Reid Challenges Anderson 1910

[Paul]

Obviously I'm just trying to get things straight, not trying to score points against the A-Z or anything like that.


The reason I said it was a mistake is that the A-Z says "H. L. Adam, in the preface to The Trial of George Chapman, names Major Smith as one of the senior policemen who had confidentially told him that the Ripper's identity was definitely known ..."


I'm just saying that's an error because "confidentially told him" isn't in that preface.

Hi Chris, I understood the point you were making and as you have never come across as someone with the slightest interest in point scoring, it hadn't even crossed my mind that you might be doing so. I am genuiely grateful when anyone points out errors in the A to Z, as every error corrected improves the accuracy and reliability of the book. I was just confirming that H.L. Adam did not say that Smith had told him anything, and offering a small explanation of why we may have said he did, it being our conjecture as well as Scott's.

[Chris Phillips]

Hi Chris, I understood the point you were making and as you have never come across as someone with the slightest interest in point scoring, it hadn't even crossed my mind that you might be doing so. I am genuiely grateful when anyone points out errors in the A to Z, as every error corrected improves the accuracy and reliability of the book. I was just confirming that H.L. Adam did not say that Smith had told him anything, and offering a small explanation of why we may have said he did, it being our conjecture as well as Scott's.

Thanks. I understand.

[John Malcolm]

As far as we know, Smith unambiguously asserted the opposite...

Did he, though? He certainly implied it, but I don't remember reading anywhere that he actually contradicted Anderson about the murderer's identity. I found Smith's statements like "I have no more idea now where he lived than I had twenty years ago" and "he completely beat me and every police officer in London" to be suspiciously ambiguous. If that's as close as it gets...

[Paul]

Did he, though? He certainly implied it, but I don't remember reading anywhere that he actually contradicted Anderson about the murderer's identity. I found Smith's statements like "I have no more idea now where he lived than I had twenty years ago" and "he completely beat me and every police officer in London" to be suspiciously ambiguous. If that's as close as it gets...

Hi John,
I was trying to avoid that little complicating factor. It was fresh in my mind because I was re-reading parts of your books the other night. I'd almost forgotten how good it is. I doubt Trevor has read it, or would take what you say on board, but you seem to have touched all bases.