Aaron Kosminski - Jack The Ripper Prime Suspect?

This is not a video about solving the Jack the Ripper case and providing a sensationalized account of events. Rather, it is an exploration of statements made by three of the Victorian Metropolitan Police’s highest ranking officers that Jack the Ripper was known to them. Two of them claimed that he had been sent to an asylum, and one said that he died there shortly after.

The video reveals what those the three officers - Sir Melville Macnaghten, Sir Robert Anderson and Chief Inspector Donald Sutherland Swanson - wrote about their prime suspect, who, according to Swanson, was a man by the name of Kosminski.

You will be able to peruse the documents in which theory recorded their thoughts and theories on the investigation and about Kosminski.

Although none of them gave his first name, in the 1980s author and researcher, Martin Fido, whilst combing the records to see if he could find an asylum inmate who was admitted around the time of the Jack the Ripper murders, unearthed a man by the name of Aaron Kosminski who was sent to Colney Hatch Asylum in February 1891.

The video reveals the known fact about Aaron Mordke Kosminski, before assessing the case against him, which hangs on the fact that Chief Inspector Swanson named a man named Kosminski.

You will hear the case for and against his guilt, but will be left to draw your own conclusions as to whether the case against him is a strong enough one to make him history’s most infamous murderer - Jack the Ripper.

[davidharris]

What a most excellent presentation. Sober, non-sensationalized and incredibly engaging.

[daisyjoyce]

Enjoyable, interesting video. How nice to have narrator with such a pleasant voice, who not only tells all, but is not fighting against dreadful loud music.

[DeidreL]

I’m so sorry for Mr Fido’s passing. May he Rest In Peace knowing he touched many lives.
This is excellently done, I’ve been listening intently and just wondering what secrets there are still hiding in some dusty suitcase somewhere…absolutely fascinating.

[Cyprusg]

The fact that Mcnaughton named Druitt and Ostrog as suspects tells me he didn't have the faintest clue who Jack the Ripper was. Given the sheer amount of criticism the police were receiving, it makes sense that he would claim to know Jack's identity to save some face.

[richardbaranowski]

Did anyone ever check for people named Abrahams that were incarcerated, died or committed to an asylum shortly after MJ Kelley's death? Maybe the Kosminski in the notes was Aaron's brother or some other relative of his that was still using Abrahams.

[tophers]

I used to be highly skeptical of Kosminski as the culprit as it seemed to be convenient. Over the years I've come to regard him as most likely to be the murderer.

[marshrabbit]

The eating bread from the gutter is very reminiscent of Jack London's description of homeless people eating dropped produce off the street in 'People Of The Abyss'. His lack of employment and even bathing also suggests homelessness. The auditory hallucinations and his concept of being guided could be indicative of paranoid schizophrenia.
I think Mary Janes Kelly would have to be pretty drunk to take this man back to her house for a song or two.

[jaw]

This is really great content. Thanks for these uploads. Anything you put out about other suspects would be greatly appreciated.

[Rollin_L]

Mr. Jones, well done as always. Your work on this topic is magnificent, and I've just scratched the surface. Having become familiar to a point with the late Mr. Fido's work as well, which you refer to here, it begs the question. Do you plan to report in more detail about Mr. Fido's suggestion about the Kaminski/Cohen figure, who seems to have a record more closely matching the descriptions from Macnaghten's and Swanson's notes re Colney Hatch? I understand that all suspects lack any hard evidence, but that line of inquiry I think deserves airing as well.

[stucody]

Absolutely fascinating. The use of the knife to threaten female relative is interesting. Funny how the attacks ended when one of the suspects was placed in the psychiatric hospital

[johndiamond]

I found your channel recently and every video that I have seen has been very informative and thought provoking.

[rwentfordable]

It's videos like this is the reason I don't bother with TV anymore.

[Anton-fwwb]

I think that Aaron Kosminski would be too much disorganised to be the notorious ripper. I am not an expert but I think that Jack the ripper was very organized and scrupulous. You have to imagine that he made his cuts in a total darkness. That time there was not flashlight. Then he was so smart to hide his traces. It is logic that for the police it was pure fortune. Pride of cathegory. Maybe he was not a doctor but for sure he knew what he was doing, where to put his hands; how to manage the prey. In addiction, no scream was heard by the neighbours. It means that everything was calculated. I know that serial killers like that, get excitment in planning their hunts in details.

[matthewwalker]

The thing with Aaron Kosminski is that I often hear people say that, whilst in Colney Hatch, he just did not exhibit the violence you would expect from the Ripper, he was not 'homicidal'. I would argue that is irrelevant as the Ripper's violence was very much aimed at defenceless women, not authorities - and if Aaron is the Ripper his attack on his sister would support that. The Ripper was more likely a bit of a coward, attacking those he saw as weaker than himself, and so Kosminski's behaviour in Colney Hatch and after doesn't really mean anything as to whether he had the capability to be Jack in my view

[JohnMcMahon.]

Maybe the other Kosminski was a relative of Aaron, both living in Whitechapel, possibly a brother.

[williamsandell]

I was wondering if Kosinski’s handwriting was tested against any of the letters sent to authorities.

[Themmcure]

There was a tv special back in 1988 where the FBI's top criminal profiler, an inspector from Scotland Yard, and a lady that was a judge on the "Queens Council" all came to the same conclusion, it was Kosminski. I saw it back then when I was a kid, but I think it's still on Youtube, it was a few years ago. But yeah I will defer to them.

[davestewart]

Amazing presentation as always. I always learn so much from your precise detailed work ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[fredflintstoner]

Mrs Richards: " I paid for a room with a view!"
Basil: (pointing to the lovely view) "That is Torquay, Madam."
Mrs Richards: "It's not good enough!"
Basil: "May I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window ? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically past?..."
Mrs Richards: "Don't be silly! I expect to be able to see the sea!"
Basil: "You can see the sea, it's over there between the land and the sky."
Mrs Richards: "I'm not satisfied. But I shall stay. But I expect a reduction."
Basil: "Why?! Because Krakatoa's not erupting at the moment?

[Robbie]

Thank you, your videos are amazing and i have found out more about the case on you channel, the all the rest put together, 👍🏻👍🏻