Kosminski vs Charles Cross

[Geddy2112]

If it was down to just these two options who would be the best bet for the Ripper. More importantly WHY?

(Can be Aaron or Anderson's suspect if you prefer.)

[Lewis C]

Anderson's suspect is definitely a better suspect than Aaron Kosminski, because Anderson's suspect includes the possibility of Aaron being the Ripper, and also includes additional possibilities. But even Aaron is a better suspect than Cross. Just the reasonable possibility of Aaron being Anderson's suspect is enough to make him a better suspect than Cross. I don't find anything about Cross' discovery of Nichols' body to be at all suspicious, or anything that he did afterward. Cross did walk through the area where the murders occurred on the way to and from work, but Aaron lived in that area.

[Herlock Sholmes]

If Aaron Kosminski were a one-legged, blind dwarf living in Manchester at the time of the murders he would still be a better suspect than Cross.

[Doctored Whatsit]

Anderson himself is probably a better suspect than Cross!

[Fiver]

Anderson himself is probably a better suspect than Cross!

Anderson was originally named as part of the Royal Conspiracy in the 1970s, but was replaced by Walter Sickert when it was found that Anderson wasn't in England for some of the murders. It would later be shown that Sickert also wasn't in England for some of the murders.

[Geddy2112]

But apart from being named by Anderson is there anything else to point to (a) Kosminski?

[John Wheat]

Kosminski is a much better suspect than Lechmere but overrated as a suspect.

[Geddy2112]

Kosminski is a much better suspect than Lechmere but overrated as a suspect.

Yes John, but why?

[Lewis C]

But apart from being named by Anderson is there anything else to point to (a) Kosminski?

He lived in the heart of the area where the murders occurred. He also was insane, although some would argue that The Ripper most likely wasn't insane.

[Geddy2112]

He lived in the heart of the area where the murders occurred. He also was insane, although some would argue that The Ripper most likely wasn't insane.

Hi Lewis,
Indeed, it's not much though is it. I mean many 100s lived in that area and like you said 'insanity' was probably not a qualifying attribute to being the Ripper. I know why Cross is a poor candidate however I'm being to wonder why so many fancy Kosminski.

[Lewis C]

Hi Lewis,
Indeed, it's not much though is it. I mean many 100s lived in that area and like you said 'insanity' was probably not a qualifying attribute to being the Ripper. I know why Cross is a poor candidate however I'm being to wonder why so many fancy Kosminski.

Hi Geddy,

I think that the strong possibility of him being Anderson's suspect is by far the main reason he's a highly regarded suspect.

[Scott Nelson]

The witness who identified him but refused to proceed with the testimony that would have brought him to trial. What did the witness see?

What did the witness know?

[Sam Flynn]

But apart from being named by Anderson

I don't believe he was. He was named by Macnaghten as one of three more likely Ripper suspects than Thomas Cutbush (but he also named Druitt and Ostrog... go figure), and by whoever wrote the Swanson Marginalia.