My theory on Kosminski

[Darryl Kenyon]

Yes, it is interesting that a senior officer, Macnaghten believed Kosminski to be alive in 1894, but a year later another senior officer, Swanson believed him to be dead. I assume that Swanson would know, and possibly have read the Mac Memorandum, so what could have happened to make him think differently ?

[S.Brett]

I can well imagine that the police (Anderson) did communicate to Colney Hatch in the following months after Kosminski´s addmission.

It might be possible that Kosminski fell into a serious crisis during the first months in Colney Hatch. But there were no records between April 1891 and January 1892 if I am right.

If Kosminski had been seriously ill during this time, in critical condition, Anderson would have known about it. Who knows, perhaps the doctors thought he would die... but Kosminski was lucky and survived this condition...? At this point, would a man like Anderson stop to make further inquiries?

Macnaghten 1894: He was (and I believe still is) detained in a lunatic asylum about March 1889

One can get the impression that the Kosminski file was "closed" after he was removed to an asylum about March 1889, and that the Seaside Home ID took place later, rather "off the record".

Maybe Macnaghten thought that Kosminski was an in&out patient of the same asylum he was detained about March 1889, and still alive in 1894. Maybe Anderson thought Kosminski is now dead and Swanson believed him and told the Pall Mall Gazette 1895 his core belief:

Mr Swanson believed the crimes to be the work of a man who is now dead.

Who knows... I have to guess... nothing more than speculation

[Darryl Kenyon]

Of course, Swanson´s died shortly afterwards is another story...
I find it interesting that Kosminski was moved from Colney Hatch to Leavesden in 1894 and a year later Swanson believes him to be dead. In the Colney Hatch records - Date of discharge, removal or Death 19.4.94. could there have been a bureaucratic **** up and somebody told the police that Kosminski was now dead, if say there was just a cursory check up, or maybe when he was taken to Leavesden the family bribed an official to tell the police that

[S.Brett]

Sims:

The first man was a Polish Jew... The policeman who got a glimpse of Jack in Mitre Court said, when some time afterwards he saw the Pole, that he was the height and build of the man he had seen on the night of the murder...

The second man was a Russian doctor...

They were both alive long after the horrors had ceased, and though both were in an asylum, there had been a considerable time after the cessation of the Ripper crimes during which they were at liberty and passing about among their fellow men.

I think it is clear, Sims talked about Kosminski and Ostrog. I am interested in David Cohen as the "Kosminski" suspect but David Cohen was not released. He already died on 15 October 1889.

Regarding Colney Hatch, besides David Cohen and Aaron Kozminski I can´t see another candidate for Kosminski.

Between Macnaghten´s about March 1889 and Aaron Kozminski´s admission to Colney Hatch in February 1891 was enough time for at liberty and passing about among his fellow men.

Of course, Swanson´s died shortly afterwards is another story...

[S.Brett]

I think Isaac Abrahams wife Bertha? is interesting because with her first few children, they had mothers maiden name of Cohen and later the mothers name changed to Levy.
Cant find Isaacs marriage either...

Hi Pat!

Yes, it would be nice more to know about Bertha Cohen.

Soloman & Annie Lewis, nee Lachman, Shoemaker, 5a Black Lion Yard from Kolo

From my older notes (maybe I have already mentioned it earlier)

1891 Moritz & Nahra Steinkel, Barber, 4 Black Lion Yard from Klodawa (Birthplace of Aaron Kozminski)

1891 Morris & Jane Frankel, Tailor, 11 Black Lion Yard from Fllodawa (Klodawa)

1891 Betsy Frankel, 10 Tewkesbury Buildings, Whitechapel from Koulish (Kalisz)

Were the Cohen/ Kozminkis also related to the Steinkel and Frankel? The names of Lachman (n), Blechert, Frankel and Steinkel sound German.

A while ago I found (Old Bailey 1913) a Louis Frankel, Butcher at 58 Aldgate High Street/ Butchers Row (in 1888 George Bullas was the tenant) and at 1 The Shambles. But I found no connection to the Frankel from Klodawa/ Kalish.

Perhaps you may find some more about these people.

Have a nice weekend,

Karsten.

[John Wheat]

It needs to be stated that the Kosminski being talked about on this thread might not actually be the Kosminski the contemporary police suspected.

[John Wheat]

There’s no “proving” any suspect is JTR at this point. My comments is about the “weak suspect” comment.

Kosminski was:
1. Violent to some extent
2. Mentally ill
3. Lived in the immediate area
4. Suspected by several top police officials

That actually makes him a very strong suspect, certainly not a weak one. The fact that the police didn’t catch him red handed, which is pretty much what it would have taken before even fingerprint evidence, that still doesn’t mean they didn’t have a pretty good idea about who the killer was

Very strong suspect compared to who?

[Paddy]

I think Isaac Abrahams wife Bertha? is interesting because with her first few children, they had mothers maiden name of Cohen and later the mothers name changed to Levy.
Cant find Isaacs marriage either...

Pat........

[Paddy]

Yes Karsten that is right about the family relationship of Aaron Kozminski and Jacob Cohen. I have discovered lots of relations inter-marrying. This is why I like to dig into relations and where they might have lived.

Another Annie Lachman who married a Soloman Lewis lived in 5a Black Lion Yard and he was a shoemakers finisher. Brother and sister to Hyman and Nelly Lewis. All born Kolo.

Regarding the attack on Sister and in the Asylum; If someone is mentally ill I dont think one knows if the attack would be carried out, but could well do. I dont think one can say they would or not but the threat is definitely there. In an Asylum there would have been restraint procedures in place. The family must have been worried about the attack on sister to commit him.

The police might have well suspected Kosminski but as Henry Cox said "One would have to catch him in the act of Murder"

Pat.......

[Wickerman]

As with most suspects (I'm tempted to say 'all'), it becomes necessary to stretch the truth to make them into Jack the Ripper, Kozminski is no different.
We need to look elsewhere.

[S.Brett]

Hi Pontius!

Whether he was violent for no reason, or violent due to his illness is completely irrelevant to the question of whether he was violent. The “background” very much lacks details but points out that he was violent twice. The police experts who had the opportunity to observe him and probably question him stated that he was violent. So unless you have some kind of background to prove that he was NOT violent, then he was violent

Colney Hatch: 1892 – Jan 9 – Incoherent, at times excited and violent – a few days ago he took up a chair and attempted to strike the charge attendant, apathetic as a rule, and refuses to occupy himself in any way : habits cleanly, health fan.

One could think that the chair-incident was an example for several violent incidents which took place before 9. January 1892. Of course, the notes show: Not dangerous to others and on the other hand he took up a knife & threatened the life of his sister. Maybe he was not violent and not dangerous to others when he was admitted to an infirmary or asylum. I can well imagine that a man like Aaron Kozminski did show signs of violence only after a while in Colney Hatch. Who knows, maybe he was able to hide his "homicidal tendencies" when he was confronted with police and doctors.

Swanson´s "the suspect with his hands tied behind his back" does not necessarily mean Kosminski was violent in that moment. Maybe his hands tied behind his back were safer than his hands in his trouser pockets- Keyword masturbation.

Macnaghten about "Kosminski": He had a great hatred of women, specially of the prostitute class, & had strong homicidal tendencies/ He had a great hatred of women, with strong homicidal tendencies (Aberconway Version)

Homicidal tendencies are also a form of violence, violence fantasies? If Aaron Kozminski is identical with "Kosminski" it is difficult to say whether his "attack" on his sister (or sister-in-law) was part of his strong homicidal tendencies or just a paranoid consternation.

If Aaron Kozminski was Jack the Ripper what do we expect from him in an asylum? Jack the Ripper killed prostitutes. As an inmate of an asylum, which signs of violence could such a man show? A man like the Ripper does not take a chair to strike another man? I think it isn´t right to rule out Aaron Kozminski as a Ripper suspect because he didn´t show signs of massive violence in Colney Hatch or Leavesden.

And don´t forget it seems that Aaron Kozminski was still able to speak in December 1889 and probably he was better functioning in 1888 than in the years 1889/ 1890. According to Jacob Cohen, Aaron Kozminski did work, approximately until 1887/88. From February 1891, at the latest, Aaron Kozminski lived in his own world. And this world had nothing to do with his life when he was 16, 18 or 20 years old. Metaphorically that means: If he was Jack the Ripper at the age of 22/23 he could not be the Ripper when he was 30 years old.

Karsten.

[Pontius2000]

Mentally ill people can have violent outbursts but you need much more to prove he was Jack. I don't claim to no more about him than the contemporary police all I pointed out is that the contemporary police didn't come close to catching Jack.

There’s no “proving” any suspect is JTR at this point. My comments is about the “weak suspect” comment.

Kosminski was:
1. Violent to some extent
2. Mentally ill
3. Lived in the immediate area
4. Suspected by several top police officials

That actually makes him a very strong suspect, certainly not a weak one. The fact that the police didn’t catch him red handed, which is pretty much what it would have taken before even fingerprint evidence, that still doesn’t mean they didn’t have a pretty good idea about who the killer was

[Pontius2000]

If you have the background details of these incidents. Evidence to show Kozminski was violent, and not simply protecting himself (due to his paranoia?), then please share what you know.




Mental illness takes many forms, like eating bread out of the gutter.
Is that a typical trait for a serial killer, in your view?

Whether he was violent for no reason, or violent due to his illness is completely irrelevant to the question of whether he was violent. The “background” very much lacks details but points out that he was violent twice. The police experts who had the opportunity to observe him and probably question him stated that he was violent. So unless you have some kind of background to prove that he was NOT violent, then he was violent

[S.Brett]

The family I was talking about possibly related to Jacobs mother is Haskiel / Hyman Lisiak / Lewis who married Necha Lachman b 1860 Kolo. Poland.
(sorry It wasnt Lipsich)
in 1891 they were living in 5 Princes place Whitechapel as Hyman and Nelly Lewis and children. One who was name Kasriel (Jacobs fathers name)

Thanks Pat!

Haskiel Lisiak and Necha, nee Lachman (1891 Hyman & Nelly Lewis, 5 Princes Place/ Whitechapel)

Children:

Kasriel

This Necha Lisiak (Nelly Lewis), nee Lachman could have been related to Ryfka Kozminski, nee Lachman

Kasriel Kozminski and Ryfka, nee Lachman

Children:

Betsy Abrahams (Woolf Abrahams´ Wife – brother of Aaron Kozminski)
Jacob Kozminski, later Jacob Cohen

The parents of this Kasriel Kozminski were Mosiek Kozminski & Rozalia Blechert, and Abram Kozminski (father of Aaron Kozminski, Matilda Lubnowski, Woolf Abrahams, Helen Singer, Bertha Held and Isaac Abrahams) was probably the brother of Mosiek Kozminski.

Jacob Cohen´ grandfather was Mosiek Kozminski, and Jacobs´ great uncle was Abram Kozminski, Aaron Kozminski´s father. And, maybe, Jacob Cohen had a close relationship to Nelly Lewis (Necha Lisiak) in 5 Princes Place/ Whitechapel, and like his mother Ryfka, Nelly´s (Necha) maiden name was Lachman.

As in the case of Matilda Kozminski (Lubnowski) (who married her cousin Morris Lubnowski) Woolf Abrahams/Kozminski married his own (second) cousin Betsy nee Kozminski, sister of Jacob Cohen (Kozminski).

Is there any information about Hyman Lewis´ occupation in 1891? Princes Place off Old Montague Street, between Bucks Row and Hanbury Street?

Did I understand all of this correctly?

Karsten.

[Paddy]

The family I was talking about possibly related to Jacobs mother is Haskiel / Hyman Lisiak / Lewis who married Necha Lachman b 1860 Kolo. Poland.
(sorry It wasnt Lipsich)
in 1891 they were living in 5 Princes place Whitechapel as Hyman and Nelly Lewis and children. One who was name Kasriel (Jacobs fathers name)

Pat