Suspects Poll

[Jonathan H]

I voted for Montague Druit, but it is an entirely provisional, historical opinion; a theory based on fragmentary and contradictory sourcesand which could be upended by a new discovery.

Simply because my assessment of Sir Melville Macnaghten is that, while he played schoolboyish games with data -- and I think misled Anderson about 'Kosminski' -- for discretion/political reasons, nonetheless this hands-on chief's 1913 comments ('That remarkable man ...') and his 1914 memoir chapter, 'Laying the Ghost of Jack the Ripper', perfectly fits the 'West of England' MP bombshell article of 1891.

It was not the Ripper's identity which was unknown -- after 1891 -- it was that he was a poterntial tar baby; a Tory barrister who had confessed to a priest and then killed himself years before. Plus the Druitt family had to be protected along with the Yard's reputation (eg. the frantic 'friends') and both were protected by the wily Mac.

It is, arguably, not a mystery. Not since 1891 for Macnaghten, and not since 1898 for the public -- braodly speaking -- and not for us since 1965, as we have had access to the murderer's real name.

Historical methodology teaches that a source which goes against its expected bias is comeplling and [potentially] reliable; a discreet, gentleman charmer posthumously accuses a fellow gent of the same bourgeiosie class, the same race, and the same religion.

I realise this is not the opinion of more erudite and experienced writers on this subject whose works I revere, and who often do not even include one or either of the sources mentioned above in their books.

[Tom_Wescott]

In a poll taken of the 16 (thus far) people who voted 'unknown/other', they revealed their preferred suspect is Robert Mann. I think if the rest of us were honest with ourselves, we'd admit the same.

MJ Trow, we salute you.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Malcolm X]

either GEORGE CHAPMAN or GEORGE HUTCHINSON whoever this is!

.

[lynn cates]

thanks

Hello Spiro. Thanks!

Cheers.
LC

[Scott Nelson]

...and, of course, the probable Ripper, Henry DeFries.

[auspirograph]

Does the last entry subsume the plural?

Hi Lynn,

Yes it does, and I think that is a good point.

Cheers
Spiro

p.s. A suspects poll will never please everyone of course, this is just a cross-section. The lost Scotland Yard suspects file would also be useful as would inclusion of known entries in the Special Branch index ledgers.

[Fleetwood Mac]

Of those mentioned, I think Kosminski is the best bet by virtue of poilce documents. Chapman is an interesting fella, too.

Hopefully, one day, a document will turn up shedding light on the supposed Kosminski ID. Wishful thinking, granted.

Mind you, Trevor has some interesting info from the ledgers that pours water on the Kosminski fire: would be interesting to see this info.

[Scott Nelson]

Where's Newland Francis Forrester Smith, James Gloster and Fountain Smith?

[lynn cates]

grammatical point

Hello Auspirograph. Thanks for setting this up.

Does the last entry subsume the plural? If so, I'd be delighted to cast my vote--for what little it is worth.

Cheers.
LC

[Abby Normal]

A new and updated Jack the Ripper suspects poll that is anonymous and multiple choice. Keep it fun, civil and of interest to fellow Casebookers

Thanks but this not nearly inclusive enough. No Bury, James Kelly, Hutch?

Perhaps do one with the suspects listed on Casebook suspects page?

[Phil H]

I have voted "Kosminski".

My reasons:

A man of that name is specifically mentioned by Swanson and Melville Macnaghten, and aluded to by Anderson.

To me, he fits the general "type" that I now believe "Jack" to have been - poor, living at the heart of the area, probably mentally challenged.

But I make a number of provisos:

a) I don't know for sure that the Kosminski referred to by the police was AARON Kosminski (found by Martin Fido). It is difficult to see how that would fit with the knowledge we now have, but there it is.

b) I would have ticked other, except that that is too vague and shoulder-sloping.

c) I don't think "Kosminski" or "Jack" killed Tabram or MJK (and probably not Stride), but may have been responsible for McKenzie - even though that makes dates difficult.

There is something missing in our understanding of Kosminski -around why the police suspected him, the identification and his precise identity. If we had all the papers available to Swanson et al, everything would probably fall into place - at least better than it does now.

But I think Kosminski was the man the key cops at the time suspected, and I'll go with them.

Phil

[auspirograph]

A new and updated Jack the Ripper suspects poll that is anonymous and multiple choice. Keep it fun, civil and of interest to fellow Casebookers