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

by Covell, Mike

  The Hull Daily News, a Hull based newspaper, featured the following, dated September 13th 1888,

  THE WHITECHAPEL MURDERS. The Press Association telegraphs on Wednesday;- At the inquest to-day on the murdered woman it is understood that Piser will probably be called as witness. Meanwhile the police have advised him to refuse to be interviewed. Piser's brother states that John was treated well in custody. The release of the prisoner took place shortly before nine o'clock last evening, when he left prison in company with his brother Samuel for his house in Mulberry-street, where his return was hailed with much rejoicing by his relatives and friends. The reported discovery of traces of blood on the dividing walls of number 29 and 27, Hanbury street is not confirmed to-day. A later telegram from the Press Association states:- With regard to the alleged finding of pieces of paper smeared with blood, in the back premises of Bailey's packing case shop, in Hanbury street, investigations have proved the stains are not those of blood, but of some sewage matter. The police attach no importance either to this supposed clue or the marks on the wall in the yard. Piggott still remains under police observation in the infirmary.

  The Eastern Morning News, a Hull based newspaper, featured the following, dated September 13th 1888,

  THE WHITECHAPEL TRAGEDIES. POLICE STILL AT FAULT. THE ADJOURNED INQUEST. The police continued their inquiries and investigations yesterday, but their labours were entirely without reward, and it is now beginning to be admitted, even in official circles, that the detectives are once more at fault. The slender clue afforded by the blood trail in the yard of No. 25 Hanbury-street was eagerly taken up, but so far it has not resulted in anything that can be described as important evidence. The man Pigott is still an inmate of the Workhouse Infirmary, and it is stated that his mental condition has not materially improved. The idea that he was connected in some way with the recent terrible crimes has not been entirely abandoned, and he is still kept under surveillance, while diligent inquiries are being made into his antecedents. Another arrest on suspicion was made yesterday, this time at Holloway, but it was speedily ascertained that the man was a harmless lunatic, and he was sent to the Workhouse Infirmary. It is not considered possible that another murder can be committed in Whitechapel district with impunity, for the whole neighbourhood is thoroughly roused. Woman of the class from which the late victim was taken are suspicious of every stranger, and the streets are nightly patrolled by large numbers of plain clothes constables. Meanwhile careful inquiries are being made in the directions suggested by Dr. Forbes Winslow, who adheres strenuously to his opinion that the murderer at large is a maniac. The relatives of the murdered woman Chapman, who occupy respectable positions in life, have taken charge of the remains, which will be interred privately. The woman Durrell has identified the body of the woman whom she saw talking with a man outside the scene of the tragedy about half-past five on Saturday morning. This corroborates other witnesses, and leaves little doubt that the murder was committed between half-past five and six o'clock, in almost broad daylight. — The inquest on the body of Annie Chapman, the victim in the last of the East End tragedies, was continued yesterday, before Mr. Wynne Baxter, coroner for the district, at the Working Lads' Institute, Whitechapel. The interest taken in the case appeared if anything to have increased, the crowd outside the building being larger than on the former occasion. Fontaine Smith, who had his address inaudibly, deposed that he was brother to the deceased, who was the widow of John Chapman, and was 47 years of age. It was some time since he last saw her, and she did not then tell him anything as to what she was doing, or who where her associates. James Kent, packing-case maker, living at Shadwell, deposed to having been called into the yard of 39, Hanbury-street, by the man who discovered the body. This he described as lying between the steps and the fence. The clothes which the woman was wearing were thrown back as far as the knees, and round her neck was a handkerchief, which seemed to be almost concealed in the wound in the throat. The face and hands were smeared with blood. The appearances led him to believe that the woman had struggled while on her back. There were also bloodstains on the legs, some of the entrails were lying across the left shoulder, and appeared to have been dragged out and then thrown at the body. A piece of canvas was thrown over the corpse, and the police were summoned. James Green, who was in company with Kent, gave similar evidence, and Amelia Richardson, occupier of No. 29, Hanbury-street, was then called. She said she carried on a packing case making business, for which she used the workshop in the yard. Her son and a man named Tyler helped her in the business, but lived away. She first heard of it from her grandson, who went downstairs at six o'clock in consequence of the commotion in the passage. She slept badly during Friday night, but heard no disturbance. The first floor back was occupied by an old man and his imbecile son, but the latter was quiet inoffensive. There were a number of other lodgers in the house. The front and back doors were always left open, as were those of all the other houses in the neighbourhood. People often went through the passage into the backyard, but she heard no one do so on Saturday morning, and anyone who did must have walked very stealthily. Ellen Hardman, another occupier having been examined. John Richardson, Mrs. Richardson's son, said he went to 29, Hanbury-street at a quarter to five on Saturday, as he always did on market mornings. He went through the passage, opened the back door, and sat on the steps to cut a piece of loose leather from his shoe, using an old table-knife, which he did not usually carry, but which on this occasion he had put into his pocket by mistake. He could not have failed to see the body if it had been in the yard then. John Piser, the man who was taken into custody on Monday morning, but released on Tuesday night, was then called. He is a small dark man of the ordinary Jewish type, with black moustache and side whiskers. His desire, he said, was to clear his character and the Coroner remarked that he had been called for that purpose. Piser then made a statement relative to his whereabouts and proceedings before, during, and after the time of the murder was supposed to have been committed, the Coroner observing that these statements could be corroborated. The inquiry was then again adjourned.

  The Hull Daily News, a Hull based newspaper, featured the following, dated September 13th 1888,

  THE WHITECHAPEL MURDERS. THE POLICE BAFFLED. The police continued their inquiries and investigations yesterday, but their labours were entirely without reward, and it is now beginning to be admitted, even in official circles, that the detectives are once more at fault. The slender clue afforded by the blood trail in the yard of No. 25 Hanbury-street was eagerly taken up, but so far it has not resulted in anything that can be described as important evidence. Some persons who have examined the marks have expressed some doubt as to their being bloodstains, but on the whole there is good reason to believe that they are really the tracks of the assassin. In regard to the blood stained paper found in Bailey's packing case yard adjoining No. 25 Hanbury-street, there is practically no room for doubt that it was used by the murderer to cleanse his hands and thrown by him where it was found. The little girl, Laura Sickings, and other inmates of numbers 29, 27, and 25, have been questioned by the police, and the paper has been handed over to the police doctors for more scientific examination. A woman named Mrs. Durrell made a statement on Tuesday to the effect that about half past five o'clock on the morning of the murder of Mrs. Chapman she saw a man and a woman conversing outside No. 29, Hanbury-street, the scene of the murder, and that they disappeared very sufficiently. Mrs. Durrell was taken to the mortuary on Wednesday, and identified the body of Chapman as that of a woman whom she saw in Hanbury-street. If this identification can be relied upon it is obviously an important piece of evidence, as it fixed with precision the time at which the murder was committed, and corroborated the statement of John Richardson, who went into the yard at a quarter to five and has consistently and persistently declared that the body was not then on the premises. Davis, the man who first saw the corpse, went into the yard shortly after six o'clock. Assuming, therefore, that the various witnesses had spoken the
truth, which there is not the slightest reason to doubt, the murder must have been committed between half past five and six o'clock, and the murderer must have walked through the streets in almost broad daylight without attracting attention, although he must have been at the time more or less stained with blood. This seems incredible, and it has certainly strengthened the belief of many of those engaged in the case that the murderer had not so far to go to reach his lodgings in a private house. Among the many suggestions made to the police is one urging that the pupils of the murdered woman's eyes should be photographed, on the chance of the retina retaining an image of the murderer capable of reproduction. DR. FORBES WINSLOW'S THEORY. Dr. Forbes Winslow writes as follows in The Times of yesterday: - My theory having been circulated far and wide with reference to an opinion given to the authorities of the Criminal Investigation Department, I would like to qualify such statements in your columns. That the murderer of the three victims in Whitechapel is one and the same person I have no doubt. The whole affair is that of a lunatic, and as there is “method in madness,” so there was method shown in the crime and in the gradual dissection of the body of the latest victim. It is not the work of a responsible person. It is a well-known and accepted fact that homicidal mania is incurable, but difficult of detection, as it frequently lies latent. It is incurable, and those who have been the subject of it should never be let loose on society. I think that the murderer is not of the class of which “Leather Apron” belongs, but is of the upper class of society, and I still think that my opinion given to the authorities is the correct one - viz., that the murders have been committed by a lunatic lately discharged from some asylum, or by one who has escaped. If the former, doubtless one who, though suffering from the effects of homicidal mania, is apparently sane on the surface, and consequently has been liberated, and is following out the inclinations of his morbid imaginations by wholesale homicide. I think the advice given by me a sound one - to apply for an immediate return from all asylums who have discharged such individuals, with a view of ascertaining their whereabouts. INTERVIEW WITH “LEATHER APRON.” The Press Association's representative had an interview on Wednesday with John Piser, at 22, Mulberry-street. He was released from Leman-street Police Station about 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday. In reply to questions, the ex-prisoner said:- “Whatever particulars the world at large and the police authorities wish to know as to where I was staying when these atrocious and horrible crimes were committed, I am quite willing to give. I came into this house at a quarter to 11 on Thursday night. I knocked, and my sister opened the door. My sister's young man was present. We had some conversation about work. My sister first went to bed , and put the bolt in the latch so that anyone going out could not get back in again. From Thursday until I was arrested I never left the house except to go into the yard. I was seen several times in the yard by a neighbour. On Monday morning Sergeant Thicke came, I opened the door. He said I was “wanted” and I asked “What for?” He replied “You know what for, you will have to come with me.” I said, “Very well, I will go with you with the greatest of pleasure.” The officer said, “You know you are Leather Apron,” or words to that effect. Up to that moment I did not know I was called by that name. I have been in the habit of wearing an apron from my employment but not recently. When I arrived at the police station I was searched. They took everything from me according to custom. As I suppose the could find nothing that could incriminate me, thank God, or connect me with the crime I have been unfortunately suspected me of. I know of no crime, and my character will bear the strictest investigation. I am generally here, but occasionally stay at a lodging house, but not in Dorset-street. Before coming here on Thursday, I was at Holloway. Last Sunday week I was accosted in Church-street by two females unknown to me. One of them asked if I was the man, referring presumably to the Buck's-row murder? I said, “God forbid my good woman.” A man then came and asked to treat him to a beer. I walked on. I do not know Mrs Tiddyman's public house, and was ignorant of such a name as Mrs Siffy until it was published. I do not know the woman. On Tuesday a man came to Leman-street Station, and at the request of the police I went out into the yard. A stalwart man, of a negro cast, whom I know to be a boot finisher placed his hand upon my shoulder. I said “I don't know you; you are mistaken.” His statement that he saw me threaten a woman in Hanbury-street is false. I can give a full account of my whereabouts. I shall see if I can not legally proceed against those that have made statements about me. The charges against me have quite broken my spirits, and I fear I shall have to place myself under medical treatment.” The Press Association's representative adds: Piser is a man of medium height, with a moustache and whiskers. For a man of his class, he displays more than an ordinary amount of intelligence. He was perfectly at ease making his statement, and more than once appealed to his father for confirmation of his story. INQUEST OF THE MURDERED WOMAN. The adjourned inquest on the body of Annie Chapman, who was found murdered in Hanbury-street, Whitechapel, on Saturday was resumed on Wednesday at the Working Lads Institute, Whitechapel, by Mr Wynne Baxter. Inspectors Abberline and Helson attended to represent the police. A plan of the locality was prepared for the information of the jury. There was a large attendance of the public. Fountain Smith, printing warehouseman, deposed that he recognised deceased as his sister. She was the widow of a head coachman, who formerly lived at Windsor, and had lived apart from him for three or four years. He last saw her alive a fortnight ago. He gave her 2s. She did not tell him where she was living. James Kemp, packing case maker, Shadwell, said he worked at 23, Hanbury-street, for Mr. Bailey. His usual time for going to work was six o'clock. On Saturday he got there at ten minutes or a quarter past six. His employers gate was open. While he was waiting for the other men to come an elderly man named Davis, living near, ran into the road and called him. Witness went, accompanied by James Green and others. He saw a woman lying in the yard of No. 29, near the doorsteps. Her clothes were disarranged. Nobody entered the yard until the arrival of Inspector Chandler. The woman's hands and face were smeared with blood, and the position of the hands indicated that a struggle had taken place. The woman's internal organs had been torn out, and were lying over her shoulder. Witness went to fetch a piece of canvas to throw over the body, and when he returned the inspector was in possession of the yard. James Green, another of Mr. Bailey's workmen, corroborated. Amelia Richardson, 29, Hanbury-street, said she and her son occupied separate parts of the house. Francis Tyler carried on the work of a packing case maker there. He came at eight o'clock on Saturday morning, instead of six, the usual hour. Her son lived in John-street, and was occasionally late. About six o'clock on Saturday morning, her grandson, Thomas Richardson, hearing a commotion in the passage, went out, and on returning said there was a woman murdered in the yard. Witness went down and saw people in the passage. The inspector was the first person who entered the yard. She was awake part of Friday night, but heard no noise. Witness proceeded to describe the number of lodgers in the house, and the apartments they occupied. John Piser said he lived at 22, Mulberry-street, and was a shoemaker. He was known by the name of “Leather Apron.” On Thursday night he arrived at the house from the West End shortly before eleven o'clock. He remained indoors until he was arrested by the police on Monday, the 10th inst, at nine o'clock. – By the Coroner: He never left the house till then. He remained indoors because his brother advised him. – You were the subject of suspicion? – I was the object of unjust suspicion. – where were you on the 30th August. – I was staying at the Crossingham's common lodging house, Holloway-road. The jury did not question the witness and the inquiry was adjourned until today.