suggested. A newspaper report was found of a man who gave his name as "Nickley" being rescued by from the river by the pier master, and later discharging himself from hospital. Nickley could have been a misheard Netley - or a quickly assumed name. Stephen Knight said that the Dictionary of British Surnames did not list Nickley. Portrayals in fiction Netley has been featured in several works based on the Jack the Ripper and the Royal Family conspiracy theory. In the film Murder by Decree (1979), Netley was renamed William Slade, and played by actor Peter Jonfield. In the made-for-TV film Jack the Ripper (1988), starring Michael Caine, Netley was played by actor George Sweeney. Netley was again portrayed as Gull's accomplice in the graphic novel From Hell. This version depicts Netley as semi-literate, and horrified by Gull's plans. In the film adaptation of From Hell (2001), starring Johnny Depp, Netley was played by Jason Flemyng. Netley was featured in an episode of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World called "The Knife" that portrayed the Ripper murders as the collaborated work of Netley, Sir William Gull and a police inspector, Robert Anderson. References External links Netley on the Casebook: Jack the Ripper website Netley and the Royal Conspiracy Jack the Ripper 1860 births 1903 deaths 1903 road incidents Road incident deaths in London