While I initially found the article on the whole very persuasive, after looking it over I'll reserve judgement until the other side weighs in. One thing the first article did not say is that there is indeed a book, to be available next week.
So it suggests that the news article is intended to stump for the book sales.
Why would anyone give is wife a blood stained shawl? And she didn't wear it because she didn't 'like' it? My wife would be grossed out - no way. Then to store it away like a family heirloom, to be sold at auction over 100 years later? Hmm.
It is possible that the whole thing is a hoax, beginning to end. Even the shawl could be a forgery, who knows at this point?
Just my 2 cents