Joseph Silver
Encyclopedia
Joseph Silver also known as the "King of Pimp
s", was a man who terrorized women in Johannesburg
, South Africa
during the late 19th century and early 20th century.
, Poland
into a Jewish family, as a one of nine children of tailor and petty criminal, Ansel Lis.
. He later committed a string of petty offenses in New York
before heading to South Africa
and South America
.
n historian Charles van Onselen
claimed in the book The Fox and The Flies: The World of Joseph Silver, Racketeer and Psychopath that Silver was the infamous Jack the Ripper
serial killer
in London
in 1888. Critics note, among other things, that Onselen provides no evidence that Silver was even in London during the time of the murders and that the accusation is based entirely upon speculation. Onselen has responded that the number of circumstances involved should make Silver a suspect. . He would have been 20 at the time.
Pimp
A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...
s", was a man who terrorized women in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
during the late 19th century and early 20th century.
Name
His original Polish name "Lis" means "Fox". His alias "Silver", was a reference to his mother, whose maiden name was Kweksylber, which means Quicksilver. He was also known as Joe Liss, Joe Eligmann, James Smith, Joseph Schmidt, Charlie Silver, Charles Greenbaum, Abraham Ramer and Ludwig.Early life
He was born in 1868 in KielceKielce
Kielce ) is a city in central Poland with 204,891 inhabitants . It is also the capital city of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship since 1999, previously in Kielce Voivodeship...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
into a Jewish family, as a one of nine children of tailor and petty criminal, Ansel Lis.
Career
According to the book giving an account of his crimes, The Fox and the Flies, Silver began his criminal career in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He later committed a string of petty offenses in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
before heading to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.
Jack the Ripper?
In 2007, South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n historian Charles van Onselen
Charles van Onselen
Professor Charles van Onselen is a researcher and historian, based at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He resides in Johannesburg.He was formerly employed at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he headed the Institute of Advanced Social Research...
claimed in the book The Fox and The Flies: The World of Joseph Silver, Racketeer and Psychopath that Silver was the infamous Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper
"Jack the Ripper" is the best-known name given to an unidentified serial killer who was active in the largely impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The name originated in a letter, written by someone claiming to be the murderer, that was disseminated in the...
serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1888. Critics note, among other things, that Onselen provides no evidence that Silver was even in London during the time of the murders and that the accusation is based entirely upon speculation. Onselen has responded that the number of circumstances involved should make Silver a suspect. . He would have been 20 at the time.
External links
- "Historian claims to ID Jack the Ripper" Associated Press article
- "Historian: Ripper was South Africa's 'King of Pimps'" CNN