|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
THE NEW STRAND MAGAZINE
THE
THIRD HISTORY
JACK THE RIPPER: THE FINAL SOLUTION
Since my youth,
Jack the Ripper has intrigued me. Over the years, I have read and collected
many books on the subject, and have given each and every theory as unbiased a
view as I could. Nothing gets my goat more than someone - who has given Stephen
Knight’s Jack the Ripper: The Final Solution no more
than a cursory glance - bagging the theory as being “the most unlikely yet”;
based on nothing more than “evidence” already disproved by Knight in his book.
It is this
recurring element in Knight's legacy that has strengthened my convictions more
and more over the years; that The Final
Solution is closer to the truth than
many Ripperologists are willing to admit.
The dark origins
of this theory are as bleak and obscure as the dank streets and alleys that
provided shop and shelter for the High Rips and Whores of the Ripper legend. A
revival of Ripper-mania occurred in the early 1970’s, and the BBC was quick to
capitalise on this morbid necrophilic craze. Elwyn Jones had been chosen by BBC
Producer Paul Bonner to script a docu-drama serial, examining the evidence
dispassionately, and working towards a credible conclusion.
A very close,
personal friend of mine (who worked briefly at the BBC and London Palladium
during the late 60’s to early 70’s) remembers some of the early work of the
production and heard that Jones was in receipt of information conclusively
identifying the identity of Jack the Ripper. This turned out to be misinformation;
as Ian Sharp (research assistant to Jones) told her the mundane truth behind
the rumour.
It seems that,
while researching the crimes in a public library, Sharp had been approached by
a librarian, who claimed to have proof of the Ripper’s identity. “But it was
just a goose-chase,” said Sharp. “The murderer was apparently someone
called Sir Thomas Spivey.” Sharp had brought this to Jones’ attention and they
looked into the matter. Finding that no one by the name of “Thomas Spivey” had
been made a knight of the realm, Jones and Sharp both decided that there was
nothing in it.
In discussions
with certain Scotland Yard officials, Jones and Bonner were referred to Joseph
‘Hobo’ Sickert; son of the impressionist painter Walter Sickert. They found
‘Hobo’ somewhat difficult to talk to; as he was extremely reluctant to let the
public know the truth. In the words of Stephen Knight:
“[‘Hobo’]
could see no benefit, only suffering, resulting from the publication of the
truth so long after the event. Let them all bicker and squabble over their
theories. What did it matter?”
Eventually, Jones
and Bonner persuaded ‘Hobo’ Sickert, not only to provide essential information,
but also to appear on the show as a surprise witness. His brief appearance on
the show, August 17 1973, and the nature of his evidence, generated a response
that can only be described as electrifying.
In
September of the same year, East London Advertiser journalist, Stephen
Knight, began the first of many meetings with Sickert, which in 1976 culminated
into the publication of a book; Jack the
Ripper: The Final Solution (right). Before I had even read the book, I saw
a 50-minute documentary of the same name, in which Stephen Knight was
interviewed on the matter. In association with this documentary, I watched a
movie titled Murder By Decree.
The parallels
between the two programs were absolutely chilling.
LEGAL
NOTICE
This site has been created
and maintained by Lord Blackhood der Kether (BA), Lorraine Kukla & Stef
Kukla. Anyone found using any of the pictures or texts on this web site -
WITHOUT the express permission of Lord Blackhood, Ms. Kukla; or Mr Kukla - will
be considered in breach of copyright and will be prosecuted accordingly.
Copyright © Blackhood & Kukla, 2001.