Is Kosminski still the best suspect we have?

[Sam Flynn]

And Kosminski is virtually the only suspect there is contemporary evidence against. We have his "identification".

The Swanson Marginalia, in which the information about the "identification" appears, aren't exactly contemporary with the crimes.

[John Malcolm]

Not only do I think Kosminski is the "best" suspect, I think he is the only person named so far that there is any case at all for. The biggest problem for his candidacy is that he doesn't fit the image of what the vast majority of theorists and enthusiasts have imagined all these years.

One thing that seems to be forgotten when speaking of Aaron K. is the fact that there are indeed records beyond threatening his sister with a knife that indicate a violent disposition even after his incarceration. (Not that it really matters though- for example Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer were both model prisoners. And, although he wasn't a serial killer, I don't recall any violent incidents at Broadmoor with Ron Kray after his committal.) For the record, while at Colney Hatch, Aaron "took up a chair, and attempted to strike the charge attendant"; and also, from the same note, in 1892: "at times excited and violent". So, if you are saying he was entirely "harmless", that's an argument you can throw out the window.

[Elamarna]

Well none of the suspects are good IMHO. Even my favored blotchy and hutch. They are all weak suspects, some are just less weak than others.

Abby,

Agree 100% .

Always say there are no probables , just lots of possibles, some of who are much stronger than others. however there are none a solid case can be made against.


Steve

[Abby Normal]

Quite so Steve.
Much of the mystique about this killer stems from our lack of knowledge of what happened, and the fact no-one appears to have seen him come & go.
I strongly doubt that is warranted. I would sooner believe he was seen, coming or going, or in the company of a victim, but those who could have shed light on these crimes were reluctant to come forward.

In a close-knit society like the East End you learn at a very young age to keep your nose out of other peoples business. The police were still not trusted by many, and pointing the finger at someone could have very real repercussions for people who already live on the edge of existence.

Anyhow, I don't see Kosminski as a good suspect at all.

Well none of the suspects are good IMHO. Even my favored blotchy and hutch. They are all weak suspects, some are just less weak than others.

[jason_c]

Dr John

I would argue that "Jack" was not a clever psychopath at all.


The statement about not a shred of evidence is not entirely accurate is it?

I mean , and I accept it is very, very circumstantial, but is he not one of only two suspects who lived next to or at one of the sites at some stage in their life?

Barnett with Miuller's court and Koz next door to Dutfield's yard.

While I understand what you mean, we should not give the impression that there is nothing to tie him to any of the sites.

Indeed a recent trend has been to accept him as a possible killer of Stride , but not the killer of the others.awe do need to be accurate.


all the best

Steve

And Kosminski is virtually the only suspect there is contemporary evidence against. We have his "identification". Now, im willing to admit his identification is far from perfect, and we have it's details only at second hand. However, the limited evidence there is against Kosminski is probably weightier than every other piece of evidence against all modern suspects combined. We have a witness, no matter how sketchy, who places him at a murder site. Unlike Lechmere Kosminski did not come forward to explain why he was at a murder site that night.

Again, im not for a moment suggesting we have solid evidence to prove Kosminski was the murderer, but he is certainly a highly plausible suspect. And in the case of the mess that is suspects in the JtR case a plausible suspect is good solid suspect.