My theory on Kosminski

[c.d.]

"It must have taken a lot of backbone to stand up to the pressure police likely used."

I agree and that is precisely why I think Anderson was blowing smoke out of his behind. I think it much more likely that the witness (whoever it was) simply couldn't be certain about his identification and that Anderson made up or greatly exaggerated the reason to save face.

c.d.

[Paddy]

I'll go further: I believe Schwartz was the witness police took to the Seaside Home hoping he would identify Kosminski as the Ripper. He did identify Kosminski as the man who assaulted Stride, but he refused to swear to it because he believed (correctly) that police would use his identification to charge Kosminski with being the Ripper. It must have taken a lot of backbone to stand up to the pressure police likely used.

It would make it awfully difficult to be sure if a mans life would be taken on ones decision. Could it have been a family member I wonder. Maybe Matilda?

Pat................

[Abby Normal]

He was a fellow by the name of Israel Schwartz. He had a good look at Kosminski when he was giving Liz Stride a rough time, and like a good witness he provided a full description to police: Age about 30, 5'5" tall, dark hair, small brown mustache, full face, broad shouldered, etc. Of course, many have tried to question Schwartz's story and doubt the broad shouldered man was Kosminski, totally ignoring the fact that Berner St. was the usual route Kosminski took to reach his home at that time, which was only two blocks from the scene. By the way, I don't think Kosminski was Jack the Ripper, but I think Jack saw the scuffle with Stride and stepped in after Kosminski left.

I'll go further: I believe Schwartz was the witness police took to the Seaside Home hoping he would identify Kosminski as the Ripper. He did identify Kosminski as the man who assaulted Stride, but he refused to swear to it because he believed (correctly) that police would use his identification to charge Kosminski with being the Ripper. It must have taken a lot of backbone to stand up to the pressure police likely used.

Dr. John

hi Dr
Interesting. thanks for expounding.

[Paddy]

I often wonder if the chap that my Henry Cox followed was Kosminski or Pizer as both were in St George in the East and had a Brother that looked out for them.
Pat.......

[Paddy]

Hi John.

Although I agree Scwartz stated to the police that he saw the chap with Liz Stride not long before she was murdered, We dont know that it was Kosminski.
Yes Aaron possibly lived very near but without proof we cant know.
Unfortunately.
Finding Schwartz and seeing if any info was passed down to family might help.

Pat..........

[Dr. John Watson]

and who was that?

He was a fellow by the name of Israel Schwartz. He had a good look at Kosminski when he was giving Liz Stride a rough time, and like a good witness he provided a full description to police: Age about 30, 5'5" tall, dark hair, small brown mustache, full face, broad shouldered, etc. Of course, many have tried to question Schwartz's story and doubt the broad shouldered man was Kosminski, totally ignoring the fact that Berner St. was the usual route Kosminski took to reach his home at that time, which was only two blocks from the scene. By the way, I don't think Kosminski was Jack the Ripper, but I think Jack saw the scuffle with Stride and stepped in after Kosminski left.

I'll go further: I believe Schwartz was the witness police took to the Seaside Home hoping he would identify Kosminski as the Ripper. He did identify Kosminski as the man who assaulted Stride, but he refused to swear to it because he believed (correctly) that police would use his identification to charge Kosminski with being the Ripper. It must have taken a lot of backbone to stand up to the pressure police likely used.

Dr. John

[Abby Normal]

According to at least one eyewitness, Kosminski had "broad shoulders."

John

and who was that?

[Dr. John Watson]

Someone did see Kosminski.

According to at least one eyewitness, Kosminski had "broad shoulders."

John

[Paddy]

But how do we know he was such a mess then Abby ?
He could have been a loner that was supported by his family. It appears the family were doing well.

I am sure they would have supported him with the strong Jewish family ethic that one reads about. But maybe when they could take no more he was passed over to Jewish Board of Guardians and finally to the workhouse as destitute. His Mania might have only got worse in the following year.

I dont know if he was Jack and would love to prove he was not. I see him as someone who could not mix and got worse under stress. Maybe when he drunk he went over the top?

Might be totally wrong though.

Pat ......

[Abby Normal]

Are there any known photographs, or a good description of Aaron Kosminski? All I know about him is that he was Jewish and about 30 years old at the time of the murders. How does he stack up with other descriptions of the supposed killer?

Busy Beaver

Hi Busy
there is not, nor a detailed physical description. So cant really be ruled out by witness descriptions.

However, I think he probably was too much of a mess, appearance wise as well as behavior, to be the ripper. "hadn't attempted work in years" is the trigger here. and probably had no money to show them either.

I think even drunk desperate prostitutes wouldn't have gone off with him.

[Paddy]

Are there any known photographs, or a good description of Aaron Kosminski? All I know about him is that he was Jewish and about 30 years old at the time of the murders. How does he stack up with other descriptions of the supposed killer?

I dont believe that there is. Going on the family portraits they look more Germanic than Jewish. His sister Matilda and her husband appear to have light coloured eyes. Also his other sister and her family are not dark in appearance. Jacob Cohens daughter is fair. But who knows, he may have taken after a different side of the family...

Pat

[Herlock Sholmes]

Hi BB,

There’s definately no photograph of Kosminski. I remember a few years ago a researcher thought that he’d found a photograph (I believe that it was in asylum records,) but it came to nothing. The chances of finding a photograph of Kosminski at this distance of time is vanishingly small unfortunately. Not completely impossible though

[Busy Beaver]

Are there any known photographs, or a good description of Aaron Kosminski? All I know about him is that he was Jewish and about 30 years old at the time of the murders. How does he stack up with other descriptions of the supposed killer?

Busy Beaver

[Paddy]

One of these was crossed out but said that Aaron stated that he was under the protection of the Russian Consulate."

The impression I got was that they crossed it out because they maybe were only supposed to put in general condition notes. To do with there stay in there ie. condition fair, ate dinner, bit hyperactive today, Attacked staff with a chair. That sort of thing.
When I worked the notes left each day were to inform the following staff.

I will check to see what else was said about him that day, but I don't remember them writing he was delusional...

Pat........

[rjpalmer]

"One of these was crossed out but said that Aaron stated that he was under the protection of the Russian Consulate."

If this was merely a delusion on Kosminski's part, why was it crossed out? Wouldn't the delusion be an important feature of his symptoms?