Police made no mention of his origin, describing him only as a foreigner, but a contemporary article of The Star referred to Schwartz as Hungarian.
The 31 March 1901 census subsequently lists an Israel Shwartz as living on 21 Jubilee Street, working as a provision dealer and aged 36, with the birthplace Russia.
[3] The periodical Ripperologist wrote that the given information points towards Schwartz having been born in Russian Empire-controlled Congress Poland, but spending a significant amount of time in Austrian Galicia, a majority Polish region under Austria-Hungary, prior to emigrating to England.
[5][6] Schwartz described the possible murderer as being around thirty years old with a height of around 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m), fair complexion, dark hair, small brown moustache, with a full face and broad shouldered.
[5] Schwartz also described the second man, the pipe smoker, as around 35 years old with a height of around 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m), "fresh" complexion, light brown hair and moustache.
Constable William Smith, whose patrol route passed through Berner Street, also said he saw a couple loitering in front of Dutfield's Yard at 12:35 am.
[2] Several years after the crimes, Commissioner Robert Anderson claimed in his autobiography The Lighter Side of My Official Life that the Ripper had been identified by "the only person who ever had a good view of the murderer."
Chief Inspector Donald Swanson, in marginalia found in his personal copy of Anderson's book, stated that the witness in question was Jewish.