Kosminski Letter

[Debra Arif]

One thing I did notice is that addressing fellow worshipers as 'brother' and 'sister' was usual with members of the Brethren religious group and as we know, Anderson was part of the Plymouth Brethren.
Maybe some sort of validating link is being set up?

[Sam Flynn]

I'm also suspicious of the construction of the letter. The passages before the Kozminski section are generic and piously Victorian to the point of parody (it even includes a lingering death; can't get much more Victorian than that!) Then, in the Kosminski section, the descriptive dial is turned up to 11 and we get a sudden shower of colourful adjectives and dramatic phrases, before returning abruptly to banality and petering out in a perfunctory coda:

I duly received your kind letter dated a few days since, and was made glad to hear that you were still content in your works. Praise be to almighty God. Before this reaches you the sad intelligence of the death of our dear sister Rachael Bell will have reached you. She departed this life on Monday last around nine o’clock after much suffering. This most stirring news is delivered as such a sad dispensation. But we will continue to fight the good fight. Walter sends his blessings. Mary’s health remains well. She shares no exceptional news of late other than a she took ctd. From the Jew Kosminski Wednesday week past. On walking alongside the fruit barrow poor Mary took such fright when the lunatic ran at her with those ghastly scissors yelling his devil tongue. Mary ran all the way back. It’s a wonder he hasn't hung for what he did to those poor girls and the terror he has delivered to poor Tilly. Please give my warmest tidings to brother Michael and sister Jenny. We pray nightly of their works. I remain yours in Christ. Dott.

It's as if the entire letter has been constructed to carry that Kosminski payload.

[John Malcolm]

Just finished the "On the Front Burner" thread about this. Seems like I'm not in the minority, as far as opinion on this thing goes. After reading those posts, it is well beyond fishy.

[Howard Brown]

Also (and not quite so fishy), was it customary in those times to use the month/day/year as opposed to day/month/year?

Good one, John....as fishy as the scissors, IMHO.

[John Malcolm]

Got to be honest...something seems more than a little fishy about this. The "scissors" thing seems like it could be a very clever attempt at connecting Aaron the "hairdresser", for one. Also (and not quite so fishy), was it customary in those times to use the month/day/year as opposed to day/month/year? I am very skeptical about this letter, and have a slight concern that this may be a seed out of which another convoluted storyline will evolve. The "shawl" fiasco did nothing to contribute to the credibility of Aaron Kosminski being considered as a serious suspect, and I suspect this letter could lead to another trip down that path. Maybe I'm jumping the gun, but I can see history repeating itself in a most undesirable way.

[Chris G.]

Hi all

Another thing to note is that the paper that the letter is written upon is from a ledger rather than being what someone would generally use to write a letter. A bored clerk in an office maybe?

I noted the earlier objections that the womens' names didn't sound like those of Polish Jews but surely the letter writer and the addressee were gentiles and just K was the Jew???

Cheers

Chris

[Jeff Leahy]

Yet, on the back of the letter, the top left hand corner was cut! What sorcery is this?

Victorian logbooks were sometimes numbered so if it was torn to send a letter perhaps the writer removed the number. Its not a major thing simply an observation.

Yours Jeff

[Sam Flynn]

Tim has suggested the top right hand corner was cut off...certainly looks so from these pics

Yet, on the back of the letter, the top left hand corner was cut! What sorcery is this?

[Jeff Leahy]

Great pics Howard can see them clearly..

Tim has suggested the top right hand corner was cut off...certainly looks so from these pics

Many thanks Jeff

[Howard Brown]

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[Howard Brown]

These are the six scans sent by Tim.

Thanks again Tim !!!

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[Jeff Leahy]

Hi Tim

I'll just recap we think so far. Hopefully Karsten will join when he has time.

The language isn't catholic and the salvation army (In which book the letter was found) don't call each other Brothers or sisters. So we believe that it was sent by Quakers.

The Quakers had a strong connection to the Eastend were know to teach but also had an interest in health and asylums and general charity work.

We think TILLY is short for Matilda...Aarons Sister

But further research is required for Dott..Dorothy who wrote the letter and Rachael Bell (We wondered if she might be related to reverend Bell who invented the quaker teaching system)...We are also looking for a Walter and Mary who took fright.

We think they were in the Eastend

And brother michael and Sister Jenny were in Australia. We found some reports of quakers travelling to australia from the Eastend around this time.

I'd be interested if any of these names connect to the School records that were searched in relation to the Kozminski family...Especially as its possible the paper comes from a school log book that folded from the bottom..

We'll keep digging on this but another curiosity is that the 26th Earl of Crawfords son did charitable work at Oxford house in the Eastend...Could there be a quaker connection between Crawford and Sir Robert Anderson who was a member of the Brethren a quaker spin off..

Anyway those are my thoughts for now. In the past we have searched Jewish records, infirmaries, asylums and hospitals...If this letter connects the Kozminski's to the quakers ..Tilly is a very friendly term if Matilda..perhaps there are other areas for research the seaside home for instance

Yours Jeff

[Tim Atkinson]

Tim:

If you are able to scan it and send it via email.....please send it to

[email protected]

Before I actually post it...assuming you can scan it.....would you prefer it being displayed on this 'open' thread or on a new Members Only thread ?

That's entirely up to you Howard. I don't mind either.

[Howard Brown]

Absolutely, Tim. Thanks !

[Tim Atkinson]

I'll send them in email attachments if that's ok How.