How Roots Knew Stephenson-An Inquiry

[Howard Brown]

I'm wondering if it is possible if some folks could give attention to Inspector Thomas Roots and the particulars of how he knew Stephenson....where he could have met Stephenson...how he was led to believe that Stephenson had two diplomas...and was a world traveler.
Not everything Roots mentioned about him, of course, was out of kilter. He,Stephenson,indeed,was a substance abuser and did have a grasp on many subjects he came across in his life as Roots mentioned in the Dec.26th report he provided.
Lets see if some of us can come up with a solution as to where he met him and under what circumstances. I think it might be a worthwhile venture if we could trace Roots from December 1888 backwards...
Thank you.

[Mike Covell]

I did a lot of work on Roots for my unpublished Stephenson chronology, and looked at census entries, BMD Entries and at other local archival sources, and via the "Official" documents, the two were never close geographically.

This is according to the primary sources, the ones that are not supposed to exist, but faulty researching has managed to discover them.

However,

I have filled in a wealth of forms, and none of them mention my travels around the country, nor the people who I met, so they could have met at some point, just not in an official manner.

In the 88 report, Roots states he has known Stephenson for 20 years, perhaps he was on holiday in Bridlington?

[Howard Brown]

Mike.

Roots mentions meeting RDS "20" years or so before the 1888 report...obviously making the date at around 1868.

My question mainly concerns Roots age ( I think around 20 years old ) Maybe it was when Roots was impressionable ( buying into the false claims RDS made) being around 20 himself at the time of this meeting.

The parts about drug slugging and drink, Roots could have learned on the spot in 1888...but not the part about the diplomas and travel, if you get my drift.

Roots is like Halse in that its not so easy tracing him.

Thanks for the input,Lytton..

Anyone else?

[Mike Covell]

Roots could have learnt most of the stuff when he first met RDS. The later stuff could have been discussed at the 88 meeting, with Roots including it into the report.

Without the interview transcripts, if they even made them, we might never be able to find out!

[John Savage]

Hi Howard,

I think we went into Inspector Roots background on the old Casebook boards, but nothing much was found that could suggest a link between him and Donston.

Could it be that Inspector Roots had come into contact with old sudden death in his duties as a policemen, as comments made by Roots suggest that he could have learnt all he knew by locking Donston in the cells to sober up on previous occassions?

Rgds
John

[Howard Brown]

There's a good idea,Professor.

I believe Mike Covell may have found an instance of Stephenson being arrested...where no one previously had done so...but I'll let Mike tell the story.

I'm envisioning a scenario such as you suggest,dear old professor...and I can see something along those lines materializing....a guy sitting in stir rambling on to the officer in charge...just to pass the time away.

One other possibility is that Stephenson, as in the case of the WM, offered up his services to assist in the apprehension or solution of another currently unsolved crime well before the WM. He may have waltzed in to wherever Roots was in service and rambled on in a similar fashion about another crime.

Another is that there is some link...through related families,although they themselves may not have been blood relatives...to some sort of family function, where they attended and met each other.

Another may be a common interest....as in they both attended a "Lord Mayors Day" or some national celebration in the U.K.,such as the "Secession Of The Isle Of Wight From The Good Brits Day".

I know we tried to discuss this elsewhere a long whiles back,John...and it didn't get resolved...and may never.

What is pretty unusual ( to me ) is that Roots knows so much about Stephenson if it was just a casual acquaintancing...and of course, the diplomas and the other porkies told by Stephenson aren't what matters here...he told that to everyone,no doubt....but that Roots knew of his personal issues...the drug slugging and drink and what he carried Chloral hydrate around for. These are things or elements which indicate...to me...that where and whenever they met, it was not just a five minute bullshit session. Maybe thats just me....but Roots came into contact as a public servant with thousands of people every year....and here he can remember such elements...true ones too...like RDS' use of drugs and the location of where Stephenson claimed he revived imaginary diplomas and the like.

John,please drop me a line and let me know of your "progress"...if you get my drift. Thanks and hope all is well for the oldest man and finest Professin' professor on the boards.