5Q With Mike Covell

[How Brown]

I am quite new to Ripperology, and only really began using the internet in 2006, after being unable to work, but it wasn't really until 2007 that I became more involved. In that time I have seen some changes, so I cannot really comment on what happened previously.-Mike Covell

Some of the major changes I have seen, and which are welcome are as follows,

JTRStudies.com, which is a useful place for writings and research to be stored.

Casebook wiki project, which is a mammoth task, and I am sure Messrs Begg, Fido and Skinner are watching this online Jack the Ripper A-Z develop, just as much as most of us are in the community.

JTRForums and Casebook, both sites have gone through changes and both are packed full of information, hopefully capturing the interest of budding researchers and future ripperologists.

Jack the Ripper Writers, I have not had an invite to the site, but have visited and must say it's a marvellous idea, and kudos to Spiro for getting it up and running.

Rippercast, over a year old and it has become an incredibly popular show, maintained by the hard work of Jonathan Menges and the guests and regulars who have appeared.

Online Advancements, the digitisation of the Old Bailey transcripts, 1911 Census, and Access to Archives have seen massive amounts of new information passed to the public.

Good old fashioned research, which is essentially what drives the community forward. We can sit and have mass debates all day long, but without new finds and discoveries, maybe one day we will start to cover old ground. Researchers like Chris Scott, Andrew Spallek, Simon Wood, Philip Hutchinson, Rob Clack, John Bennet, A.P. Wolf are all out there in the field searching for new material. In the past couple of years, we have seen a wealth of new material being found, from Newspaper reports, to photo's and biographical information. And no matter how small the find, it is still a find, and still useful at driving the community forward.

[Nemo]

I love the Rippercast too

What are the statistics on the downloads from ITunes or wherever?

[Nemo]

I can't believe you only been into this for 2-3 years - Amazing considering what you have achieved

[How Brown]

Mike:

Let me ask you this in addition to the question I provided:

What sort of changes have transpired in regard to you and your work since you first came upon the name of D'Onston Stephenson up to this point in time?

Thats one for now...maybe more to come.

[Mike Covell]

What sort of changes have transpired in regard to you and your work since you first came upon the name of D'Onston Stephenson up to this point in time?

Geographically there have been changes. Hull Daily Mail set up it's "Thisisyourmail" website, which has been a local sounding stage for my research both into Stephenson/Dawber and local history. I am now able to approach people and ask questions which I couldn't before, and I am becoming known as a local historian, rather than the "crazy guy in the corner" This has also allowed me to answer local history questions and offer advice on research to local historians.

I have also been working closely with local pubs in Sculcoates and recently donated three full histories of the pubs to the current landlords.
I have met and spoke with the Sculcoates Neighbourhood Association, which have been very welcoming.
I recently donated several articles of mine to the Local Carnegie Heritage Centre, and will continue to do so. I am also due to give a lecture there later this year on "JTR-The Hull Connection"

There have been changes in the Archival side of my work, Local Studies, Hull City Archives and Hull Uni Archives are all closed to prepare for the opening of the New Hull History Centre, so this has cut back my resources somewhat, luckily, I have the Carnegie Heritage Centre, where I am always welcome, get on well with them all, and am still making finds amongst their collection. The organisation does not recieve funding and is a charity, so I help them, as much as they help me.

I have also made contacts in private archival centres, and other centres throughout the UK, which enable me to get work researched quicker, and to date have used material from over 20 different archival centres in the UK!

My own goals have changed, as you know I came into this with delusions of Stephenson being Jack, but ultimately had to changed my mind based on the primary resources, rather than second hand witness testimony and conjecture. So I am trying to obtain as much biographical information about him and his family and peers to learn more about him, and hopefully one day, understand him better.

I also plan to release "Newspapers from Hull" covering the Hull Ripper craze in the Hull press, which features every Hull Newspaper article transcribed for 1888, plus other snippets such as Deeming's Trial, Sadlers Trial, Maybricks Trial, and the Great Baccarat Scandal. There is also a huge amount of information on The Gateshead Tragedy, and the Torso Mystery.

My work has been noticed, on both a local, national and international stage, which is surreal, but important as it is what drives me. Some days, when the weather is bad, and I am feeling under the weather, I often wonder why, but I get letters and emails from all over praising my work, so I am doing something right!
On my local history research alone, I have had emails from The USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and France, praising my work!

I have also been offered the opportunity to make Ripper related documentaries, but cannot say too much just yet!

I have changed, I am more analytical, and much more observant in my research, opting to look not just at the centre but all that surrounds, so I miss nothing. (I am begining to sound like Chef Marco Pierre White)

[Mike Covell]

I can't believe you only been into this for 2-3 years - Amazing considering what you have achieved

Thanks Nemo,

Marty McFly once said "If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything" And I think he was right!

I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason, so when I was diagnosed with a dodgy ticker, rather then dwell on it, I thought I would get my head down and do something productive. I have never looked back!

[How Brown]

Mike:

Real quick in and out...I don't believe much in 'coincidence" anymore myself.

More Q headin' your way this afternoon.

[Mike Covell]

I will be in and out all day, so if anyone has any Q's, fire away!

[Nemo]

Hi Mike

We hear a lot about your Stephenson and Ripper research, but you also collect/research info about other aspects of Hull history

I think Bruce Lee the arsonist killer was active in Hull - The Chief police officer on that case was called Sagar no less

Do you "look into" other crimes in your area?

[Mike Covell]

Hi Mike

We hear a lot about your Stephenson and Ripper research, but you also collect/research info about other aspects of Hull history

I think Bruce Lee the arsonist killer was active in Hull - The Chief police officer on that case was called Sagar no less

Do you "look into" other crimes in your area?

Yes, I have numerous books, photographs and files on various other crimes that where committed in Hull. Among them are,

A large file on William Pepper, who was a Hull fisher lad, killed in 1881.

A large file on William George Smith, who murdered a lady not far from my house in 1924.

Newspaper cuttings on a 1954 axe murder in my street!

A huge collection of material on Frederick Bailey Deeming, who was a visitor to Hull in Oct 1889. He was locked up in Hull Prison for fraud.

A collection of newspaper reports and magistrates papers on William Burkitt, who killed three women, in Hull, in 1915, 1924, and 1939. I actually gave a lecture on Burkitt and his crimes at a homeless shelter last year for Halloween!

A file of material on George Stoner, who murdered a woman in Hull in 1898. He thrust something up inside his victim, and a bar of soap was found actually inside her at the post mortem! The murder took place only yards from the rear of the Dawber family business!

A file on the Great Baccarrat Scandal, including photo's, illustrations, newspaper reports and maps of the house where the scandal took place.

[Nemo]

I actually gave a lecture on Burkitt and his crimes at a homeless shelter last year for Halloween!

WOW
I can't imagine the circumstances that brought that together - lol

Did you get a good reception?

Could you tell me briefly what the Great Baccarrat Scandal is all about please?

[Mike Covell]

The Great Baccarat Scandal took place at Tranby Croft, which is on the outskirts of Hull, and involved the Wilson family of Hull, Albert Edward-The Prince of Wales, and Sir William Gordon-Cumming. Cumming was winning and several of the guests came forward to state he was cheating, and as the game was also illegal, it soon became common knowledge that Cumming was a cheat!

This link will explain it much better,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Baccarat_Scandal

The Wilson family have played host to both Prince Edward and Prince Albert, and were associates of The Stephenson family too, so they are of great interest.

As for the homeless shelter. I was really anxious, but when I got there I was soon put at rest by how warm and welcoming everyone was. In the days preceeding the event, I had worked on a history of the building, and put together a lecture involving local murder, dark deeds, and the paranormal, alongside local history.

Afterwards I presented them with a copy of my lecture in a binder to keep at the centre, in the hope that it inspires them to look at local history.

It was lovely, and I took my wife along for company, and she too loved the evening, especially the home made soup, with really thick rustic bread!

[Nemo]

Thanks Mike

I'll have to look into that

Sounds like a great night at the shelter and an interesting talk -amazing