Revision 815798691 of "Melvin Harris" on enwiki

'''Melvin Charles Harris''' (1930 – 2004) was a British author, [[Presenter|broadcaster]], [[Research|researcher]] and [[Skepticism|skeptic]].<ref name="Casebook">[http://www.casebook.org/authors/obituaries/mharris.html "Melvin Harris (1930-2004)"]. Retrieved 2015-02-18.</ref> 

==Biography==
Harris was born in [[Monmouthshire]]. He later moved to [[London]] where he worked in the film and theatre industry.<ref name="Casebook"/> He married the actress Maureen Gavin in 1965. He was interested in solving mysteries and worked for the fifteen-minute slot on [[BBC Radio 4]] called "Strange to Relate".<ref name="Casebook"/> 

==Research==

===Jack the Ripper===

Harris took interest in the [[Whitechapel murders]] and the identity of [[Jack the Ripper]]. He wrote three books on the subject, ''Jack the Ripper: The Bloody Truth'' (1987), ''The Ripper File'' (1989) and ''The True Face of Jack the Ripper'' (1994).<ref name="Casebook"/> He came to the conclusion that [[Robert D'Onston Stephenson]] was a likely suspect for the murders.

===Skepticism===

Harris a sceptic of [[paranormal]] claims wrote the book ''Sorry, You've Been Duped'' (1986), later republished as ''Investigating the Unexplained'' by [[Prometheus Books]] in 2003. 

Harris argued that [[past life regression]] cases are not evidence for [[reincarnation]] but [[cryptomnesia]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Kurtz, Paul|authorlink=Paul Kurtz|year=1992|title=The New Skepticism: Inquiry and Reliable Knowledge|publisher=Prometheus Books|page=159|isbn=0-87975-766-3|quote="Melvin Harris, a skeptical paranormal investigator, has examined Bloxham's Jane Evans tapes in meticulous detail. Harris believes that he can explain Evans's "memories" in terms of cryptomnesia (or source amnesia) without postulating reincarnation."}}</ref> He also investigated [[psychic detective]]s but found no evidence for their claims.<ref>{{cite book|author=Kelly, Lynne|authorlink=Lynne Kelly (science writer) |year=2004|title=The Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal|publisher=Allen & Unwin|page=155|isbn=1-74114-059-5|quote="In his book ''Investigating the Unexplained'', Melvin Harris, a broadcaster and professional researcher for the BBC, details his investigations into the claims of some of the psychic detectives widely reported in England. He found nothing indicating clairvoyance."}}</ref>

Harris also suspected that the [[Enfield Poltergeist]] was the result of [[Practical joke|pranks]]. A photo allegedly depicting Janet "[[Levitation (paranormal)|levitating]]" in mid air actually shows her bouncing on the bed as if it were a trampoline. Harris called the photos examples of common "gymnastics", and said "It’s worth remembering that Janet was a school sports champion!" <ref>{{cite magazine|last=Nickell|first=Joe|authorlink=Joe Nickell|title=Enfield Poltergeist, Investigative Files|url=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/enfield_poltergeist|magazine=[[Skeptical Inquirer]]|volume=36|issue=4|date=August 2012|publisher=Committee for Skeptical Inquiry|accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref>

==Publications==
'''Articles'''
*''Are 'Past Life' Regressions Evidence of Reincarnation?'' Free Inquiry 6: 18-23 (1986)
*''Past-Life Regression: The Grand Illusion'' In Robert Basil. (1988). ''Not Necessarily the New Age''. Prometheus Books. {{ISBN|0-87975-490-7}}

'''Books'''
*''Investigating the Unexplained'' (2003)
*''The True Face of Jack the Ripper'' (1994)
*''The Ripper File'' (1989)
*''Jack the Ripper: The Bloody Truth'' (1987)
*''Sorry, You've Been Duped'' (1986)
*''Strange to Relate: Book Two'' (1979)
*''Strange to Relate: Book One'' (1978)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Melvin}}
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:British sceptics]]
[[Category:British writers]]
[[Category:Critics of parapsychology]]