The only known source of information on the "Fogelma" suspect is a single
article published in the Empire News of 23 October 1923. The article
weaves an elaborate story around a Norweigan sailor, originally from
Arendal, who was committed to a lunatic asylum in Morris Plains, New
Jersey, in 1899. He was subject to fits of insanity. According to a
source at the asylum Fogelma "muttered of scenes and incidents that
connected him clearly with the atrocious crimes of 1888." The patient's
sister, Helen Fogelma, had also found press clippings in her brother's
trunk, all describing the Whitechapel murders. Both Scotland Yard and the
local New York City police were alerted, but according to the article the
issue was allowed to lapse. Fogelma died at the asylum in 1902.
Is there any truth to this account?
Morris Plains Lunatic Asylum still exists. Today it is called Greystone
Park Psychiatric Hospital. According to their archivist they have no
record of any patient by the name of Fogelma. Inquiries sent to the
New-York Historical Society indicate that 324 East 39th Street (block 944,
lot 40) - the location at which Fogelma allegedly lived upon his arrival
in New York - was owned by "Geo Jardine et al.", and possibly housed an
organ manufactory. The NYHS was unable to trace the Reverend J. Miosen,
who allegedly took Fogelma's death-bed confession. Similar searches for
Helen Fogelma and Olga Storsjan come up empty.
As things stand there is no outside evidence to corroborate the story told
by the Empire News. The name "Fogelma" does exist, though it is
exceedingly rare. It does appear to be of Scandinavian origin.
