My theory on Kosminski

[Harry D]

Exactly as there is no detailed recording of the incident we don't know how serious Kosminski was in this threat. I still think he's a poor suspect.

If we don't know the context of this incident, we can't state definitively that Kosminski had no history of violence.

[John Wheat]

Was it a defensive posture - "don't come near me", or was it aggressive, "I'll rip you up"?

We need to know whether Kosminski felt threatened, or felt like killing.

Exactly as there is no detailed recording of the incident we don't know how serious Kosminski was in this threat. I still think he's a poor suspect.

[Wickerman]

Threatening his sister with a knife?

Was it a defensive posture - "don't come near me", or was it aggressive, "I'll rip you up"?

We need to know whether Kosminski felt threatened, or felt like killing.

[Harry D]

So what? There's no evidence of Kosminski being violent at any point.

Threatening his sister with a knife?

[John Wheat]

Police officials who actually met and had firsthand knowledge of him felt otherwise. He’s therefore a strong suspect.

So what? There's no evidence of Kosminski being violent at any point.

[Patrick S]

After recently re-reading Tom Wescott's first book, I have become almost completely convinced that Emma Smith and Martha Tabram were JtR murders.

I have always believed rather strongly that Tabram is a Ripper victim. As well, I believe that Smith is not, even though - geographically - its a perfect fit.

Leaving aside the obvious: that Smith survived the attack; her own statement that she was attacked by three or four youths; that fact that she suffered - and eventually died from - bleeding resultant from a torn perineum inflicted by a blunt object. It is possible, that her killer's inexperience allowed Smith to survive; that that the killer evolved, replacing the blunt object with a knife; that Smith lied about the number and nature of her attackers in order to distract from her having been soliciting, the actual attacker being her (prospective) client, some guy named Jack, perhaps.

What stood out to me initially is the time elapsed between the attack on Smith and Tabram's murder:

Smith attacked.
126 days.
Tabram killed.
24 days.
Nichols killed.
8 days.
Chapman killed.
22 days.
Stride and Eddowes killed.
40 days.
Kelly killed.

It can be argued, obviously, that since Smith survived, the killer was spooked, laid low, stifled his compulsions out of fear. Alas, that duration's always seemed to lie too far outside the timeframe - for me - to have been "Jack".


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

Interesting points, and consistent with some observations I made months back on another thread, having just visited the murder sites for the first time. It felt to me as if George Yard and Goulston Street - separated by less than some 800 feet - were an epicenter of sorts.

If we - just for fun - consider Tabram victim #1 and - also just for fun - believe that "Jack" killed his first victim close to "home". Perhaps we go so far as to imagine that he knew Tabram by sight and/or reputation if not by name. An interesting narrative can be imagined.

A near square can be drawn in mapping Buck's Row, 29 Hanbury Street, Berner Street, Mitre Square, and Miller's Court, with George Yard Buildings located very near the center of that square. As I said, the entrance to Wentworth Model Dwellings in Goulston Street is about a 5-wood (800 feet) from the spot where Tabram was killed. I find it interesting (and perhaps significant) that one can map this perimeter, and that two relevant sites (a third if we believe Smith was a victim and include the spot on which she was attacked) can found within it: George Yard, near it's center, and Goulston Street, 800 feet to the west.

Perhaps the proximity of Eddowes' apron in Goulston Street may indicate it was left by her killer as he made his way home, to somewhere near (or in) George Yard which was, as I mentioned, only 800 feet from the spot upon which the apron was found. Did he live in Goulston Street (perhaps IN Wentworth Model Dwellings)?

Who knows? But, as I say, one can imagine. If only for fun.

My thoughts above bold.

[Pontius2000]

I have theory on Kosminski. He was a harmless man. Therefore he's a very weak Ripper suspect.

Police officials who actually met and had firsthand knowledge of him felt otherwise. He’s therefore a strong suspect.

[John Wheat]

I have theory on Kosminski. He was a harmless man. Therefore he's a very weak Ripper suspect.

[Harry D]

I have been away from my JTR studies for a while due to illness. What has been the disposition of the shawl purportedly with Kosminski's DNA on it (as put forth in the book "Naming Jack the Ripper") and the "Diary of Jack the Ripper" purportedly written by James Maybrick. Have they been officially debunked? Speaking of Maybrick, what has been the response of the JTR community to Bruce Robinson's theory that Michael Maybrick was JTR?

The provenance was a mess and the thing had been contaminated more than a New Jersey beach.

[GUT]

I have been away from my JTR studies for a while due to illness. What has been the disposition of the shawl purportedly with Kosminski's DNA on it (as put forth in the book "Naming Jack the Ripper") and the "Diary of Jack the Ripper" purportedly written by James Maybrick. Have they been officially debunked? Speaking of Maybrick, what has been the response of the JTR community to Bruce Robinson's theory that Michael Maybrick was JTR?

The shawl DNA totally destroyed, don’t think anyone is trying to stand up for it now, well Edwards might be.

Now Maybrick, many still defend it.

[Lenne P.]

The Kosminski Shawl and the Jack the Ripper Diary

I have been away from my JTR studies for a while due to illness. What has been the disposition of the shawl purportedly with Kosminski's DNA on it (as put forth in the book "Naming Jack the Ripper") and the "Diary of Jack the Ripper" purportedly written by James Maybrick. Have they been officially debunked? Speaking of Maybrick, what has been the response of the JTR community to Bruce Robinson's theory that Michael Maybrick was JTR?

[Robert]

Hi Pat

There's a reference in Rosie's death announcement to a niece Bessie Wall. I don't know where she fits in.

I see some of this was discussed in this thread :

http://forum.casebook.org/showthread.php?t=7434&page=7

RJ, I think Paddy is a Pat is a she.

[rjpalmer]

Thanks, gents. He doesn't sound too promising, but the link to the Imperial Club is interesting. He's also listed in the 1884 Business Directory of London:

Kozminski Daniel hairdresser 102 Houndsditch E

[Paddy]

Robert he went to Melbourne with wife on ship:Orsova in 1919 no daughter, maybe she married ?...

Pat

[Robert]

Thanks Pat. I saw a slight trace of him in Victoria but couldn't be sure.