The insane medical student - a police theory from 1894

[robhouse]

Interesting, among other things that Winslow is said to have been raised in a "private asylum", and took over proprietorship of one for a while... I am not suggesting this has any bearing on the "private asylum" remarks..

Also, there is this from the following page here on casebook:

http://www.casebook.org/suspects/lodger.html

"When the English press picked up the story Scotland Yard dispatched Chief Inspector Swanson to interview Forbes Winslow who immediately began to back-peddle. He said the story printed in the paper was not accurate and misrepresented the entire conversation between himself and the reporter. He claimed the reporter had tricked him into talking about the case. In truth, Forbes Winslow had never given any information to the police with the exception of an earlier theory of his involving an escaped lunatic. A theory which even Forbes Winslow had abandoned. He showed the boots to Swanson and they turned out to be canvas topped boots the tops of which were moth eaten and the molt of the moth still adhering to the tops. No bloodstains."

I don't have my books with me... is there a police record of this interview with Winslow? I am assuming it happened in 1889?

Rob H

[robhouse]

Sorry... OK, I have read it now.

RH

[Chris]

Curiously there is a report in the press section concerning an insane medical student, committed to a private asylum and suspected by the police, who are even said to have regarded the clues pointing to his guilt as "the best they have had all along". If one takes the report seriously, this may conceivably be the same person referred to in the reports from 1894.

The "severe disappointment" suffered by the police - when they discovered that he was already in the asylum at the time of "this latest murder" - won't disturb modern theorists too much, as it obviously refers to the murder of Alice Mackenzie, whose wounds Phillips did indeed describe as different from those of the earlier victims (though I haven't managed to find a public statement by him to that effect before the date of this report).

The police have just had a severe disappointment, says a London correspondent, in connection with their search for the Whitechapel murderer. They received information of a man exactly answering the description of the person they are looking for. He was a lunatic, and learnt the butchering trade in his father's shop, had become a medical student on his father's death, had absented himself from home frequently at nights without giving any explanation of where he had been, and had written an extraordinary series of letters to the rector of his parish, which parish was in direct communication by a straight line of tram-rails with the very circle within which all the diabolical crimes have been perpetrated. Those letters indicated clearly that the writer was a lewd-minded lunatic, such as the murderer must be, and there occurred in them such ominous and coincidental expressions as threats to "rip up" both his mother and the rector. In fact, every conceivable circumstance about him exactly fitted in with a rational theory of the crimes with him as the chief actor in them, until one discovery upset the entire superstructure. He was at liberty during the whole of the murders except the last of all, when he was safe under lock and key in a private asylum. Until that false link in the chain was found the police certainly regarded the clues as the best they have had all along. Of course, there yet remains the contingency that this latest murder was the work of a fresh assassin, and Dr. Phillips inclines to that opinion from the nature of the mutilations.
Walthamstow and Leyton Guardian, 10 August 1889

http://www.casebook.org/press_reports/walthamstow_and_leyton_guardian/w890810.html

[robhouse]

It seems that we have a conundrum here. This is getting more and more confusing (to me anyway)... seems like we have a big puzzle in any case, so I thought I would add a few more pieces.

Obviously, I think it is possible that these reports have something to do with Aaron Kozminski... in any case, I am now confused since these two "separate" suspects (doppelgangers) seem to share many traits, but in other ways are irreconcilable. This is very interesting stuff anyway, so lets try to figure it out!

I will just add a few pieces to the mix:

July 29, 1890, in the Galveston Daily News (Texas USA)

JACK THE RIPPER’S VACATION
A Possible Explanation of the Suspension of Whitechapel Horrors

Halifax, N.S. July 28.

A curious story has got out here that if true explains the long rest which Jack the Ripper has been taking from his diabolical work in the Whitechapel district, London. A lady from this city visiting a distinguished official in London, states in a letter written to friends here that the Ripper has been under arrest in the London metropolis for some time. He is a medical student and was arrested on the strength of information given by his own sister.

The authorities, the letter states, have kept the matter a strict secret in order to work up the case against the prisoner, and they are said to have a very complete chain of evidence.

These statements are vouched for by the writer of the letter who came into possession of the facts accidentally. The person who makes the story public, however, refuses to divulge her name

This article has always been of interest to me, since I suspected it may have had to do with Kozminski. The line he "was arrested on the strength of information given by his own sister" is interesting, as is the date of the article since it appeared just 16 days after Aaron’s first admission to Mile End Old Town Workhouse... in other words, arguably around the time of the identification and police surveillance.

However, obviously we also have the "medical student" aspect, and I am wondering if this is the earliest report that mentions the medical student theory?? I am wondering also if this may have planted the seed for the later "medical student" stories, which perhaps evolved over time, to include other elements, as seen in the Forbes Winslow accounts, etc.

We also have Sims statement, which clearly refers to Aaron Kozminski, since it is derived from Macnaghten etc:

"The first man was a Polish Jew of curious habits and strange disposition, who was the sole occupant of certain premises in Whitechapel after night-fall. This man was in the district during the whole period covered by the Whitechapel murders, and soon after they ceased certain facts came to light which showed that it was quite possible that he might have been the Ripper. He had at one time been employed in a hospital in Poland. He was known to be a lunatic at the time of the murders, and some-time afterwards he betrayed such undoubted signs of homicidal mania that he was sent to a lunatic asylum." - Lloyds Weekly News on September 22 1907


It is of course unknown if Aaron Kozminski was employed in a hospital in Poland... it certainly seems like it is possible, but there is no evidence of this apart from the above statement. Indeed, the Klodawa Book of Residents (undated entry) gives Aaron Kozminski's profession as "tailor". Presumably, and naturally, Aaron would have learned the trade from his father along with his two brothers Woolf and Isaac. Of course, it does not appear that Aaron kept up with this since he was later listed as a "hairdresser."

So IF, and its a big if.... If Kozminski was "employed in a hospital in Poland," presumably it was after being employed as a tailor, and probably after the death of Aaron's father in 1874... in other words, between the ages of 8 and 15... which seems plausible. But again, there is no evidence of this.

Still, it is interesting to me given the statement "He was a lunatic, and learnt the butchering trade in his father's shop, had become a medical student on his father's death"... would be interesting if instead of "the butchering trade," it said "the tailoring trade."

You are doing a great job, Chris, as usual in finding these things, and posting them for consideration. I have a feeling there is something important behind all this. But at this point, I have only questions... no answers.

Rob H

[The Good Michael]

Rob,

There are many jobs in a hospital that have nothing to do with medicine. Kosminski could have been involved in anything. Imagine a young kid involved in clean-up after 19th century surgery.

Cheers,

Mike

[Chris Scott]

An early version of the "medical student" story is below. This one has always intrigued me - the sister connection calls to mind the Crawford letter...
But as early as October 1888 Forbes Winslow was quoted as theorising that the Ripper was a medical student who had become diseased.
Chris

Fort Wayne Weekly Sentinel
Indiana, USA
24 July 1890

JACK THE RIPPER!
Is a Medical Student and is Under Arrest in London - A Chain of Evidence Woven About Him
Halifax, July 24.
A Halifax lady, at present visiting a distinguished London official, writes to friends here that Jack the Ripper is under arrest in that city and has been for some time. The Ripper, she says, is a medical student and his arrest was made on the strength of information given by his sister. The authorities have kept the matter the strictest secret in order to work up a case against the man. The chain of evidence is very complete. This information, though startling, is vouched for by the writer of the letter, who accidentally came into possession of the facts.

[robhouse]

I had not seen this earlier version... so the version in the Galveston Daily News in July 29, 1890 was clearly copied from an earlier source... the Fort Wayne Weekly Sentinel being several days earlier for one. It seems strange to me that these were reported in US papers... one wonders how the news would have travelled. I imagine there must be other references to the same story... perhaps in Halifax newspapers?

"the sister connection calls to mind the Crawford letter..." - I have always thought the very same thing.

"But as early as October 1888 Forbes Winslow was quoted as theorising that the Ripper was a medical student who had become diseased." - yes, I had seen that also. It don't know if Winslow's theory c. 1888 has anything to do with the later reports of the insane medical student suspect, or with Kozminski for that matter.... but I could be wrong.

This whole matter seems difficult to decipher. I have some thoughts on it all, but I will hold them back for now. What do you guys think (Chris P, Chris S, etc)? What's your interpretation so far, if any?

Rob H

[Jeff Leahy]

I would be intregued to know why you believe Kosminski might have been refered to as a Medical student?

Or am I miss understanding what you appear to be saying?

Yours Pirate

http://forum.casebook.org/showthread.php?t=506

[Chris]

Thanks to Rob and Chris for posting details of the story about a medical student from July 1890. It seems quite possible that this relates to the same suspect. At the moment I have a trial subscription to www.genealogybank.com , and thought it would be worth checking for further reports. The same story does turn up in seven other American newspapers between 24 and 30 July, including the New York Herald of 25 July:


An obvious difficulty with the story is the claim that the police had been holding the suspect in secret for some time while they prepared a case against him. I'm not sure whether we're meant to think he had been charged with some other offence in the meantime, or what.

[Chris]

It is of course unknown if Aaron Kozminski was employed in a hospital in Poland... it certainly seems like it is possible, but there is no evidence of this apart from the above statement. Indeed, the Klodawa Book of Residents (undated entry) gives Aaron Kozminski's profession as "tailor". Presumably, and naturally, Aaron would have learned the trade from his father along with his two brothers Woolf and Isaac. Of course, it does not appear that Aaron kept up with this since he was later listed as a "hairdresser."

So IF, and its a big if.... If Kozminski was "employed in a hospital in Poland," presumably it was after being employed as a tailor, and probably after the death of Aaron's father in 1874... in other words, between the ages of 8 and 15... which seems plausible. But again, there is no evidence of this.

Still, it is interesting to me given the statement "He was a lunatic, and learnt the butchering trade in his father's shop, had become a medical student on his father's death"... would be interesting if instead of "the butchering trade," it said "the tailoring trade."

I would be very sceptical about trying to link the Walthamstow and Leyton Guardian story to Aaron Kozminski, as there are so many points of disagreement - the suspect lived somewhere linked by tram-rails to the murder area (Aaron almost certainly lived within that area); his father had a butcher's shop there (Aaron's father was a tailor who died in Poland); he threatened to "rip up" his mother (Aaron's mother was not in England in 1889); he was committed to a private asylum by July 1889 (Aaron was not committed until 1891). I don't think that can work.

On the wider point of whether Aaron could be linked to the stories about an insane medical student, again I am sceptical. Even if he had served some kind of apprenticeship in a hospital in Poland - which we have no indication of apart from the Sims article of 1907 - he had left Poland in 1881. Presumably his most recent employment before 1891 had been as a hairdresser, though we know he hadn't worked for some years before his committal in 1891. Even allowing for the belief that the murderer had medical training, it would seem very unnatural to refer to him as a "medical student" in those circumstances.

But on the subject of the insane medical student theory, isn't it interesting that in that 1907 article Sims has ended up with the three suspects all being doctors/former medical students who have been in asylums? In particular, could it be that the beliefs that Druitt had been in an asylum, and that Kozminski had been a medical student, and perhaps even that Druitt was a doctor, owed something to the theory that the Ripper was a medical student in an asylum?

[robhouse]

Hi Chris,

I too am skeptical about making such a connection as you suggest, but just thought I would put these points forward since there are at least some interesting parallels. Mainly, I keep thinking of the coincidence that thes July 1890 reports came at the same time Kozminski was first brought to the workhouse... and that this date has often been suggested as a likely time for the identification. I am personally not convinced that this was when the identification took place anyway.

As to your last point... it is indeed interesting. I wonder how much these theories about an insane medical student were based on the fact that the police seemed convinced that the Ripper did have medical knowledge... in other words, they were looking for exactly that type of suspect.

I really have no answers to this at all. I assume that you think there was actually an "insane medical student suspect" who was not Aaron Kozminski. It is certainly possible.

Speaking of Henry Smith, he wrote

"After the second crime I sent word to Sir Charles Warren that I had discovered a man very likely to be the man wanted. He certainly had all the qualifications requisite. He had been a medical student ; he had been in a lunatic asylum ; he spent all his time with women of loose character, whom he bilked by giving them polished farthings instead of sovereigns, two of these farthings having been found in the pocket of the murdered woman. Sir Charles failed to find him. I thought he was likely to be in Rupert Street, Haymarket. I sent up two men, and there he was ; but, polished farthings and all, he proved an alibi without the shadow of doubt." - From Constable to Commissioner

How does this fit in I wonder? If at all....

RH

[Jeff Leahy]

Many thanks for clarifying that. Pirate

[Chris]

I really have no answers to this at all. I assume that you think there was actually an "insane medical student suspect" who was not Aaron Kozminski. It is certainly possible.

That seems likely to me, unless this report is a press invention or a rumour that has been embellished beyond recognition.

Smith's anecdote is obviously a bit muddled, but we do know that in the Autumn of 1888 the police investigated three insane medical students, two of whom were said to have been traced, while the third (John Sanders) was said to have gone abroad about two years previously (he had actually gone into an asylum, and was apparently still there at the time of the murders). It could be that Smith's story relates to one of those who were traced (and presumably eliminated). It's difficult to see how suspicion against any of them could have revived in 1894, though.

[Chris]

It solves a puzzle I've been interested in for a number of years, since John Ruffels sent me two reports from an Australian newspaper, the Koroit Sentinel, from 1900 and 1901. Those reports were virtually identical to one which Chris Scott later found in an American newspaper from early 1895:

http://casebook.org/press_reports/bangor_daily_whig_and_courier/950117.html

In connection with young Saunderson's insane crime and the Kensington stabbings the authorities have been extremely alarmed lest another Jack the Ripper scare should seize upon the popular mind. This led them recently to make the important announcement that they have reason to believe that the author of the Jack the Ripper crimes has been several years in his grave.

An identically worded report appeared a few weeks earlier - on 23 December 1894 - in the Duluth News Tribune.

[Chris]

if we may credit the following paragraph from the last letter of the London correspondent of the Lyttelton Times.

I checked the Lyttelton Times (31 January 1895, p. 6), and the article published there, under the title "THE REAL RIPPER", contains nothing beyond what was quoted by the Timaru Herald the following day. Above that article was one on the Saunderson case, and above it at the head of the column was this:
"[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.]
LONDON, Dec. 14."

That's the same date given by the Tuapeka Times in attributing an almost identical report to the "EVENING STAR'S CORRESPONDENT". I suppose the likelihood is that the report originated with a news agency.