Did anyone really see the Ripper?

[Wickerman]

Therefore, rightly or wrongly, Lawende was considered the best Whitechapel witness by the constabulary of the day.....

Regardless of what Lawende said about not recognising him again, I think what you suggest is true.
In fact it is highly possible that it is also Lawende's sighting, only minutes from the murder taking place, which inspired Anderson's dogmatic assersion, "...the only person who had ever had a good view of the murderer at once identified him".

The only person who ever had a view of the murderer, according to the authorities, was associated with the Mitre Square murder.
Anderson's well known claim, made in 1910, has a noticable evolution from an earlier publication in 1899, where it was claimed, "this man was said to resemble the murderer by the one person who got a glimps of him - the police constable in Mitre Court".

Which also appears to have evolved from Macnaghten's earlier draft copy of his reply to the Sun article, where Macnaghten claims, "...this man in appearance strongly resembled the individual seen by the City PC near Mitre Square".

So we can see how Macnaghten's suspect No.2, "strongly resembled an individual", turns into Griffiths, "resembled the murderer", and to Anderson's "was the murderer".
Likewise Macnaghten suggestion that the killer "was seen", turns into Griffiths, "got a glimps", and taken by Anderson to mean "had a good view".

When we trace these assertions by Anderson back to their apparent source we can see that all roads lead to Lawende as the only man who faced the potential killer within minutes of the crime being committed.
And, how a "glimps" becomes exaggerated into a "good view" to bolster the claim that Anderson knew who the Ripper was when he wrote, "..there was no doubt whatsoever as to the identity of the criminal".

So did anyone really see the Ripper?, possibly several, Possibly Mrs Long, possibly PC Smith, possibly Packer, possibly Hutchinson, but only two people saw a "man" with a victim only minutes from the murder occuring and as we know, they were Schwartz & Lawende (with Levy & Harris).
Though Anderson's claim appears to have been inspired by Lawende.

Regards, Jon S.

[Colin Roberts]

If this is a description of jtr, we must ask ourselves how jtr acquired a sunburned face in March.

Given that many believe him to have been a local working class guy.The only thing I can think of is that he was a foundary worker. It might have been unusually sunny of course, but not too likely in England during March.

Does anyone know if there was a foundary in the East End at this time.

I am guessing that at the time of the attack on Ada he was a foundry worker
There will not have been many in that area, possibly just one. It may yet be possible to get a list of employees from this time. Then we need only run through these names for arrests and terms of imprisonment, He will be in here as he will have previous.

There was, of course, the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, on Whitechapel Road.

Also, in accordance with the 1870's series and 1890's series of the Ordnance Survey, there was an "Iron Foundry" situated on the west side of Osborn Street, between Wentworth Street and Whitechapel High Street.

Additionally, in accordance with the 1870's series of the Ordnance Survey, there was an "Iron Foundry" situated on the south side of Whitechapel High Street, between Mansell Street and Leman Street; an "Iron Foundry" situated on the north side of Church Street, Hamlet of Mile End New Town, which later became the eastern 'third' of Hanbury Street; and an "Iron Foundry" situated on the west side of New Street, Hamlet of Mile End Old Town, which later became Yalford Street, just opposite and slightly north of one of Aaron Kosminski's possible 1888 residences.

Whether any of these three facilities continued to function as an "Iron Foundry", in 1888, cannot be gleaned from the 1890's series of the Ordnance Survey.

[Ashkenaz]

There was, of course, the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, on Whitechapel Road.

Also, in accordance with the 1870's series and 1890's series of the Ordnance Survey, there was an "Iron Foundry" situated on the west side of Osborn Street, between Wentworth Street and Whitechapel High Street.

Additionally, in accordance with the 1870's series of the Ordnance Survey, there was an "Iron Foundry" situated on the south side of Whitechapel High Street, between Mansell Street and Leman Street; an "Iron Foundry" situated on the north side of Church Street, Hamlet of Mile End New Town, which later became the eastern 'third' of Hanbury Street; and an "Iron Foundry" situated on the west side of New Street, Hamlet of Mile End Old Town, which later became Yalford Street, just opposite and slightly north of one of Aaron Kosminski's possible 1888 residences.

Whether any of these three facilities continued to function as an "Iron Foundry", in 1888, cannot be gleaned from the 1890's series of the Ordnance Survey.

Thanks for this Colin.

[Colin Roberts]

Thanks for this Colin.

You are most welcome, Ashkenaz.

[Bigbellabongo]

Is Blotchy man with a carroty moustache the same man with a red moustache that came out of the pub in Berner St when the assailant of Stride shouted LipskI? Only asking...