where do you stand?

[Sally]

Good idea for a thread -

I would say:

1) the three most plausible suspects (if any)?

I can only think of two (in no particular order of merit)

a) Kosminski - a local man
b) An unknown local man

Beyond that, whilst there may be sufficient circumstance regarding many of our current 'suspects' to allow us to speculate, that's all there is - not enough for me.

2) which victims were"Jacks" work?

Probably all of them up to Kelly, including Emma Smith etc. Even the Ripper ha to start somewhere. Subsequent to that, Alice McKenzie perhaps.

3) most plausible identity of Leather Apron who harrassed women in the area?

John Pizer.

4)) which if any letters came from the killer?

I don't think any of them did.

[Simon Wood]

Hi Phil H,

Earlier on the same day of the inquest Pizer denied ever being known as Leather Apron.

You're right. It doesn't jive.

Go figure.

Regards,

Simon

[Phil H]

Pizer certainly did admit being "Leather Apron" in court, but something about the story doesn't jive for me.

If some of the police knew that Pizer was known as "LA" from the start, why didn't they say so?

Phil

[Abby Normal]

So I have been away from Ripperology a while, and I thought it would be interesting to gauge how opinions may have changed since I last posted and lurked. I must admit I expect the trend to be largely the same: We will never prove the identity of the Ripper, various suspects are more or less convincing from others, etc. But would you all be so kind as to offer your opinions on;

1) the three most plausible suspects (if any)?
2) which victims were"Jacks" work?
3) most plausible identity of Leather Apron who harrassed women in the area?
4)) which if any letters came from the killer?

I look forwards to seeing how diverse views are and if they have evolved over the year or so I have been distracted. Thankyou.

1) the three most plausible suspects (if any)?
Blotchy
Hutch
Koz and Chapman (tie)

2) which victims were"Jacks" work?
Annie Millwood (possible)
Ada Wilson (possible)
Emma Smith (possible)
Martha Tabram (probable)
Polly Nichols (definite)
Annie Chapman (definite)
Liz Stride (definite)
Catherine Eddowes (definite)
Mary Kelly (definite)
Alice McKenzie (possible)



3) most plausible identity of Leather Apron who harrassed women in the area?

John Pizer-he admitted it in court.

4)) which if any letters came from the killer?
Goulston Street writing (Probable)
From Hell (possible-50/50)
if not from killer then-
Dear Boss (possible- 50/50)

[Steve S]

I'll go along with Phil on suspects and Mr. Apron..
On victims, I still favour C5 plus maybe Tabram,
Letters?....Dunno..guess one/some COULD be.......

Steve

[Phil H]

No worries Fishy, I am always open minded.

My concerns are almost always about methodology rather than the conclusions reached; or the suspect named.

Phil

[Fisherman]

So here's my position.
... a suspect who was ruled out by later murders ...Cross/Lechmere (but don't tell Fisherman!).
Phil

Ha, Phil! Overheard that! And, to accomodate some posters, I then took the liberty to turn your post into a very succinct pointing out of Lechmere only.

I mean, you would never do that yourself, so you obviously needed a hand - mine!

Otherwise, I agree that among the suspects presented over the years, Kosminski has to be one of the better ones. That is not to say that he is a good suspect at all, though.
I am currently re-reading Sugden (for the umpteenth time), and I had forgotten how he simply rules Kos out totally. To be frank, I find it refreshing. Last time I read him, all that Kosminski hoo-hah had not taken flight ...

Once again apologizing for taking the liberty to boost my man at your expense,

Fisherman

[Phil H]

So here's my position.

I try to be flexible and hold two or three possible scenarios in my mind at any one time.

I have, however, tended to move away from the idea of the "canonical five" and I believe that more than one hand was responsible for some of the murders.

1) the three most plausible suspects (if any)?

a) Kosminski (not necessarily Aaron). I am taken by Scott nelson's very recent artickle re david Cohen, but have to digest it fully. I put Kosminski first on the basis of location; Anderson and Swanson; and the mention by Macnaghten.

b) someone very like Kosminski - a local, poor, perhaps Jewish/immigrant, with local knowledge and some place to go close to the murder sites.

c) if only some of the murders were committed by Jack then possibly a suspect who was ruled out by later murders, Issenschmidt even maybe Cross/Lechmere (but don't tell Fisherman!).

2) which victims were"Jacks" work?

My prime "model at the moment would be: Polly; Annie and (maybe) Kate with Mckenzie as a later possibility.

Liz Stride I still think died by a different hand (possibly Kidney) based on the very public location; lack of mutilation; the fact that she almost certainly was not soliciting (she was on a date) and the site - off "Jack's" usual beat.

Kelly I think was killed by an "intimate" - Barnett is a possibility, also Flemming or even McCarthy. I base that on the very personal nature of her wounds and the clear attempt to eradicate her as a personality even as a woman.

Eddowes might be a Ripper victim, but I am open to the idea that something else was going on. A link to Kelly is possible, through her use of the name, and a Fenian link I have not ruled out.

3) most plausible identity of Leather Apron who harrassed women in the area?

Not Pizer. Possibly Cohen (see Scott Nelson's article) or Kosminski.

4)) which if any letters came from the killer?

None, including the Lusk letter; nor was the GSG by Jack's hand.

Sickert, van Gogh, Lewis carroll etc are all innocent.

Phil

[lynn cates]

honest and succinct

Hello Tom. Good idea for a thread.

1. None of them.

2. None of them.

3. Jacob Isenschmid.

4. None of them.

Hopefully, my honest opinions here have not come off as overly succinct.

Cheers.
LC

[TomTomKent]

So I have been away from Ripperology a while, and I thought it would be interesting to gauge how opinions may have changed since I last posted and lurked. I must admit I expect the trend to be largely the same: We will never prove the identity of the Ripper, various suspects are more or less convincing from others, etc. But would you all be so kind as to offer your opinions on;

1) the three most plausible suspects (if any)?
2) which victims were"Jacks" work?
3) most plausible identity of Leather Apron who harrassed women in the area?
4)) which if any letters came from the killer?

I look forwards to seeing how diverse views are and if they have evolved over the year or so I have been distracted. Thankyou.