Kosminski Letter

[Anna Morris]

Are there any other extant writings of William Patrick Dott? Has anyone done any linguistic comparisons?

However it all turns out, whether or not Kosminski was violent at times, does not prove he was JtR.

[String]

Is this the final proof that Jack the Ripper was a Polish barber?

https://miniamazon.co.uk/trending/is-this-the-final-proof-that-jack-the-ripper-was-a-polish-barber

[R. J. Palmer]

And finally, what is the evidence that William Patrick Dott was the letter writer? Maybe you know, but all I know about him as the writer is that Tim Atkinson identified him. How and where and why, I don't know...

Hi Paul -- My understand is the same as yours. I don't think there is any good reason to suppose that the 'Dott' of the letter is meant to be the Rev. W. P. Dott; this just appears to be Tim Atkinson's working theory, which, regrettably, the Daily Mail stated as a certainty. We'll see how it goes.

Have a good evening.

[Paul]

Hi Paul – such interpretations are unavoidably subjective, of course, but, to me, the writer is describing—or attempting to describe--an intimate neighborhood scene in East London. Yes, as you say, he has Mary running ‘all the way back,’ and the writer is obviously assuming the recipient will know what this refers to—she will be familiar with the neighbor, just as ‘Dott’ is familiar with it. The writer also refers to the ‘fruit barrow’ and, again, the writer assumes that the recipient will know WHICH fruit barrow, just as she will recognize the reference to a local Jew with a ‘devil’s tongue,’ with ‘Tilly,’ etc.

I suppose one could argue the unknown letter writer was describing such details while writing from Oxford or Canterbury or Miami or anywhere else, but would that be natural? Would a casual visitor to the East End (or someone passing on second hand information), and later writing from a distance, describe the events this way? To me, the hoaxer wants to imply that the letter was written by someone in the ‘hood,’ who had a day-to-day knowledge of Tilly, Kosminksi, the local fruit barrow, etc.—otherwise it wouldn’t make a heck of a lot of sense.

Of course, the lack of a stamped envelope, and or any specific reference to whom these people are supposed to be, allows the reader to weave any number of theories, including W. P. Dott writing the letter from Oxford. To some degree, the very vagueness of the content, defies any attempts at identification, though I would suggest that ‘Homer nodded’ when he chose to make a specific reference to the death of the evidently fictitious ‘Rachel Bell.’

A worrisome detail, among others, is that in less than 9 months this letter has had three different provenance stories attached to it—not a very promising beginning.

Cheers, RP

PS. Since the appearance of this relic from Australia, I’ve never been able to hear “Waltzing Matilda” in quite the same way again.

Thanks Roger. I was anxious in case I wasn't seeing something in the letter that you were seeing. I agree that there are a barrow-load of reasons to doubt the authenticity of the letter, but I'm not convinced that the writer was in the East End. 'Mary’s health remains well' and 'She shares no exceptional news...' suggest that the writer and Mary were in the same place, but, of course, the writer could have been repeating what Mary had conveyed in a letter. And if the reader knew which fruit barrow and the place Mary is likely to have left and run back to, the writer wouldn't have had to identify them. And finally, what is the evidence that William Patrick Dott was the letter writer? Maybe you know, but all I know about him as the writer is that Tim Atkinson identified him. How and where and why, I don't know. If William Patrick wasn't the letter writer, then the writer could have been in the East End and Dott being in Oxford becomes irrelevant as far as authenticating the document is concerned. Grrrrr, these things can drive one mad, or in my case already have done...

[R. J. Palmer]

Hi Paul – such interpretations are unavoidably subjective, of course, but, to me, the writer is describing—or attempting to describe--an intimate neighborhood scene in East London. Yes, as you say, he has Mary running ‘all the way back,’ and the writer is obviously assuming the recipient will know what this refers to—she will be familiar with the neighbor, just as ‘Dott’ is familiar with it. The writer also refers to the ‘fruit barrow’ and, again, the writer assumes that the recipient will know WHICH fruit barrow, just as she will recognize the reference to a local Jew with a ‘devil’s tongue,’ with ‘Tilly,’ etc.

I suppose one could argue the unknown letter writer was describing such details while writing from Oxford or Canterbury or Miami or anywhere else, but would that be natural? Would a casual visitor to the East End (or someone passing on second hand information), and later writing from a distance, describe the events this way? To me, the hoaxer wants to imply that the letter was written by someone in the ‘hood,’ who had a day-to-day knowledge of Tilly, Kosminksi, the local fruit barrow, etc.—otherwise it wouldn’t make a heck of a lot of sense.

Of course, the lack of a stamped envelope, and or any specific reference to whom these people are supposed to be, allows the reader to weave any number of theories, including W. P. Dott writing the letter from Oxford. To some degree, the very vagueness of the content defies any attempts at identification, though I would suggest that ‘Homer nodded’ when he chose to make a specific reference to the death of the evidently fictitious ‘Rachel Bell.’

A worrisome detail, among others, is that in less than 9 months this letter has had three different provenance stories attached to it—not a very promising beginning.

Cheers, RP

PS. Since the appearance of this relic from Australia, I’ve never been able to hear “Waltzing Matilda” in quite the same way again.

[Paul]

In addition to Post #210 below, I found the following reference in The Oxford Magazine, 12 June 1889, p. 388 (available on google books).

It shows that William Patrick Dott was not only enrolled at Oxford by June 1889, but may well have been living there. At the debate society held in June he is arguing that "the state should encourage emigration as a remedy for social distress."

Of course, the alleged "Kosminski" letter dates to the following month, July 1889, and the internal content implies it was written by someone staying in East London.

But no use flogging the horse much longer. The adherents can always argue he was visiting Toynbee Hall unless it can be shown otherwise. Ciao.

Hi Roger,
I am obviously missing it, but where does the internal content imply that writer was in East London? The only suggestion of that I'm seeing is the comment that on being frightened by Kosminski 'Mary ran all the way back'. Unfortunately, he does not say where 'back' was. I assume the recipient was supposed to know, but wherever 'back' was, we shouldn't assume the writer was there.

Cheers
Paul

[Cogidubnus]

Hi Robert

I was assuming we'd all seen that...

mea culpa

Dave

[Robert Linford]

http://northyorkshirehistory.blogspot.com/2019/02/3-patrick-dott-1867-1938-his-family.html

[R. J. Palmer]

In addition to Post #210 below, I found the following reference in The Oxford Magazine, 12 June 1889, p. 388 (available on google books).

It shows that William Patrick Dott was not only enrolled at Oxford by June 1889, but may well have been living there. At the debate society held in June he is arguing that "the state should encourage emigration as a remedy for social distress."

Of course, the alleged "Kosminski" letter dates to the following month, July 1889, and the internal content implies it was written by someone staying in East London.

But no use flogging the horse much longer. The adherents can always argue he was visiting Toynbee Hall unless it can be shown otherwise. Ciao.

[R. J. Palmer]

From The Daily Mail--

“Mr. Atkinson paid £242 for the letter to an eBay seller specializing in antiquities….”

Yes, antiquities and chemicals for tropical fish tanks.

[R. J. Palmer]

Oxfordshire Weekly News, 5 June 1889. Personally, I think Mr. Atkinson is a little too eager to 'connect the Dotts.'

[Cogidubnus]

Nice one Pat...well spotted!

[Pat Marshall]

1881 census William Dott

1881 census with mum Betsy and 5 brothers aged 13 Scholar 120 Stepney Green. ( trans as Dolt or Dort) Ancestry.co.uk
Pat...

[Cogidubnus]

Re the 1881 census, there are 2 William Dotts.

One aged 26, one aged 56

One living in Toxteth (Liverpool), one living in Margate.

Unless I've missed it, no 13 year old William Dott is in the 1881 census.?


Happy New Year all


Phil

Hence, (together with his sisters not being in their usual haunts), my puzzlement/speculation about his whereabouts...I look forward to enlightenment from the new AtoZ!

Greetings reciprocated

Dave

[Phil Carter]

I’ll stop looking, then. ;-)

Re the 1881 census, there are 2 William Dotts.

One aged 26, one aged 56

One living in Toxteth (Liverpool), one living in Margate.

Unless I've missed it, no 13 year old William Dott is in the 1881 census.?



Happy New Year all


Phil