Annie Chapman - Wife, Mother, Victim: The Life & Death of a Victim of Jack The Ripper

by Covell, Mike

  September 9th 1888

  The People, a London based newspaper, featured the following, dated September 9th 1888,

  ANOTHER FIENDISH MURDER IN THE EAST-END. Dreadful Mutilation of a Woman. ARREST OF THE SUPPOSED MURDERER. Another murder of a character even more diabolical than that perpetrated in Buck's-row, Whitechapel, on Friday week, was discovered on Saturday morning in the same neighbourhood. At about four o'clock a woman was found lying in a back yard at the foot of a passage leading to a lodging-house in Old Brown's-lane, Spitalfields. The house is occupied by a Mrs. Emilia Richardson, who lets it out to various lodgers, and it seems that the door which admits into this passage, at the foot at which lies the yard where the body was found, is always open for the convenience of the lodgers. A Mr. and Mrs. Davis occupy the upper storey (the house consisting of three storeys). As Mr. Davis was going down to work at the time mentioned, he found a woman lying on her back close to the flight of steps leading into the yard. Her throat was cut open in a fearful manner. So deep, in fact, was the gash, that the murderer evidently thinking he had severed the head from the body, had tied a handkerchief round it. Upon further examination it was found that the woman's body had been completely ripped open and the heart and other organs placed on the pavement at her side. The fiendish work had been completed by the murderer tying portions of the entrails round the victim's neck. The ground round where the woman lay was covered with clots of thick blood, and the spectacle presented was altogether a sickening one. By those who know the place well it is believed that the woman was murdered in the street and afterwards carried into the passage. This view is, to a certain extent, borne out by traces of blood, which reach to the street. There is, moreover, nothing in the appearance of the ground to indicate a struggle. Davis, the man who found the body, at once communicated with the police at Commercial-street Station, and Inspector Chandler and several constables arrived on the scene shortly afterwards, when they found the woman in the condition described. Even at this early hour the news spread quickly, and great excitement prevailed among the occupants of the adjacent houses. An exciting crowd gathered in front of Mr. Richardson's house, and also round the mortuary in Old Montague-street, whither the body was quickly conveyed. As the corpse lies in the rough coffin in which it has been placed in the mortuary - the same coffin in which the unfortunate Mrs. Nicholls was first placed - it represents a fearful sight. The body is that of a woman evidently about 45 years of age. The height is exactly five feet. The complexion is fair, with wavy dark brown hair; the eyes are blue, and two lower teeth have been knocked out. The nose is rather large and prominent. The third finger of the left hand bears signs of rings having been wrenched off it, and the hands and arms are considerably bruised. The deceased had on laced-up boots and striped stockings. She had on two cotton petticoats and was otherwise respectably dressed. Nothing was found in her pockets but a handkerchief and two small combs. The excitement in the vicinity is intense, and many are the rumours that are flying about. One report is that a leather apron and a long knife have been found near the place where the body lay, and that these belong to the man known in the neighbourhood as “Leather Apron,” and after whom the police have been hunting for the past few days, in connection with last week's tragedy in Buck's-row. Several persons staying at the lodging-house were taken to the Commercial-street Police Station and closely questioned, but the police authorities are extremely reticent as to what has transpired. It is, however, believed to be almost beyond doubt that this murder is but one of a series of fiendish atrocities on women which have been going on within the past few months and apparently have been committed by the same hand. Many people hold the view that the woman was murdered outside or in a neighbouring house, where the murderer evidently thought it was safe from discovery for some time. The police, fortunately, have more facts and evidence to go on with then they had in connection with the Buck's-row tragedy, and they are sanguine that the murderer will soon be brought to justice. Looking at the corpse no one could think otherwise than that the murder had been committed by a maniac or wretch of the lowest type of humanity, indeed, one would have to go to the wilds of Hungary or search the records of French lower peasant life before a more sickening and revolting tragedy could be told. Another Account. Another report states that the discovery of the crime was not made until six o'clock, and that the murdered woman was seen drinking as late as five o'clock in the morning. The circumstances connected with the tragedy lead the police to believe that the murder has been committed by the same persons who murdered Mary Ann Nicholls. The matter, however, is surrounded with mystery, and the police have had but little time to make inquiries. The authorities at Commercial-street Station are in charge of the inquiry, but a large body of detective are scouring the district. It may be imagined that the discovery has created intense excitement in the neighbourhood. The statement that a knife and a leather apron had been found near the body requires confirmation. The victim has been identified as a woman named Ellen Clarke, with whom some men say they were drinking on Friday night. An Arrest. The terror and excitement were somewhat abating when at about 11.51. the people who had congregated in Commercial-street were thrown into a fresh state of alarm. It was rumoured that about a quarter of an hour previously the man who was supposed to be the murderer, or connected with the murder, had been seen in the locality, but this statement, owing to the want of previous success in detecting the perpetrators of the other murders was received with incredulity. A short time afterwards, however, a young man, apparently about 25 years of age, was seen running down Commercial-street at full speed, followed by a large body of policemen with drawn batons, and a large crowd of persons. The man was gradually gaining on his pursuers, but owing to the cries of the policemen a large body of men and women blocked the street. The man at once grasped the situation, and rushed down a side street. The excitement at this time became intense, as it was thought that the man, who was supposed to be the murderer, would escape. After an interval of about two minutes, however, a cheer was raised, and shortly afterwards the man was seen between five and six policemen. It would be almost impossible to describe his appearance; he was the picture of terror, the colour of his face being between a ghastly white and yellow. He is about the medium height and was fairly dressed. When the police arrived in Commercial-street, the people crowded round, in order to look at the captured man, but they were kept at a distance by a body of policemen. The man was taken to Commercial-street Police Station. It is thought that in consequence of this arrest a clue will be obtained as to the perpetrators of the dastardly crimes which have thrown the inhabitants of the district into the greatest state of alarm during the last few weeks. Latest Details. A later report says that the statement that a leather apron was found by the side of the murdered woman is an error. Colonel Maunsell, chief constable of the district, visited the locality early on Saturday, and subsequently inspected the body of the victim in the presence of the local police officers and the divisional surgeon. The only foundation for the story of the leather apron is that an apron of this character was hanging on a nail in the passage leading to the yard. The landlady of the house has two sons, who are employed as cabinet makers, and use heavy leather aprons in the exercise of their trade. The police have no doubt that one man is responsible for all the recent murders of women in the district, and they are convinced that the horrible crimes are the work of a madman.

  September 10th 1888

  The British Daily Whig, a newspaper published in Canada, featured the following, dated September 10th 1888,

  LONDON POLICE BAFFLED. A SERIES OF SOUR MYSTERIOUS MURDERS. The Latest Victim Discovered in Spitalfields Early Sunday Morning Shockingly Mutilated. LONDON, Sept. 10–The horribly mutilated body of a woman was found early yesterday morning in a yard attached to a common lodging house in Spitalfields. Her throat was cut from ear to ear, the body was ripped open, the bowels and heart were on the ground, and a portion of the entrails were tied around the neck. This is the fourth murder
of a similar character that has been committed recently in this vicinity. All the victims were women of the lowest character. The author of the atrocities remains undiscovered, and the excitement in the immediate vicinity borders upon a panic.

  The Hull Daily Mail, a newspaper published in Hull, England, featured the following, dated September 10th 1888,

  The Inquest

  The inquest on the body of Annie Chapman, who was found murdered in Hanbury-street, Whitechapel, on Saturday was opened at ten o'clock by Mr Wynne Baxter, District Coroner, at the Working Lads Institute, Whitechapel Road.- Inspector Nelson, J Division, represented the police.- Mr Collier deputy coroner, accompanied Mr Wynne Baxter. The jury having been sworn in went to view the body at the mortuary. On their return John Davies deposed: I live at 29, Hanbury-street, Spitalfields. I am a carman, and occupy a front room with my wife and three sons. On Friday night I went to bed at eight o'clock. My sons came in at different times, the last at about quarter to 11. I was awake between three and five o'clock, but fell to sleep for about half an hour, and got up at about quarter to six. I went across to the yard. On the ground floor there is a front door leading into a passage through the basement. There is a back door in the passage. Sometimes the doors are left open during the night. I have never known either of them to be locked. Anyone can open the front door by the latch, and enter the yard by the passage, I cannot say whether the back door was latched when I got down, but the front door was wide open, which was not an unusual circumstance.- Witness being asked to describe the general appearance of the yard, was not very clear in his statements.- The Coroner said the police in country places had generally prepared a plan of the locality which was the subject of investigation. Certainly this was of sufficient importance for such a plan .- Inspector Chandler promised that a plan should be drawn up.- The Coroner said that delay might prove fatal.- Witness resuming said: When I opened the back door of the yard I found a woman lying on her back. I called two men in the employ of Mr Bayley, packing case maker in Hanbury-street, three down from no. 29. They came and looked at the body. I do not know them personally.- In reply to the Coroner, Inspector Chandler said the men referred to were not known to the police.- The Coroner expressed surprise at this. He said the men must be found, if they had not already been seen and identified. Davis (continuing) said: I informed the inspector at Commercial-street what I had seen in the yard. I heard no voice on Saturday evening. - Amelia Palmer, living at 30, Dorset-street, lodging house, was next examined. She said her husband was an army pensioner. She knew the deceased for five years, and identified the body as that of Annie Chapman, a widow. Her husband died at Windsor 18 months ago. Prior to that she received 10s a week from him. Deceased was called Mrs Liffey, because she lived with a man who was a sieve maker. She had been staying at 35, Dorset-street. Witness had seen her several times the worse for drink, and she was frequently out in the streets late at night. On Friday afternoon witness saw her in Dorset-street about five o'clock. She said she had no money, and had been in the casual ward, and she could not pay for her lodging. - Timothy Donovan (35), Dorset-street, deputy of a common lodging house, identified the body at the Mortuary as the woman who had lodged at his house occasionally. She was not at No. 35 last week until Friday afternoon, about three o'clock. She went into the kitchen, and he did not see her again till Saturday morning at 1.45. She afterwards left the house, and said she should come back again for a bed. She was somewhat the worst for liquor, and when she left in the morning the witness said, “You can find money for your bed.” He did not see her with any man that night. Sometimes she came to the house with a man said to be a pensioner, and sometimes with other men, and witness had refused to allow her a bed. Replying to the Coroner, witness added that, the pensioner had told him not to admit her with any other man. - Inspector Chandler, in answer to the Coroner, said nothing was known of the man called the pensioner.- Donavan (resuming) said on August 29th deceased had a row with another woman in the kitchen, and sustained a bruise over her eye.- John Evans, night watchman, 35, Dorset-street, said he saw the deceased go out on Saturday morning, she never returned. She was worse for drink. Witness knew she was on the streets at night, but only knew of the man with whom she associated. He used to come to her on Saturdays. He called about half past two on Saturday last, and when he was told of the murder went away without saying anything. He did not know this man's name or address. The inquest was adjourned until Wednesday.

  The Hull Daily News, a newspaper published in Hull, England, featured the following, September 10th 1888,

  THE WHITECHAPEL TRAGEDY. SEARCH FOR THE MURDERER. NUMEROUS ARRESTS. Although the police have made most diligent inquiry after the murderer of the woman, whose real name is Chapman, they had up to last night failed to find the slightest clue to his whereabouts. As a matter of fact, they are in the dark as to the personal appearance of the man for whom they are looking. It is true that they possess the description of a man who is known as “Leather Apron,” and will arrest him if he can be found, but their theory is that “Leather Apron” is more or less a mythical personage, and that he is not responsible for the terrible crimes with which his name has been associated. All the same the details of his appearance have been widely circulated, with a view to his early apprehension. All the police in the vicinity are on the look-out for him. On Saturday night a large force of police constables and detectives closely watched the neighbourhood. Men were posted at all the entrances and exits of the numerous alleys and passages in the neighbourhood, who every few minutes made a thorough examination of the places under their surveillance, and from time to time these were visited by the Inspectors on duty, with a view to ascertaining whether any suspicious character had been observed. From ten o'clock at night until late in the morning a large crowd occupied Hanbury street, in the vicinity of the notorious house, No. 29. When the public houses emptied the occupants swarmed into the street, causing a good deal of trouble to the police by their behaviour. The people living in the adjoining houses obtained no rest until between four and five o'clock, when the crowd gradually melted away, only, however, to reassemble again in greater force as soon as daylight appeared. In the course of Saturday night and Sunday morning the police arrested two men on suspicion of being concerned in the crime. One man, whose appearance left little doubt in the minds of his captors that he was the Hanbury street murder, was found by an officer in Buck's row shortly after 1 o'clock on Sunday morning. A murder was, it will be remembered, committed in the neighbourhood but a short time since, and the police have since been constantly pursuing their investigation in that quarter. The man upon whom suspicion rested presented a most forbidding appearance. He appeared to be hiding in the street, and when accosted by the officer, rushed off at the top of his speed. An alarm was raised, and after a short race he was arrested. He was a villainous-looking fellow with long hair and shaggy beard, dressed only in a pair of ragged blue serge trousers and an old dirty shirt. He resisted his captors, but was eventually secured and conveyed to Bethnal Green Police Station. It was said at the time that he was carrying a long knife concealed in the sleeve of his shirt, but on examination no weapon was found upon him. He gave an account of himself which was, in the first instance, considered unsatisfactory, but inquiries were immediately set on foot, and in the result the man, who appears to be a common vagrant, was released from custody. The second arrest was effected in Gloucester Street, where a man aged about 40, having the look of a seafarer, was arrested. It was pretty obvious, however, from the replies which he gave and his general appearance, that he was not the man sought for, and after he had spent some time in Commercial street Station he was also set at liberty. It is suggested that the first mentioned man is the person who has been spoken of by Mrs. Fiddymont, wife of the proprietor of the Prince Albert public-house, situate at the corner of Brushfield Street and Stewart Street. Mrs. Fiddymont has stated to the police that at seven o'clock on Saturday morning a rough-looking man came into the place and got some ale. He presen
ted an excited appearance, and some blood-spots were said to have been observed on his right hand. This man, however, had a coat and hat on. The police, however, who gave information very unwillingly, and who do not accept the theory that the crime has been committed by the man designated “Leather Apron,” are indisposed to believe that the person seen by Mrs. Fiddymont has any connection with the crime. They are unwilling, indeed, to accept assistance or suggestion from any private source and work upon a plan of their own, which consists of frequent visits to the common lodging-houses of the neighbourhood and a strict watch at night on all the streets in the vicinity. All day to-day five policemen have guarded the scene of the crime in Hanbury street. No one was admitted unless he lived in the house. In the street half a dozen costermongers took up their stand and did brisk business in fruit and refreshments. Thousands of respectably dressed persons visited the scene, and occasionally the road became so crowded that the constables had to clear it by making a series of raids upon the spectators. The windows of the adjoining houses were full of persons watching the crowd below. A number of people also visited the house in Dorset street where the murdered woman lodged. It may be mentioned here that the soldier who had frequently visited the woman at this place did not return to the house on Saturday night. The police, however, attach no importance to this circumstance. Inquiries have been made at Vauxhall and at Windsor where Chapman or “Sievy,” as she was more generally called, is said to have relatives, but so far without any fresh information obtained as to her antecedents. The deceased has been identified by persons who have known her since she has lived in London, but her relatives, if she possesses any, have not yet communicated with the police. The small portion of writing on the envelope found upon the body, bearing the stamp of the Sussex Regiment, has not yet been identified or traced. The authorities of St Bartholomew's Hospital, where the woman spent some time, have been communicated with, but they have not been able to afford any information of a useful character. The usually lively condition of Whitechapel and Spitalfields on a Sunday was considerably augmented to-day by reason of the excitement aroused by the murder. In the course of the day nearly a dozen persons were arrested, and conveyed to the Commercial street Police Station. In the afternoon a vast crowd had collected about the streets. As each apprehension was made they rushed pell mell towards the station, obviously under the idea that the murderer of the woman had been caught. Shortly before five o'clock a man was arrested in Dal Street after a long chase on a charge of assault. The officer who arrested him proceeded with his prisoner by way of Hanbury Street to the police station and so was obliged to make his way through the crowd. Outside the house his prisoner stood in some danger of being mobbed, but the crowd eventually gave way, and the prisoner was safely lodged in the station. A few minutes later, two men were arrested in Wentworth Street. As soon as the crowd saw them in the hands of the police there were loud cries of “Leather Apron,” and thereupon hundreds of persons turned out from the side streets and followed the officers in a tumultuous throng to the station. Not five minutes afterwards a woman was apprehended on some small charge, and the excitement became so intense that a posse of officers was sent out from the building to preserve order. These marched three and four abreast up and down the pavement, and while they were so engaged yet another prisoner was brought in. There was a good deal of shouting in the mob, which surged about in a dangerous fashion, but by-and-bye a diversion was caused by the rapid passage along Banbury street of three men who were supposed to be two detectives and their prisoner. The centre man bore a striking resemblance to “Leather Apron,” and the cry of “That's him,” having been raised, a rush was made at him, but the little party immediately turned down a side street, and the police prevented the crowd from proceeding further. In the neighbourhood of the mortuary, which is situated in Eagle place, at the Whitechapel end of Hanbury Street, all was quiet during the day. The green doors opened now and again to admit some inspectors of police and several medical gentlemen, but all others were rigidly excluded. The inquest on the body will be held to-morrow (Monday) by Dr MacDonald, the coroner for the district. Dr Phillips, the surgeon, and the witnesses who first discovered the body, will be called, and the police will also give certain evidence. Dr Phillips believes that the woman had been dead for two hours or more when she was discovered. It is a remarkable fact, however, that the man Richardson, who first went into the yard where the corpse was discovered says that he actually sat down on the step of the passage to cut a piece of leather off his shoe and yet did not see the body. This, however, may be explained by the circumstances that the passage door opens outward and toward the left, and so would conceal the body behind it. It is the custom to leave both of the passage doors open at night, and although they were found shut on the morning of the murder no suspicion was excited on that account. The advisability of employing bloodhounds to trace the perpetrator of the crime has been eagerly discussed by the inhabitants of the district. It is considered by experts that the time has gone by for such an experiment, and it is pointed out also that in the case of the Blackburn murderer, who was discovered by this means, the circumstances were different, and that the present case does not admit of the test. LEATHER APRON Reference is made in the above report to a mysterious being bearing the name of “Leather Apron,” concerning whom a number of stories have for a week or more been current in Whitechapel. A reporter of the Star, who has been making some inquiries among a number of women in the East-end gives the following description of the man:- He is five feet four or five inches in height, and wears a dark close-fitting cap. He is thickset and has an unusually thick neck. His hair is black, and closely clipped, his age being about 39 or 40. He has a small black moustache. The distinguishing feature of his costume is a leather apron, which he always wears, and from which he gets his nickname. His expression is sinister, and seems full of terror for the women who describe it. His eyes are small and glittering. His lips are usually parted in a grin which is not only not reassuring, but excessively repellent. He is a slipper-maker by trade, but does not work. His business is blackmailing women late at night. A number of men in Whitechapel follow this interesting profession. He has never cut anybody, so far as is known, but always carries a leather knife, presumably as sharp as leather knifes are wont to be. This knife a number of the women have seen. His name nobody knows, but all are united in the belief that he is a Jew or of Jewish parentage, his face being of a marked Hebrew type. But the most singular characteristic of the man is the universal statement that in moving about he never makes any noise. What he wears on his feet the women do not know, but they agree that he moves noiselessly. His uncanny peculiarity to them is that they never see him or know of his presence until he is close by them. “Leather Apron” never by any chance attacks a man. He runs away on the slightest appearance of rescue. One woman whom he assailed some time ago boldly prosecuted him for it, and he was sent up for seven days. He has no settled place of residence, but has slept oftenest in a fourpenny lodging-house of the lowest kind in a disreputable lane leading from Brick-lane. The people at this lodging-house denied that he had been there and appeared disposed to shield him. “Leather Apron's” pal “Mickeldy Joe,” was in the house at the time, and his presence doubtless had something to do with the unwillingness to give information. “Leather Apron” was last at this house some weeks ago, though this account may be untrue. He ranges all over London, and rarely assails the same woman twice. He has lately been seen in Leather-lane, which is in the Holborn district.