cases. Lavelle even includes a small section discussing the original Ripper case.
Well-researched, well-written and copiously illustrated. Recommended for those interested in the Yorkshire Ripper case.
To order call 0191 501 5800 |
Author: Christopher George
Tuesday, 13 July 1999 - 06:30 am | | Hi, Stephen:
The tape and letters of 1979 in the Yorkshire Ripper case serve as an excellent parallel to the Jack the Ripper case of 1888. In both cases the police apparently believed in the veracity of the communications, with the police in 1888 producing a broadside that showed the "Dear Boss" letter and postcard received by the Central News Agency on September 27 and October 1, respectively.
The broadside is reproduced in Donald Rumbelow's "The Complete Jack the Ripper" (1975) and in later editions of Rumbelow's work. It reads at top, "METROPOLITAN POLICE. Fac-simile of Letter and Post Card received by Central News Agency." and at bottom, "Any person recognising the handwriting is requested to communicate with the nearest Police Station." In small lettering at bottom left appears "Metropolitan Police Office, 3rd October 1888."
Many modern researchers think those "Dear Boss" communications were hoaxes, including researcher Stewart P. Evans, who remarked to this writer that the broadside was "an act of desperation" on the part of the police.
Say, Spry, you did not mention the publisher of this new book on the Yorkshire Ripper and whether it is (or will be) available in the United States or just in the United Kingdom.
Chris George |
Author: Stephen P. Ryder
Tuesday, 13 July 1999 - 07:01 am | | Ah, my apologies. It was published by Northeast Press of Sunderland, UK. There were no US distributers listed in my informational packet, as it appears to be a small-scale publication done through the publishing company of the Sunderland Echo newspaper (Patrick Lavelle, the author, is a reporter for that paper). I did find this e-mail address on the Echo website -- they may or may not be able to answer your query:
echo.news@northeast-press.co.uk
If you do find any information concerning a US release, please do post it here.
Stephen |
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