A new book titled Naming Jack The Ripper by Russell Edwards presents information that the author feels solves the famous Jack The Ripper case. The five murder-mutilations that occurred in London’s East End during 1888 have baffled criminologists for over a century. Several suspects have been identified but none have been proven to be the real Ripper. So who is Jack? According to Edwards, it’s Aaron Kosminski, a Polish immigrant who had “mental issues,” was 23 years old at the time of the killings, and who ultimately died in an insane asylum many years later at the age of 53. He never confessed or anything convenient like that, but he has long been one to the prime suspects.
So is he really Jack? Maybe. Here are some articles. Make up your own mind.
Independent UK: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/has-jack-the-rippers-identity-really-been-revealed-using-dna-evidence-9717036.html
Mirror UK: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jack-ripper-murder-mystery-solved-4177665
The Crime Fiction Writer's Blog 
LC Aisling
September 8, 2014 at 9:17 am
Although that would be a day for historians, it is kinda mundane reality checking in. 😦
LikeLike
Claire Burke
September 8, 2014 at 3:14 pm
Sorry, Mr. Edwards , you can brag all you like, but I’m afraid I think your claim that the mystery of
Jack the Ripper identity has been conclusively solved is nothing but a lot of hot air.
The first thing I take issue with is the fact your proof that Aaron Kosminski is the infamous murderer comes from the discovery of his DNA on the shawl allegedly belonging to Catherine Eddowes, victim number two. I have, of course, read the allegations by the Inquisitr of sample contamination. However, being no scientist, I can’t really take issue with Dr Jari Louhelainen’s conclusion that the two DNA samples are matches to both Mr. Kosminski and Catherine Eddowes. But it is rather the fact the DNA matching that of Kosinski was extracted from a semen deposit that gives me pause.
First and foremost, Catherine Eddowes was a prostitute; a woman who made her living by having sex with any man who would pay for the privilege. Therefore having semen stains on her clothing, albeit from a suspect in the Ripper murders, might only be an indication that she was successfully plying her trade and nothing more. In addition, although DNA analysis can reveal the identity of a person beyond a reasonable doubt, it cannot also tell us when that sample was deposited. Catherine Eddowes could very well have had sex with Mr. Kosminski earlier on night of her murder. Or, given the general lack of hygiene among the poor at the time, the semen stain could have been there for days or even weeks.
I also have another problem with your proof of culpability having been based on a semen sample. Had Kosminski ‘s semen been found at 13 Miller’s Court, the residence of Mary Ann Kelly, the Ripper’s last acknowledged victim, I would have found it much more compelling evidence of his guilt. The mutilations on that poor woman were the most extensive of those inflicted on any of the bodies of the Ripper’s known victims and it was also the only murder that took place inside a structure. From those two facts alone, it is apparent Ripper most likely felt safe enough from possible discovery to spend quite a bit of time at the scene; time enough to have had sex with Kelly before or after committing her murder.
However, I don’t believe that would have been the case with the Eddowes murder. For my money, Jack the Ripper was one smart cookie. Given that, I find it very hard to conceive of him being imprudent enough to risk detection by sticking around out there in the open for any extent of time longer than it took to murder and mutilate her. In any case, there is the statement given by PC Edward Williams, a beat cop patrolling the Mitre Square that night. According to Williams, he entered the square at 1:44 am and discovered Eddowes’ body lying there about one minute later at 1:45. He also said that he had previously been in the square at 1:30 am and her body had not been there at that time. If Williams is telling the truth then, I believe the Ripper had to be one of the luckiest murderers of all times. In a mere fifteen minute time window, he was able to not only encounter, subdue and kill Eddowes, but also carefully extract and arrange her intestines on and around her body. I find it inconceivable that he would have also had the time to whip it out and masturbate, much less commit necrophilia with the victim.
Then, in addition to Williams having only been out of the square for that fifteen minutes time period, three other people are known to have been in the square during the entire time of the murder – Two watchmen (George Clapp and ex-policeman George James Morris) and one off-duty policeman (Richard Pease). I find the fact that the Ripper wasn’t seen by one of these three people during the time it took to kill and mutilate the victim incredible to begin with. As far as I’m concerned the possibility of that crime taking even longer – long enough to include an act resulting in semen deposit being left on the victim – is inconceivable.
And finally, your leap in logic from the known fact that Kosminski was a paranoid schizophrenic who both lived and worked in the Whitechapel area to the conclusion that these facts unequivocally prove him to be Jack the Ripper seems totally irresponsible to me. As the adage goes, just because an animal barks doesn’t mean it’s a dog. Mr. Kosminski may have merely been a mentally unbalanced seal with the misfortune of having had sexual contact with Eddowes in the wrong place and at the wrong time.
So, Mr. Edwards…until someone, someday finds traces of Mr. Kosminski’s DNA on one or more of the other Ripper victims, the identity of Jack the Ripper will continue to remain a tantalizing mystery to me.
P.S. Admittedly, having not read your book, I am basing my arguments only on the synopses of it in several newspaper articles. If, after reading your opus, I discover it contains other facts I consider to prove your assertions beyond my reasonable doubt, I will not hesitate to admit the error of my viewpoint – and apologize accordingly.
LikeLike
Desert Soul
February 19, 2015 at 5:59 am
I believe the case of Jack the Ripper is solvable and the answer is right in front of us if we but look at the ‘letters’ carefully.
LikeLike