Is Kosminski still the best suspect we have?

[PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR 1]

If the perp isn't Kosminski then he's someone like Kosminski - working class, local, mental health issues, locked up somewhere or died soon after the murders and possibly Jewish. The identification alone makes him our best suspect by far. I'm not for a moment suggesting this identification isn't without problems.

The main problem being that there is no evidence that it ever happened.

[jason_c]

If the perp isn't Kosminski then he's someone like Kosminski - working class, local, mental health issues, locked up somewhere or died soon after the murders and possibly Jewish. The identification alone makes him our best suspect by far. I'm not for a moment suggesting this identification isn't without problems.

[Abby Normal]

There is a full chapter on the marginalia and its flaws, to be found in my book "Jack the Ripper the real truth" to much to post on here

https://www.trevormarriott.co.uk

trevor do you still have any of those coffee mugs with "UNSAFE" emblazoned on them? id be interested in one of those for sure.

[Trevor Marriott]

When I looked at it a long while back, my hunch was/is that there is something not quite right with the marginalia, and so I didn't take it for granted.

Has there been any further developments in assessing the marginalia, in particular has anything come to light that reasonably diminishes its credibility?

There is a full chapter on the marginalia and its flaws, to be found in my book "Jack the Ripper the real truth" to much to post on here

https://www.trevormarriott.co.uk

[Wickerman]

Profilers help suspect identification; We are discussing suspects here.

OK, so they should look for an 'Adult', - great choice!

And, possibly a working-class male, who knows the area, and lives within walking distance - that should narrow it down.
(Doubt the trams & trains even ran at that time of night)

And then, can be eccentric? - in what, attire?, mannerisms?, is this because of Hutchinson's suspect?

And possibly anti-social? - When?......Except, when soliciting his victim. Then, he needs to be very likable, very pleasant, win them over.

So, nothing about any mental problems?, - must have been your average disgruntled British insomniac?

[Scorpio]

Profilers help suspect identification; We are discussing suspects here.

[Wickerman]

I am with the FBI on this one: Adult, working class male familiar with geography and culture, lives within walking distance of crime scenes, eccentric and possible anti social habits. If its not Aaron then its someone similar.

Do you recall any cases where FBI Profiling caught anyone?

[Wickerman]

He did not have a 'good look at the suspect' as Cox.With Smith it is not mentioned he could identify the suspect again which is what was needed for identification.Whoever was the seaside witness was invalid.Only Cox could.

He was talking about the face (ie; "Did you see the man's face?") - meaning eyes, nose, moustache, details like that.
Cox faired little better - Blotchy face, Carroty moustache.
It is the facts that we should be concerned with - like why was Smith's description published, and Cox's was not?
The decision rests with Scotland Yard.

[Scorpio]

I am with the FBI on this one: Adult, working class male familiar with geography and culture, lives within walking distance of crime scenes, eccentric and possible anti social habits. If its not Aaron then its someone similar.

[Varqm]

Sorry Varqm, I don't understand what that means.
PC Smith was an eye witness, his description is not "what the police thought".
We don't have the actual testimony from the Stride inquest, all we have are press versions of it.
A police release of a description is the genuine article.

He did not have a 'good look at the suspect' as Cox.With Smith it is not mentioned he could identify the suspect again which is what was needed for identification.Whoever was the seaside witness was invalid.Only Cox could.

[Wickerman]

But we have to go by their testimonies not what the police thought.There was some bias against woman.?......

Sorry Varqm, I don't understand what that means.
PC Smith was an eye witness, his description is not "what the police thought".
We don't have the actual testimony from the Stride inquest, all we have are press versions of it.
A police release of a description is the genuine article.

[Varqm]

Smith provided enough detail for the police to release this description.
Which is more than we get from Cox, plus, the description she gave was never officially released as a 'wanted' suspect.


"At 12.35 a.m., 30th September, with Elizabeth Stride, found murdered at one a.m., same date, in Berner-street - A man, aged 28, height 5ft 8in, complexion dark, small dark moustache; dress, black diagonal coat, hard felt hat, collar and tie; respectable appearance; carried a parcel wrapped up in a newspaper.

"Information to be forwarded to the Metropolitan Police Office, Great Scotland-yard London, S.W.

But we have to go by their testimonies not what the police thought.There was some bias against woman.? In the timeline of the murders,Cox was further,but Hutchinson derailed them.

[John Wheat]

I must admit, when I wrote it at the time I knew it was a loaded question And Kosminski is not my preferred suspect (if I had one).

However, he is a named suspect who official sources tell us was positively identified but escaped justice on a technicality.

We can question the validity of those claims and Kosminski's suitability, but we can't say this about any other suspect.

But how is Kosminski the best suspect when he's not even your top suspect? Also we don't even know if we are looking at the right man in Aaron Kosminski.

Cheers John

[Wickerman]

Smith said he did not notice him much.Cox on the other hand could identify him again.

Smith provided enough detail for the police to release this description.
Which is more than we get from Cox, plus, the description she gave was never officially released as a 'wanted' suspect.


"At 12.35 a.m., 30th September, with Elizabeth Stride, found murdered at one a.m., same date, in Berner-street - A man, aged 28, height 5ft 8in, complexion dark, small dark moustache; dress, black diagonal coat, hard felt hat, collar and tie; respectable appearance; carried a parcel wrapped up in a newspaper.

"Information to be forwarded to the Metropolitan Police Office, Great Scotland-yard London, S.W.

[Varqm]

Macnaghten, in my opinion, had confused the two murders.

In the initial draft of his Memorandum he talks about three Jews interrupting him in Berner St.
Confusing the three Jews - Lawende & Co., with Diemschitz, who was alone.
So, his "City PC in Mitre Sq", may have been PC Smith in Berner St.
The man PC Smith saw was a genuine suspect, the police published his description in the press.

Macnaghten is bound to support a police constable's sighting of a suspect, in preference to a regular citizen (Cox, Long, Hutchinson).

Smith said he did not notice him much.Cox on the other hand could identify him again.