Newspaper stories of note

[Captain Shortworth]

Chief Inspector Gaskin is once again called upon to defend his treatment of the recidivist criminals in his city found guilty of multiple offences ranging from petty theft to housebreaking and harassment. Speaking from the steps of police station on Priory road in the centre of Hull, he was most insistent that the authorities would continue in their efforts to turn those who chose to repeatedly break the law into productive citizens of his fine city.

In London it is well known that serious offenders can be sent to to join penal work crews in harsh conditions as punishment for their crimes, or even to be sent out to the worst places the blight has affected in the hope of reclaiming lost land. With the first of Hull's criminals completing their time inside the project building and returning to the streets, it seems as if the authorities in Hull are more than willing to go a long way further.

As they shuffled back onto the streets, their eyes seemed almost dead and lifeless, the scars on their faces still red and swollen. By far the most obvious physical difference however is the sheer amount of tissue and skull that seems to have been removed during the process of lobotomisation that is deemed necessary to cure them of their criminal tendencies.

They have all been promised manual labour jobs at a small salary covered by the state, just enough for them to sleep indoors and maintain a diet that will keep them alive. Corrections department officials claim this as a n act of generosity, but it is obvious that the small amount they will be paid will work out a lot cheaper than keeping them inside prisons and repeatedly prosecuting them in courts of all law, with all the inherent costs in legal council and such.

[Captain Shortworth]

A third seemingly random but incredibly vicious attack took place on the streets of Hull. This time it was the busy merchant district On the afternoon of Thursday 1st October and the victim, who has yet to be identified by the police, is currently reported as being as in a critical condition at Hull Royal Infirmary and has been unable to answer any questions regarding the attack. 

The assailant was quickly apprehended after he refused to flee from the site, instead struggling against the brave members of the public who restrained him, seemingly set on a single minded course of action, to do as much harm as possible to his unfortunate victim.

All who witnessed the horrific attack were stunned by its ferocity and have all given statements to the constabulary, who hope for a swift resolution of this case. Since they have still been unable to resolve two attacks that were of similar barbarity recently, one of which caused the death Of Publican Roger Entwhistle four days previously, the mood in the city is not one of hope.

There so far has been no connection between not only the people who were attacked, but also nothing to string together the perpetrators, the first two of which were almost immediately sectioned to care of the De La Pole institute for mental instability, where it assumed they will spend the remainder of their lives, incapable of enough rational thought to ever see trial for their despicable acts.

Friends of the condemned, named to this reporter as Mr. Clive Hargrove and Miss Elaine Spears, were baffled by their behaviour, describing them both as normally calm and peaceable types who wouldn't harm a fly.

Until Chief Inspector Gaskin releases a statement, speculation will run rife in Hull, with many wondering who the next 'Hater' will be, and who they will strike out at.

[Captain Shortworth]

Captain Le Roux was yesterday released on bail following an enquiry into possible murder charges at a private gathering in London's west end. Details are sketchy at present as his solicitor was present to ward off the questions of the local press, but rumours suggest a plea of self defence has been submitted and accepted.

there is still no confirmation on the victim of the alleged attack, but it was said to have taken place within the residence of a Lord De La Poer who has been reported as being outside of the city dealing with his business interests in Hull and is not available for comment. His servant, Master Shaw has stated that his employer will be contacting the constabulary in Hull and hopes for a speedy resolution, asking for anyone present at the altercation to come forward to help the metropolitan police in their investigations.

[Captain Shortworth]

[From the Hull Daily Mail, found left on a table in the Flammenden Esel]

Enoch Bowen, the senior administrator of the De La Pole Institute today praised the efforts of the Psi Corps who yesterday apprehended a particularly volatile patient from their secure wing. The patient, only identified as 'G', escaped two days ago but was swiftly recaptured with no disturbance to the city of Hull or any of its citizens. The senior Psi Corps detective, Paul Choynski, made a brief statement thanking the institute for its help and the professionalism of its staff before boarding a train to return to the metropolis yesterday evening.

There are still many questions concerning the escape of 'G' and how security may be tightened to prevent further breakouts, but the biggest question is why, with such a state of the art facility within Hull, we have yet to have a permanent office of the Psi Corps established in case of emergencies.

[Captain Shortworth]

[From the Hull Daily Mail, in the society section, found left on a table in the Flammenden Esel]

London is set to be abuzz this winter as the planned visit by several members of the Prussian royal family had all its details finalised. The purpose of the trip is to improve trade negotiations between the last two super powers, and to hopefully resolve several decades of dispute over the off-shore extraction of natural gasses.

That's all well and good and will be covered in more detail elsewhere. the important thing for us is how far ranging will the trip to these shores be from the visiting nobility? Fir those with the  means to take a trip to the world city, this presents no problem at all and between all the trade talks they will have a first hand chance to sample the latest continental fashions whilst simultaneously showing off the time-less style that makes England the envy of the surviving world. With diplomatic parties by the score it looks like Christmas will be here early for all you socialites out there, even if it is only a month early, just make sure to spread the word that the Metropolis is not the only place in England still flying the flag for haute couture and send them up north.

Along with members of the Prussian aristocracy, there will almost certainly be dozens of hangers on, all high born or working their way to that status, and who knows which lucky Englishman, or woman, could secure the affection of an exotic foreigner and have some arm candy for the rest of the season?

[Captain Shortworth]

[Buried somewhere in the back of an old copy of the Hull Daily Mail, found wedged down the side of a seat in the tap room]

Noteworthy Hull resident, with long family ties to the area, Lord Walter De La Poer, is again trying to reclaim his family land, lost to not only the blight, but also a truly terrifying haunting for several decades now, by seeking help in the capitol. The last attempt ended in disaster, with almost total destruction of the team sent in, and any that did survive reported to be institutionalised.

It seems that De La Poer is taking a different tack with this latest venture, instead recruiting any parties willing to work on this dangerous mission, not relying on just brute force and firearms to take back his family estate. We of course wish him well and those brave souls who delve into the house all the luck that God has to offer.

The biggest question we hope to see answered in this office however is just who is ha...[the rest of this article has been lost due to damage to the page]

[Captain Shortworth]

[From an old copy of the London Morning Herald, dated several months ago, found in the facilities of the Esel]

It seems like low security was yesterday breached at one the Metropolis's more esteemed sanitariums as The Middlesex County Lunatic Asylum today asked for help in retrieving a patient who discharged himself by less than lawful means. He is not considered a danger to others, possessing not even a hint of psychical powers, but his problems could cause scandal for his family and a possible danger to himself and his inheritance. How they expect the populace to help when they give away so few details of the man in question - his gender being one of the few solid facts they have chosen to share with us - is hard to understand.

We should consider ourselves lucky that he has not been reported to be a threat to well meaning citizens, one gets the impression that his family - surely a part of the finest of our society - would still do all they could to keep his desc... [here a large portion of the article is stained and unreadable]... ut if it is true, there are probably many who might seek to keep him for themselves.

[Captain Shortworth]

[From a recent copy of the Times, probably brought in in the luggage of one of the survivors]

Fresh plague worries hit South London docks

Today marks the first twenty-four hours that the unknown, unregistered ship sits at quarantine in a Greenwich dock. Although such vessels are usually burnt in the water if they fail to give the correct signals or the come with no official paperwork, this ship has been allowed to remain afloat.

From the closest vantage point there appears to be no living people on board, but also a lack of the un-living. With no communication made to the seemingly abandoned vessel, there seems little reason why it has been allowed to remain intact. The quarantine period is due to last another 48 hours, and then the Metropolitan Deathwatch will board the ship to ensure it is safe.

If no one comes forward to claim the ship or its contents by this time, it will revert to property of the Her Majesty's Government.

[Captain Shortworth]

[From the front page of the Hull Daily Mail handed to Richard Weldon]

Survivors?

Rumours abound this morning after an unspecified number of individuals were let in through the western rail entrance to Hull late last night after having seemingly braved the wilds and the blight to do so.

A reporter was quickly on the scene, but the unnamed persons had already been quickly whisked away to a secure location by the Deathwatch stationed in the city. None of the officers were available for comment on these people, but suspicions were instantly raised that they may have made their way from Hobb's Landing, a small village reportedly lost to a massive infestation of animates.

With all sources keeping their hands very close to their chests, there are still many questions to be answered, and we would sincerely request that the persons of note come forward to this publication for an interview. There will be a substantial cash reward for any interview that sheds any light on the events of Hobb's Landing as well as some not insignificant notoriety amongst the well read of Hull.

[Captain Shortworth]

Queen Victoria III has announced today that she will be reducing her number of public activities as of today. The palace has cited health concerns as the reason for this slight withdrawal from the public gaze but royal physicians have been quick to allay any fears of long term or life threatening illnesses.

It seems that Her Majesty simply requires a slightly less stressful few weeks to compose herself after a slight bought of illness that has caused her to look pale when she appeared at the opening of a new wing of the Bethlam institute last week. We have been assured that all political matters will still be attended to with regular meetings between her Royal Highness and the government.

We at The Mail wish her a speedy recovery, by God's good graces.

[Captain Shortworth]

A new clamp down on organised crime has been set in motion today by Chief inspector Gaskin, blaming the underworld's involvement in the various unions based in Hull for the recent increase in large thefts and extortion. 'A campaign of intimidation and threats has been masterminded by seedy figures operation in the shadows, using the hard working stevedores and transport unions of this great city as its footsoldiers', claimed Gaskin, continuing, 'These people have been given so little choice and are themselves harassed severely by their underworld bosses, and only by a sustained police investigation, backed with action, will give them the chance they need to free themselves and their communities'.

This push back against organised crime will have been given a huge deal of support from the various business leaders and private companies that have been hit hard by recent high profile thefts, some resulting in losses of tens of thousands of pounds.

The Hull constabulary are hoping that the new initiative, known locally as the 'flathead plan' will free up a substantial amount of officers for more pressing concerns, what with repeat offenders no longer being a problem for Hull.

[Captain Shortworth]

[An advertisement, almost totally missed]

All psychology under- and postgraduates invited to attend a series of guest lectures given by eminent professor of abnormal psychology, Doctor Turnbull. The professor, visiting from London to conduct his research in our own city has offered to give a series of lectures concerning his work within the psychiatric institutions of the metropolis.

These lectures will run over the next two weeks, and although only available to students without charge, any member of the public is invited to purchase a ticket for each of the five lectures at only £1/5. These promise to be very interesting to all with an interest in the subject and refreshments will be supplied after each lecture, with a small opportunity to speak to Dr. Turnbull in person.

After the final lecture there will also be a lengthy Q&A section during which Dr. Turnbull will answer as many of your questions as he has time for. We expect all the lectures to be well attended, so please the contact the Dean of Psychology at the Royal institute as soon as possible. Dates to be confirmed.

[Captain Shortworth]

A second 'hater' was yesterday captured for study on the streets of Hull. Early reports indicate that it was a female who lost her mind, and in the ensuing scuffle her infant child lost its life. This is of course far from the first casualty that this plague of madness has brought to our city, but by far the youngest.

Witness statements are hard to come by as this latest atrocity happened in one of the many slums that litter our dock-front area, and the inhabitants of these rookeries are notoriously backwards in coming forwards, to not only the press but also the authorities. We can however confirm that the patient will have been moved during the night to the De La Pole institute where another of her kind thrashes away in seemingly unending hatred at anyone who dares to enter her room.

[Captain Shortworth]

Making the Trains Run

Reports, business men and concerned relatives were all waiting in the lobby of the Mayor's office yesterday as rumours of the repeatedly thought abandoned train line linking Hull to many towns, villages and industrial complexes was to open again soon. Since the tragic events that lead to to a derailment some over a week a go, supposedly centred on the small town and farming enclave known as Hobb's Landing, the line has remained closed, with only sporadic communication available through telegrams and radio.

The town of Hobb's Landing - previously named Hobb's End until the events of five years ago - has already seen more than its fare share of suffering and bloodshed, but the last handful of years had been kind to it, with the growing farming community of Prussians that had settled there over a century ago, proving to be strong in the face of adversary and moving from self sufficiency to taking their first steps towards becoming a viable exporter of its produce.

Rumours have abounded concerning the tragic circumstances that lead to the train jumping from its tracks, with no eye witnesses available for comment. The sight of some indistinct flashes of light seen through the rain on the night in question raising more questions than it answers, being by all accounts two miles away from the town, and on the other side of the town, away from where the train crashed.

So far all official reports and statements have been unable to confirm the rumours, but with so many businesses within not only Hull, but London and many other cities, relying on the products of cities between here and the south, it must surely only be a matter of time until the government, no doubt with the Deathwatch taking the lead, move to reclaim this vital thread of travel and communication

[Captain Shortworth]

What fate has befallen Odette?

Miss Rose Kelly looked to have a very promising career ahead of her, with a run throughout the north of England, recently in our own fair city, soon to be moving on to the heart of the empire - London - where she would play for royalty in the lead role of Swan Lake.

Sadly however, as the ballet company packed and made its way towards the train station, the young ballerina was nowhere to be found. Her room was left empty as if she had packed her possessions ready for the journey south, and indeed later investigations found her travelling case to have been loaded onto a carriage bound for the station. Of Miss Kelly however there was no sign.

The head of the company, Mister Angstrom has promised to stay in Hull and help the authorities to track down the teenager whilst sending the rest of his dancers ahead to prepare the way. If the search proves fruitless he has made it known that auditions would start as soon as was possible so as not to delay the performance for her Royal Highness who has promised to raise herself from her sickbed for the evening's entertainment.

We wish Mr. Angstrom all the luck in the world and pray for the safe return of Rose, a flower that we hope has not been plucked too soon.