Is Kosminski the man really viable?

[Bridewell]

Aaron

Much debate about the fact that Aaron Kosminski is never mentioned. Fair enough - only the surname Kosminski is given in both the MacNaghten Memoranda & the Swanson Marginalia.

MacNaghten says of his Kosminski: "Polish Jew, resident in Whitechapel"

Swanson says Anderson's suspect ended up in Colney Hatch via Stepney Workhouse.

If we accept that Kosminski had a first name then it may, or may not, have been Aaron, but there was a first name. No-one has to accept that the Kosminski named by both MacNaghten and Swanson was named Aaron. No-one is an exact fit. However, anyone who insists that Aaron must be absolved of guilt might perhaps give an indication as to which Kosminskis are a better fit than (or even nearly as good a fit as) Aaron - and why.

For the record, I don't think, on the balance of probabilities, that Aaron Kosminski was the Ripper. I do think though, on the same basis, that he was Anderson's suspect unless, and until, a better candidate is presented.

Regards, Bridewell

[Fisherman]

Roy C:

"why didn't you say that in the first place, and forego your other 93 posts?"

But then you would miss all the suspense, would you not?

The best,
Fisherman

[Roy Corduroy]

Breaking News !

What you said on the other thread, Fish -

Charles Lechmere has Aaron Kosminski well and truly beaten!

Doggonit Fish, why didn't you say that in the first place, and forego your other 93 posts?

Roy

[Robert]

There was Scott Nelson's Isaac Kosminski, but he isn't as good a fit as Aaron.

[Fisherman]

Jenni Shelden:

"there is evidence"

There is, indeed! Clear and unambiguos evidence that three senior officers regarded him as a suspect (one did NOT name him, in fact, and NONE named Aaron Kosminski).

That is what there is evidence of. Likewise, there is evidence that Ostrog, Druitt, Issenschmidt, Sadler, Pizer and a few more were named by policemen back in 1888. In neither case does that evidence go to show that these men were good or even justified suspects.

The best,
Fisherman

[Casebook Wiki Editor]

they didnt name your mama

Not yet. But the thread hasn't built to a crescendo yet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dozens

[Ally]

He was a prodigy Chris. A prodigy.

[Chris]

Oh Phil's got it entirely right. It was in fact that other insane Polish Jew BOB Kosminski that all the officers were talking about.

Bob Kosminski people. I broke the news first.

Strangely enough, Aaron did have a nephew who was known as Bob. But before Phil gets too excited I should add that he was only nine at the time of the murders.

[Ally]

Oh Phil's got it entirely right. It was in fact that other insane Polish Jew BOB Kosminski that all the officers were talking about.

Bob Kosminski people. I broke the news first.

[Jenni Shelden]

there is evidence
whether or not we like it, or whether or not at present we feel it is enough t convict him, three sneior officers named him. That is evidence.

they didnt name your mama

[m_w_r]

Hi Phil C,

There was once a time when all we knew of Druitt's identity was that his initials were M.J.D. Even the Macnaghten Memoranda refer to him only as M.J. Druitt. How, in your view, do these facts affect our understanding of the candidacy of Montague John Druitt?

Regards,

Mark

[Simon Wood]

Hi All,

Interesting that neither Macnaghten nor Swanson provided Kosminski's given name.

Regards,

Simon

[robhouse]

..........

[Phil Carter]

There is conclusive evidence that three retired police officials suspected a Jewish man named "Kosminski" of being Jack the Ripper. The evidence is anecdotal, in the form of personal recollections, and not recorded as official reports. The earliest, by Melville Macnaghton, first appeared in published form in 1894; the remaining writings, by Sir Robert Anderson and by Donald Swanson, appeared some years subsequent to 1894. Similarities in their sketchy descriptions of "Kosminski" make it clear they are all referring to the same individual. Later investigations by Ripper experts, comparing the "Kosminski" described by these officials with contemporary candidates, have determined that a Polish Jew named Aaron Kosminski is most likely the man named as a suspect by Macnaghton, Anderson and Swanson.

Aside from these anecdotal writings, extensive efforts have failed to discover any contemporary document referring to anyone named "Kosminski" in connection with the Ripper case. No police record, report or circular referring to a suspect named "Kosminski" has been found to exist. No correspondence mentioning "Kosminski" as a person of interest has been found. His name is not found on a list of Ripper "suspect" files (MEPO 3/141 32-135) once maintained by Metropolitan Police and now gone missing. No contemporary newspaper article has been found in which anyone named "Kosminski" is mentioned in connection with the crimes. No other police personnel associated with the Ripper investigation has identified anyone named "Kosminski" as a suspect in the murders. In short, no evidence of any kind, documentary or otherwise, contemporary or otherwise, has been found linking anyone named "Kosminski" with the Ripper murders.

Thus, it is a provable fact that three retired police officials identified in writing a man named "Kosminski" as a suspect in the Ripper murders, however not a shread of evidence has been found to corroborate their assertion.

John

(my emphasis)

Hello John,

Thank you. And even less connecting Aaron Kosminski with the crimes. Or the 3 police officers that stated the ball rolling in the first place.

best wishes

Phil

[Dr. John Watson]

To Be (a suspect) or Not to Be

There is conclusive evidence that three retired police officials suspected a Jewish man named "Kosminski" of being Jack the Ripper. The evidence is anecdotal, in the form of personal recollections, and not recorded as official reports. The earliest, by Melville Macnaghton, first appeared in published form in 1894; the remaining writings, by Sir Robert Anderson and by Donald Swanson, appeared some years subsequent to 1894. Similarities in their sketchy descriptions of "Kosminski" make it clear they are all referring to the same individual. Later investigations by Ripper experts, comparing the "Kosminski" described by these officials with contemporary candidates, have determined that a Polish Jew named Aaron Kosminski is most likely the man named as a suspect by Macnaghton, Anderson and Swanson.

Aside from these anecdotal writings, extensive efforts have failed to discover any contemporary document referring to anyone named "Kosminski" in connection with the Ripper case. No police record, report or circular referring to a suspect named "Kosminski" has been found to exist. No correspondence mentioning "Kosminski" as a person of interest has been found. His name is not found on a list of Ripper "suspect" files (MEPO 3/141 32-135) once maintained by Metropolitan Police and now gone missing. No contemporary newspaper article has been found in which anyone named "Kosminski" is mentioned in connection with the crimes. No other police personnel associated with the Ripper investigation has identified anyone named "Kosminski" as a suspect in the murders. In short, no evidence of any kind, documentary or otherwise, contemporary or otherwise, has been found linking anyone named "Kosminski" with the Ripper murders.

Thus, it is a provable fact that three retired police officials identified in writing a man named "Kosminski" as a suspect in the Ripper murders, however not a shread of evidence has been found to corroborate their assertion.

John