by Covell, Mike
Freeman's Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser, a newspaper published in Dublin, Ireland, featured the following, dated September 14th 1888,
THE WHITECHAPEL MURDERS. THE RESUMED INQUEST. London, Thursday. The inquest on the body of Annie Chapman was resumed this afternoon by Mr. Wynne Baxter. The court was again crowded. Inspector Joseph Chandler, H Division, said he received information of the murder shortly after 6 o'clock on Saturday morning. He described the discovery of the body, and said on examining the yard he found a course piece of muslin and a small tooth comb, a pocket hair comb in a leather case, and an envelope with embossed seal “Sussex Regiment,” and an Inland postal stamp dated 23rd August. Near the water tap was a leather apron which was afterwards show to the police surgeon. There was also in the yard a nail box and a piece of steel, which, together with the leather apron, had been identified by Mrs Richardson, the occupier of the house. There was no evidence of a man having got over the railings which divided the yards. The Inspector then went on to describe the woman's clothing. John Richardson, who gave evidence yesterday, was seen by the witness about seven o'clock. Richardson said that he had been on the premises at an earlier hour that morning, and he was sure the woman was not there then. In reply to the foreman of the jury, Inspector Chandler said he had not been able to find the pensioner named Stanley. Foreman - It is really very important. He has been with the woman week after week, and staying with her night after night. Inspector Chandler - The parties at the lodging-house were requested to communicate to the police if the man came there. Nobody knows where he is. Coroner - The pensioner knows his own business, but I should have thought he would come forward himself. The Foreman asked why the Government did not offer a reward for the apprehension of the guilty party. The Coroner said he believed the money was spent in a different way, but still with the same object in view. Dr George Phillips, 2 Spital square, divisional police surgeon, said he examined the body of the deceased in the yard, 29 Hanbury street, when it was discovered on Saturday morning. He went to make post mortem on the afternoon of the same day. He was surprised to find the by had been stripped and probably partially washed. Examination was very difficult in consequence. He described the injuries which were of a frightful character. He said it seed as if an attempt had been made to separated the bones of the neck. Death resulted from the loss of blood from the neck. The injuries must have been inflicted with a long sharp knife with a thin blade. A slaughter man's knife well ground down would inflict similar injuries. Knives used in the leather trade would not be long enough. There were indications of anatomical knowledge, but it appeared that the work had been done in great haste. Witness said he was positive the deceased entered the yard alive. She had been dead about two hours. No trace of blood was found on the apron discovered in the yard. After further evidence the inquest was adjourned until Wednesday next. The Central News says - No fresh facts of importance have transpired to-day in connection with the Whitechapel murder beyond the evidence given at the inquest to-day. Dr Phillips' positive opinion that the woman had been dead quite two hours when he saw the body at half past six throws serious doubt upon the accuracy of at least two important witnesses and considerably adds to the prevailing confusion. There have been no other arrests, but some important information respecting the two lunatics under surveillance has been obtained. The man arrested at Holloway has for some reason been removed to the asylum at Bow. His own friends give him an indifferent character. He has been missing from home for nearly two months, and it is known that he has been in the habit of carrying several large butchers knives about his person. Inquiries are now being made with a view to tracing his movements during the past two months. Pigott, the man arrested at Gravesend, is still under strict surveillance.
The Eastern Morning News, a Hull based newspaper, featured the following, dated September 14th 1888,
THE WHITECHAPEL TRAGEDIES. ACTIVITY OF SCOTLAND YARD CHIEFS. No fresh facts of importance transpired yesterday in connection with the Whitechapel murder beyond the evidence given at the inquest. Dr. Phillips' positive opinion that the woman had been dead quiet two hours when he first saw the body at half past six throws serious doubt upon the accuracy of at least two important witnesses, and considerably adds to the prevailing confusion. There have been no further arrests, but some important information respecting the two lunatics under surveillance has been obtained. The man arrested at Holloway has for some reason been removed to the asylum at Bow. His own friends give him an indifferent character. He has been missing from home for nearly two months, and it is known that he has been in the habit of carrying several large butchers' knives about his person. Inquiries are now being made with a view to tracing his movements during the past two months. The Central News, telegraphing late last night, says: - The principle officers engaged in investigating the Whitechapel murders were summoned to Scotland Yard yesterday, and conferred with the chief officer. Later in the day Mr. Bruce, Assistant Commissioner, and Colonel Monsell, Chief Constable, paid a private visit to the Whitechapel district without notifying the local officers of their intention to do so. They visited the scene of the Buck's-row murder, as well as Hanbury-street, and made many inquiries. They spent nearly a quarter of an hour at No. 29, Hanbury-street, and minutely inspected the house and the yard in which were found the mutilated body of Mrs. Chapman. The police have satisfied themselves that the man Pigott could have had nothing to do with the murders, his movements having been fully accounted for, and he is no longer under surveillance. Most of the street doors in Hanbury-street and the neighbourhood heretofore left on the latch all night have now been fitted with locks, and the lodgers supplied with keys.
The Echo, a London based newspaper, featured the following, dated September 14th 1888,
THE EAST END MURDERS. IMPORTANT ARREST IMMINENT. POLICE CONSTABLES SUBSCRIBE FOR A REWARD. SINGULAR VISITOR TO COMMERCIAL STREET. THE HOLLOWAY ARREST. CONFERENCE AT SCOTLAND YARD. SEARCHING FOR THE PENSIONER. The Whitechapel mysteries now appear to be somewhat nearer solution than has been the case at any period during the investigations by the police authorities, and in certain quarters an arrest of a highly important character is believed to be imminent. One of the greatest difficulties with which the detective officers have to contend is the reluctance to give evidence on the part of persons who, it is thought, might materially facilitate the task of bringing the murderer to justice. So anxious are the police to bring home the crime to the murderer that the members of the H Division have actually subscribed amongst themselves a sum of £50 to supplement the reward of £100 offered by Mr. Samuel Montagu, M.P. The money will be paid to anyone who may confidentially place themselves in communication with the authorities at any of the local police stations. Since this report has spread amongst the frequenters of the common lodging houses, the secrecy hitherto observed by some men and women who knew Annie Chapman has been partially broken. Two of her associates have come forward and made statements as to the woman's movements during the week prior to her death. Inspector Abberline, Inspector Helson, Inspector Chandler, Detective sergeant New and other officials are availing themselves of the incidents which transpired respecting the murder at George Yard buildings, for certain facts now in possession of the police convince them that the three crimes were the outcome of one plot - either on the part of one man or a gang. “PEARLY POLL” KNEW “DARK ANNIE” Strangely enough, “Pearly Poll,” who was with Martha Turner on the night of that poor creature's barbarous murder in George Yard buildings, knew Annie Chapman, and had actually lodged with her at 35 Dorset street, Spitalfields. “Pearly Poll” has been questioned as to her knowledge of “Dark Annie,” but her answers on the subject have served little to elucidate the mystery. VISITING THE COMMON LODGING HOUSE. Our reporter visited 35 Dorset street (a common lodging house) this afternoon, and saw Tim Donovan, the deputy, and a woman named Elizabeth Allen, who stated that “Dark Annie” would sometimes sleep there three or four nights a week, and was so particular as to the accommodation that, said Elizab
eth Allen, she always insisted upon having an eightpenny bed, which carries with it greater advantages than those accorded by a fourpenny or sixpenny “doss.” “The lodgers having the cheaper bed,” said the woman, “were expected to turn out earlier in the morning.” Elizabeth Allen noticed “Dark Annie” came back into the house on the afternoon of the day before her death. At that time there was no man with her, and Annie Chapman remarked to Elizabeth Allen, “Betty, I'm sick of this. I've no money, and shan't come in here tonight. If someone would give me a pair of boots I should go off hopping at once.” “Dark Annie's” last words to her friend were, “Goodbye , Betty. Be good.” WHERE IS TED STANLEY? The man known as Ted Stanley, who occasionally visited 35 Dorset street with Annie Chapman, where they were regarded as man and wife, has not been seen in Whitechapel since Saturday last. He then walked in, about three o'clock in the afternoon, and addressing the deputy, asked if he had heard of the murder in Hanbury street. Tim Donovan replied that he had, adding, “I wonder who did it.” “When I said that,” exclaimed the deputy this afternoon, “he looked flushed, turned all manner of colours, and left the house directly after. A woman who came here last night told me she had seen Ted in Westminster, where he slept in a lodging house on Wednesday night. Why doesn't he come forward and say what he knows of the woman we thought was his wife?” The deputy states that he knew Ted Stanley as a pensioner, but what regiment he had been in he could not say. Latterly he had gained his living either as a dock labourer or a market porter. A fact of some significance is this - that on Saturday afternoon, when the pensioner arrived at 33 Dorset street, he was wearing a new coat. His appearance, remarked our informant, was quite different to what it had been before. RESIDENTS' DREAD OF OTHER CRIMES. Many of the inhabitants of the East end are almost terror stricken by the nightly dread of other murders being perpetrated in their midst, and such is the fear of women of the abandoned class that large numbers of them have left the district to swell the ranks of the fallen in other districts of the metropolis. Some of these poor creatures can, it is thought, give the police valuable information respecting certain of Annie Chapman's associates, in whose company the deceased was seen; but they refrain from doing so on account of threats held over their heads as to the consequences which would follow in denouncing a “pal.” In spite of the difficulties with which the police have had to contend, however, an important arrest may be looked for at any moment. A statement was made last night to a Press Association reporter by a young person named Lloyd, living in Heath street, Commercial road, E., which may possibly prove of some importance. While standing outside a neighbour's door, at about 10.30, on Monday night, she heard her daughter, who was sitting on the doorstep, scream, and on looking round saw a man walk hurriedly away. The daughter states that the man peered into her face, and she perceived a large knife at his side. A lady living opposite stated that a similar incident took place outside her house. The man was short of stature, with a sandy beard, and wore a cloth cap. The woman drew the attention of some men who were passing to the strange man, and they pursued him for some distance, until he turned up a bye street, and, after assuming a threatening attitude, he suddenly disappeared. PRESENT REPORTS OF THE POLICE. It is regarded as of considerable importance that Dr. Philips yesterday established the fact that the deceased must have been lying in the backyard in Hanbury street at least upwards of two hours before her body was found, and that young Richardson, therefore, must have been mistaken in his evidence. This gives the police only about two hours to account for in connection with the disappearance of Chapman. In addition to searching for the whereabouts of the woman during that time, special efforts are being made to ascertain, if possible, who was the writer of the envelope bearing the embossed stamp of the Sussex Regiment, a portion of which envelope was found on Chapman. It has just been discovered that she had been in the habit of receiving similar letters. AMATEUR DETECTIVES AT WORK. Numerous amateur detectives are at work exploring - as far as they can - the surroundings of this extraordinary crime. According to the London correspondent of The Times, “No less a personage than a director of the Bank of England is so possessed by his special conviction, that he has disguised himself as a day labourer, and is exploring the public houses, the common lodging houses, and other likely places to find the murderer.” FUNERAL OF THE VICTIM. The funeral of Annie Chapman took place this morning with the utmost secrecy.
