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Point 1:
After recently re-reading Tom Wescott's first book, I have become almost completely convinced that Emma Smith and Martha Tabram were JtR murders. Both these crimes, to my mind, bear definite hallmarks of being sexual murders and I find it too coincidental that these 2 sexual murders would be in that close proximity to 5 other sexual murders without likely being committed by the same person. I see the differences, not as a change in MO, but rather a perfecting of the killing efficiency. In the Smith case, he likely beat or choked her unconscious before committing the sexual battery. In the excitement over his accomplishment, he left the scene without assuring that she was dead. This reminds me of a serial killer's classic "clumsy" first kill. In the murder of Tabram (which coincidentally is said to have taken place almost directly across the road from the Smith attack site), he did remember to kill her at least. But the effort it took to kill her also killed time that he could have been using to mutilate her. I believe in the subsequent murders, he'd had time to really think over the most efficient way to kill quickly to allow the most time for the mutilations. The only way I could be throughly convinced these 2 were not JtR crimes is if there were other serious sexual murders either in Whitechapel or the greater London area. Wouldn't even have to be a pattern or series of sexual murders, just enough evidence to show that these type crimes were not uncommon. Otherwise, I find it far too coincidental that 7 sexual murders would happen in that close proximity and timeframe.
So, believing that Smith/Tabram were JtR victims combined with some generalities about known serial killers, it should probably be somewhat suspected that JtR resided in the vicinity of the Smith/Tabram crime scenes due to:
(1) Smith/Tabram were the first 2 crimes in a series of 7
(2) Smith/Tabram were the 2 crime scenes in closest proximity to each other
(3) Smith/Tabram were the 2 crimes closest to the geographic center of the 7 murder scenes
Point 2:
I don't think it's a stretch at all to believe that, for whatever reason, Whitechapel Rd served as some sort of psychological barrier for JtR. 6 of the 7 murders occurred north of Whitechapel Rd. And indeed the only crime occurring south of the road was the one in which JtR seems to have been interrupted and likely the one in which he was closest to being discovered.
The reason for this psychological barrier could be any one of numerous reasons. Even though Whitechapel Rd was a main thoroughfare, it could be that prostitutes were just more frequent on the north side. It could also be that JtR lived on the north side of the road and was simply more comfortable hunting on the north side. After all, Smith/Tabram were killed barely on the north side of Whitechapel Rd. My personal belief though is that JtR lived on the south side of Whitechapel Rd in an area that was still in very close proximity to the Smith/Tabram sites. He may have naturally shied away from the south side because he knew people on the south side of the road and would have been more likely to have been identified in that area. Another distinct possibility is that JtR found it better to kill on the north side because all the roads and passageways on that side would have made it easier to crisscross, double back, etc to his residence on the south side.
The interesting point here as it relates to Kosminski is that it's believed he was likely living at either Sion St or Greenfield St in 1888. These 2 locations are literally the 2 closest points that are both 1. South side of Whitechapel Rd and 2. Closest to the locations of the Smith/Tabram attacks. The 3rd possible location for Kosminski in 1888 was with his brother Isaac on Ghoulston St. this is on the north side, but (if memory serves me) only one road over from the Smith/Tabram sites. It is also significant of course that this is the location that the piece of apron (undebateable) and graffiti (likely, but debateable) were found. It's likely, because of Kosminski's mental instability, that he was spending significant time between all 3 residences. But all 3 would have put him squarely amongst where we'd reasonable suspect JtR to have been residing.
As far as direction of travel from (A) Stride to (B) Eddowes, I think it can be easily deduced that he was traveling AWAY from his home base. He probably wanted to go west, cross over the main thoroughfare, and double back toward his home base. This would give him plausible deniability of being near Berber St if he were stopped and questioned...he would have been traveling from the north side to his residence rather than from the south (the direction of the Stride murder). If he felt things got too hot to be out on the street, that route would also give him a convenient safe place- his brother Isaac on Ghoulston St- to duck into. He may or may not have been looking for a 2nd victim after Stride. It may be that Eddowes just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time along his escape route. But I think it can definitely be assumed that from (B) Eddowes to (C) apron drop on Ghoulston St, JtR was absolutely in route home. He probably felt at that point that it was high time to get off the street. So..(A) Stride to (B) Eddowes...away from home base. (B) Eddowes to (C) apron drop...toward home base.
Point 3:
I think it's interesting and telling that the north side murder occurred outside the Jewish socialist/anarchist club. This was a club where the oldest dues paying member (According the Wescott's 2nd book) was 30 years old and most were early 20s and even teenagers. The club that night was up to 100 hundred attendees, both members and non-members. Wescott stated they even would have someone posted on the street to recruit new potential members as they'd pass by.
My conclusion here...JtR was likely in attendance at the club that night, as a non-member likely solicited in from the street. This would probably mean that rather than be actively hunting for a victim, he discovered Stride outside where he already was and she served as a victim of extreme opportunity, as if she placed by "divine intervention" upon his path. If these beliefs are correct, it would of course lend heavy weight to JtR being Jewish.
Though many want to argue, it is clear to me that the JtR crimes were committed by someone suffering from a severe mental illness, probably schizophrenia or a schizo affective disorder. What's interesting here is that you have:
Kosminski- a young, local Jew suffering from a severe mental disorder (probably schizophrenia) mental disorder which is likely exacerbated by alcohol
and
The Berner St club- a club serving alcohol to young, local Jewish males
and
Stride- a prostitute killed directly outside the Jewish club just a couple streets over from where the schizophrenic suspect was likely living. A murder that, seems it was not in the least "scouted out" properly (as it was interrupted) and the only murder in the series to occur on the south side of Whitechapel Rd.
Point 4:
I thinks it's very interesting that one of the few details we know about Kosminski and his illness relates to food. He was said to have refused to accept food from others. It is likely that he believed his illness was brought on by others attempting to poison his food. I believe this would not be totally unique amongst schizophrenic serial killers. The serial killer Richard Chase believed that the government was turning his blood to powder and he therefore resorted to drinking victims' blood.
As we know, JtR took internal organs from at least 3 victims. I personally believe he ate these organs as, what he believed, treatment for his illness. It is not uncommon for serial killers to take "souvenirs" from victims such as rings, watches, ID cards, etc. but internal organs are persishable. There would be no long term reasoning to take them unless he was eating them.
Now many want to argue that Kosminski could not possibly have been JtR because he was 1) docile upon incarceration and 2) would've appeared too outwardly mentally ill to have gained the trust of prostitute. I have always found these arguments to be quite ridiculous and both can be easily debunked by the infamous Jeffrey Dahmer. It is a known fact that Dahmer was diagnosed with a schizo-typal disorder as well as a psychotic disorder. Yet Dahmer appeared outwardly normal and was able to easily gain the trust and entice men to his apartment. In fact, Dahmer would have likely ended with an even higher victim count if he had not become so sloppy. He had half the residence complex stunk up with decomposing bodies, yet appeared outwardly normal enough to not raise any suspicion about his crimes.
Dahmer was a torturer, killer, and cannibal. Yet he became a model prisoner even though he, in prison, would have literally been surrounded by his targeted victim base...young men, homosexual or straight. Sure, he would have received treatment for his illnesses but the fact remains that he was still surrounded by his preferred victim base and never once acted out on it in prison.
Kosminski on the other hand, was surely medicated to a degree, but would not have received any type of proper treatment for schizophrenia that modern medicine could provide. But aside from that, Kosminski would have been completely removed from his preferred victim base...females, and specifically female prostitutes. With these triggers removed, there is no great reason to assume that Kosminski would have continued to behave violently, even if his illness were not properly treated.
Also, in the asylum, Kosminski would have been forced to either eat the provided food or starve. He probably gradually came to realize that food was at least not solely responsible for his illness. It would be interesting to know if at any time during his incarceration, Kosminski resorted to eating insects and/or other small animals.
I'm not saying here that Kosminski can definitively be proven to have been JtR. But there certainly a lot of interesting circumstances surrounding him. What I can definitely say is that there literally NOTHING that should have him so readily dismissed as a suspect as so many wish to do.
After recently re-reading Tom Wescott's first book, I have become almost completely convinced that Emma Smith and Martha Tabram were JtR murders. Both these crimes, to my mind, bear definite hallmarks of being sexual murders and I find it too coincidental that these 2 sexual murders would be in that close proximity to 5 other sexual murders without likely being committed by the same person. I see the differences, not as a change in MO, but rather a perfecting of the killing efficiency. In the Smith case, he likely beat or choked her unconscious before committing the sexual battery. In the excitement over his accomplishment, he left the scene without assuring that she was dead. This reminds me of a serial killer's classic "clumsy" first kill. In the murder of Tabram (which coincidentally is said to have taken place almost directly across the road from the Smith attack site), he did remember to kill her at least. But the effort it took to kill her also killed time that he could have been using to mutilate her. I believe in the subsequent murders, he'd had time to really think over the most efficient way to kill quickly to allow the most time for the mutilations. The only way I could be throughly convinced these 2 were not JtR crimes is if there were other serious sexual murders either in Whitechapel or the greater London area. Wouldn't even have to be a pattern or series of sexual murders, just enough evidence to show that these type crimes were not uncommon. Otherwise, I find it far too coincidental that 7 sexual murders would happen in that close proximity and timeframe.
So, believing that Smith/Tabram were JtR victims combined with some generalities about known serial killers, it should probably be somewhat suspected that JtR resided in the vicinity of the Smith/Tabram crime scenes due to:
(1) Smith/Tabram were the first 2 crimes in a series of 7
(2) Smith/Tabram were the 2 crime scenes in closest proximity to each other
(3) Smith/Tabram were the 2 crimes closest to the geographic center of the 7 murder scenes
Point 2:
I don't think it's a stretch at all to believe that, for whatever reason, Whitechapel Rd served as some sort of psychological barrier for JtR. 6 of the 7 murders occurred north of Whitechapel Rd. And indeed the only crime occurring south of the road was the one in which JtR seems to have been interrupted and likely the one in which he was closest to being discovered.
The reason for this psychological barrier could be any one of numerous reasons. Even though Whitechapel Rd was a main thoroughfare, it could be that prostitutes were just more frequent on the north side. It could also be that JtR lived on the north side of the road and was simply more comfortable hunting on the north side. After all, Smith/Tabram were killed barely on the north side of Whitechapel Rd. My personal belief though is that JtR lived on the south side of Whitechapel Rd in an area that was still in very close proximity to the Smith/Tabram sites. He may have naturally shied away from the south side because he knew people on the south side of the road and would have been more likely to have been identified in that area. Another distinct possibility is that JtR found it better to kill on the north side because all the roads and passageways on that side would have made it easier to crisscross, double back, etc to his residence on the south side.
The interesting point here as it relates to Kosminski is that it's believed he was likely living at either Sion St or Greenfield St in 1888. These 2 locations are literally the 2 closest points that are both 1. South side of Whitechapel Rd and 2. Closest to the locations of the Smith/Tabram attacks. The 3rd possible location for Kosminski in 1888 was with his brother Isaac on Ghoulston St. this is on the north side, but (if memory serves me) only one road over from the Smith/Tabram sites. It is also significant of course that this is the location that the piece of apron (undebateable) and graffiti (likely, but debateable) were found. It's likely, because of Kosminski's mental instability, that he was spending significant time between all 3 residences. But all 3 would have put him squarely amongst where we'd reasonable suspect JtR to have been residing.
As far as direction of travel from (A) Stride to (B) Eddowes, I think it can be easily deduced that he was traveling AWAY from his home base. He probably wanted to go west, cross over the main thoroughfare, and double back toward his home base. This would give him plausible deniability of being near Berber St if he were stopped and questioned...he would have been traveling from the north side to his residence rather than from the south (the direction of the Stride murder). If he felt things got too hot to be out on the street, that route would also give him a convenient safe place- his brother Isaac on Ghoulston St- to duck into. He may or may not have been looking for a 2nd victim after Stride. It may be that Eddowes just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time along his escape route. But I think it can definitely be assumed that from (B) Eddowes to (C) apron drop on Ghoulston St, JtR was absolutely in route home. He probably felt at that point that it was high time to get off the street. So..(A) Stride to (B) Eddowes...away from home base. (B) Eddowes to (C) apron drop...toward home base.
Point 3:
I think it's interesting and telling that the north side murder occurred outside the Jewish socialist/anarchist club. This was a club where the oldest dues paying member (According the Wescott's 2nd book) was 30 years old and most were early 20s and even teenagers. The club that night was up to 100 hundred attendees, both members and non-members. Wescott stated they even would have someone posted on the street to recruit new potential members as they'd pass by.
My conclusion here...JtR was likely in attendance at the club that night, as a non-member likely solicited in from the street. This would probably mean that rather than be actively hunting for a victim, he discovered Stride outside where he already was and she served as a victim of extreme opportunity, as if she placed by "divine intervention" upon his path. If these beliefs are correct, it would of course lend heavy weight to JtR being Jewish.
Though many want to argue, it is clear to me that the JtR crimes were committed by someone suffering from a severe mental illness, probably schizophrenia or a schizo affective disorder. What's interesting here is that you have:
Kosminski- a young, local Jew suffering from a severe mental disorder (probably schizophrenia) mental disorder which is likely exacerbated by alcohol
and
The Berner St club- a club serving alcohol to young, local Jewish males
and
Stride- a prostitute killed directly outside the Jewish club just a couple streets over from where the schizophrenic suspect was likely living. A murder that, seems it was not in the least "scouted out" properly (as it was interrupted) and the only murder in the series to occur on the south side of Whitechapel Rd.
Point 4:
I thinks it's very interesting that one of the few details we know about Kosminski and his illness relates to food. He was said to have refused to accept food from others. It is likely that he believed his illness was brought on by others attempting to poison his food. I believe this would not be totally unique amongst schizophrenic serial killers. The serial killer Richard Chase believed that the government was turning his blood to powder and he therefore resorted to drinking victims' blood.
As we know, JtR took internal organs from at least 3 victims. I personally believe he ate these organs as, what he believed, treatment for his illness. It is not uncommon for serial killers to take "souvenirs" from victims such as rings, watches, ID cards, etc. but internal organs are persishable. There would be no long term reasoning to take them unless he was eating them.
Now many want to argue that Kosminski could not possibly have been JtR because he was 1) docile upon incarceration and 2) would've appeared too outwardly mentally ill to have gained the trust of prostitute. I have always found these arguments to be quite ridiculous and both can be easily debunked by the infamous Jeffrey Dahmer. It is a known fact that Dahmer was diagnosed with a schizo-typal disorder as well as a psychotic disorder. Yet Dahmer appeared outwardly normal and was able to easily gain the trust and entice men to his apartment. In fact, Dahmer would have likely ended with an even higher victim count if he had not become so sloppy. He had half the residence complex stunk up with decomposing bodies, yet appeared outwardly normal enough to not raise any suspicion about his crimes.
Dahmer was a torturer, killer, and cannibal. Yet he became a model prisoner even though he, in prison, would have literally been surrounded by his targeted victim base...young men, homosexual or straight. Sure, he would have received treatment for his illnesses but the fact remains that he was still surrounded by his preferred victim base and never once acted out on it in prison.
Kosminski on the other hand, was surely medicated to a degree, but would not have received any type of proper treatment for schizophrenia that modern medicine could provide. But aside from that, Kosminski would have been completely removed from his preferred victim base...females, and specifically female prostitutes. With these triggers removed, there is no great reason to assume that Kosminski would have continued to behave violently, even if his illness were not properly treated.
Also, in the asylum, Kosminski would have been forced to either eat the provided food or starve. He probably gradually came to realize that food was at least not solely responsible for his illness. It would be interesting to know if at any time during his incarceration, Kosminski resorted to eating insects and/or other small animals.
I'm not saying here that Kosminski can definitively be proven to have been JtR. But there certainly a lot of interesting circumstances surrounding him. What I can definitely say is that there literally NOTHING that should have him so readily dismissed as a suspect as so many wish to do.
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