by Covell, Mike
The Aroha News, a New Zealand based newspaper, featured the following, dated November 10th 1888,
WHITECHAPEL MURDER. The statement made by the Coroner in the closing of the inquest on the body of Annie Chapman, the most recent of the Whitechapel victims, has created tremendous excitement, not only in London, but throughout the country, and has raised what seemed to be a series of commonplace, purposeless outrages to the position of the most startling sensation of the century. Briefly speaking, Dr. Wynne Baxter stated that there was every reason to believe that the murders which have thrown the East End of London into a state of panic have been committed for the purpose of obtaining specimens of certain portions of the anatomy of the female frame, and that, furthermore, they must have been the work not of a lunatic or common man, but of either a medical student or a surgeon. The victims must have been seized and held by the throat in such a manner as to produce immediate insensibility, the fatal gashes given in a manner which would cause instantaneous death, and the body was cut open in a way that showed that the man who did the deed knew exactly where to find the organs he wanted. In the significant words of the Coroner: “There are no meaningless cuts. The organ has been taken by one who knew where to find it, what difficulties he would have to contend against, and how he should use his knife so as to abstract the organ without injury to it. No unskilled person could have known where to find it or could have recognized it when it was found.” It is understood that what relates to the body of Annie Chapman, applies also to those of the three previous victims. The coroner then proceeded to say that a few months ago an American gentleman called at one of the leading London pathological museums, and offered £20 a piece for anatomical specimens, as he wished to issue a complete specimen with each copy of a medical work, which he intends to publish. At the first place he applied he was told that his request could not be complied with, but it was ascertained that he had made a similar application at other museums. The inference, therefore, is that, finding he could not obtain what he wanted, this American induced some needy surgeon or medical student to get the specimens for him, shutting his eyes or asking no questions as to where or how they were procured, or else that some impecunious person with surgical skill and knowledge, hearing that there was a market for the organs, undertook to supply them on his own account, and that he committed the murders in order to get them. Since the days of Burke and Hare murdered 14 people for the sake of selling their bodies to surgeons for anatomical purposes, the British public has received no such horrible sensation as that caused by the disclosures of the Whitechapel inquest.
Post 1888 Reports
In Great Britain a story appeared about Annie Chapman's life, said to be regarding a letter from her sister. The story appeared in The Pall Mall Gazette, dated May 1st 1889, The Nottingham Evening Post, dated May 2nd 1889, The North Eastern Daily Gazette, dated May 2nd 1889, The Huddersfield Daily Chronicle, dated May 2nd 1889, The Shields Daily Gazette, dated May 2nd 1889, The Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, dated May 2nd 1889, The Liverpool Echo, dated May 2nd 1889, The Leicester Chronicle and the Leicestershire Mercury, dated May 4th 1889, The Leeds Times, dated May 4th 1889, Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper, dated May 5th 1889, Aberdeen Weekly Journal, dated May 8th 1889, The Western Gazette, dated May 10th 1889, and the Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper, dated May 12th 1889, The Burnley Gazette, dated May 15th 1889, The Swindon Advertiser and North Wilts Chronicle, dated May 18th 1889, The Hastings and St Leonards Observer, dated June 22nd 1889, all featured the following story,
THE LIFE HISTORY OF A WHITECHAPEL VICTIM. A STRANGE SAD TRUE TALE. In his speech at the Presbyterian Synod yesterday evening the Rev. John MacNeill created quite a sensation by telling the following tale: He was speaking of temperance, and said that last Sunday (when he preached a temperance sermon at the Tabernacle), he received a letter that had been written by a lady on the danger of the use at communion of fermented wine. The lady in her letter told a sad story of an inherited passion for drink. There were four or five of them, several brothers and two sisters, the children of intemperate parents. Her sister had unfortunately inherited the craving, and before she was fourteen had taken to drink. The others became converted, and did all in their power to cure their sister, but it was of no use. The sister at length married comfortably and children were born. But the craving for drink grew greater and greater and at length she was sent to a home for enebriates (sic), where she stayed for a year. She left apparently, said the sister, a changed woman. Soon after, however, her husband caught her a severe cold and before going out one morning drank a glass of hot whisky, taking care, however, not to do so in the presence of his wife. Then, as was his custom, before leaving he kissed his wife. At once the fumes of alcohol passed into her, and in an hour she was a drunk and roaring woman. She went from bad to worse, and at last left her husband and children, one of them a cripple through her drunkenness. The husband died two years ago a white-haired and broken-hearted man, though only 45 years of age. “Need I add,” said the sister in a letter, “what became of her? Her story is that of Annie Chapman, one of the recent Whitechapel victims. That was my sister.”
The same story appeared in the Australian press in the Evening News, which is published in Sydney, Australia, on July 15th 1889, The Shoalhaven Telegraph, which was published in New South Wales, Australia, on July 17th 1889, and The Bairnsdale Advertiser and Tambo and Omeo Chronicle, which was published in Victoria, Australia, on June 15th 1889.
In New Zealand the story made it into the Otago Witness, dated June 27th 1889, the Auckland Star, dated June 29th 1889, the West Coast Times, dated July 3rd 1889, the Poverty Bay Herald, dated July 8th 1889, the Auckland Star, dated July 22nd 1889, the Bruce Herald, dated July 26th 1889, the Mataura Ensign, dated August 16th 1889, the Tuapeka Times, dated August 21st 1889, and the Bay of Plenty Times, dated September 5th 1889,
In America the story appeared in The Evening Bulletin, dated May 22nd 1889, The Omaha Daily Bee, dated June 1st 1889, The Middleburgh Post, dated June 13th 1889, The Abbeville Press and Banner, dated June 19th 1889,
The Marion Daily Star, a newspaper published in Ohio, USA, featured the following, dated May 22nd 1889,
A WHITECHAPEL VICTIM. The Story of Annie Chapman as Told by Her Sister. London, May 22. The history of one of the Whitechapel victims of Jack the Ripper is a sad illustration of the fearful power of inherited alcoholism. It appears that there were four of five children in the family. The parents were intemperate. It is the sister of the poor creature who tells the rest. The unhappy woman had unfortunately inherited the craving, and before she was 14 had taken to drink. The others became converted, and did all in their power to cure their sister, but it was of no use. The sister at length married comfortably and children were born. But the craving for drink grew greater and greater and at length she was sent to a home for enebriates, where she stayed for a year. She left apparently, said the sister, a changed woman. Soon after, however, her husband caught her a severe cold and before going out one morning drank a glass of hot whisky, taking care, however, not to do so in the presence of his wife. Then, as was his custom, before leaving he kissed his wife. At once the fumes of alcohol passed into her, and in an hour she was a drunk and roaring woman. She went from bad to worse, and at last left her husband and children, one of them a cripple through her drunkenness. The husband died two years ago a white-haired and broken-hearted man, though only 45 years of age. “Need I add,” said the sister in a letter, “what became of her? Her story is that of Annie Chapman, one of the recent Whitechapel victims. That was my sister.”
The Atlanta Constitution, a newspaper published in Georgia, U.S.A. featured the following, dated June 8th 1889,
A WHITECHAPEL VICTIM. The True story of One of the Murdered Women. In his speech at the Presbyterian synod, says the Pall Mall Gazette, the Rev. John MacNeill created a sensation by telling the following tale: He was speaking of temperance and said that last Sunday, when he preached a temperance sermon at the tabernacle, he received a letter from
a lady on the danger of the use at communion of unfermented wine. The lady in her letter told a sad story of an inherited passion for drink. There were four or five of them - several brothers and two sisters - the children of intemperate parents. Her sister had unfortunately inherited the craving, and before she was fourteen had taken to drink. The others became converted and did all in their power to cure the sister, but it was of no use. The sister at length married comfortably and children were born. But the craving for drink grew greater, and at length she was sent to a home for inebriates where she staid (sic) for a year. She left apparently, said the sister, a changed woman. Soon after, however, her husband caught a severe cold and before going out one morning drank a glass of hot whiskey, taking care, however, not to do so in the presence of his wife. Then, as was his custom, before leaving he kissed his wife. At once the fumes of the alcohol passed into her, and in an hour she was a drunk and roaring woman. She went from worse to worse, and at last left her husband and her children, one of them a cripple through her drunkenness. The husband died two years ago, a white-haired and broken-hearted man, though only forty-five years old. “Need I add,” said the sister in her letter, “what became of her? Her story is that of Annie Chapman, one of the recent Whitechapel victims. That was my sister!”
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, a newspaper published in Parramata, New South Wales, Australia, September 27th 1890,
Bro. Dash said it was an old saying that `Like produces like,' and that we often find children greatly resembling their parents, so it was a common thing for children to inherit the appetite for drink from their parents. There was no disease so likely to be transmitted from father to son as drunkenness. It had been stated by a doctor that drunken families became extinct in four generations. He told of a family that had inherited the drink craving, one of the daughters became a drunkard, she was sent to an inebriate asylum, and for eighteen months did not through drink; the old appetite was however aroused through catching the breath of her husband, who kissed her after taking a glass of spirits ; in two hours she was drunk, and went from bad to worse. This was Annie Chapman, one of the late Whitechapel victims. Such people should have the power to say whether licensed temptations should exist in their midst or not, We ought to have Local Option, and we will have Local Option. With regard to compensation, we would compensate the publicans by giving them comfort and peace at home, health and long life.
On November 2nd 1890, The Pittsburg Dispatch, featured a short article on the case, reviewing each murder. It featured the following sketch,
Conclusion
The day of September 8th 1888 started with the end of Annie Chapman. It was a tragic life with suffering and pain at almost every step. By the time she had died she had lost one child, separated from her husband, and seen him pass away. Whether we accept her as a victim of “Jack the Ripper” or not, her story deserves to be told. Her story as a wife, a mother and a victim. Hopefully, this is that story.
References and Further Reading
Jack the Ripper - General Reference
American Murders of Jack the Ripper, R. Michael Gordon, Lyons Press, 2005
Autobiography of Jack the Ripper, The, James Carnac, Bantam Press, 2012
Beaver Book of Horror, The, Daniel Farson, Beaver Books, 2007
Bell Tower, The, Robert Graysmith, Regnery, 1999
By Ear and Eyes, Karyo Magellan, Longshot Publishing, 2005
Carroty Nell – The Last Victim of Jack the Ripper, John E. Keefe, Menotomy Publishing, 2010
Carroty Nell – The Last Victim of Jack the Ripper, John E. Keefe, Menotomy Publishing, 2012
Complete History of Jack the Ripper, The, Philip Sugden, Robinson Publishing, 2002
Complete Jack the Ripper, The, Donald Rumbelow, W. H. Allen, 1976
Complete Jack the Ripper, The, Donald Rumbelow, Penguin Books, 1988
Complete Jack the Ripper, The, Donald Rumbelow, Penguin Books, 2004
Crimes and Times of Jack the Ripper, The, Tom Cullen, Fontana, 1973
Crimes, Detection and Death of Jack the Ripper, Martin Fido, George Weidenfield and Nicholson Ltd, 1987
Crimes, Detection and Death of Jack the Ripper, Martin Fido, Orion Books, 1993
Crimes of Jack the Ripper, The, Paul Roland, Arcturus Publishing, 2006
Diary of Jack the Ripper, The, Shirley Harrison, Hyperion Publishing, 1993
Diary of Jack the Ripper, The, Shirley Harrison, Blake Publishing, 1998
Diary of Jack the Ripper, The, - Another Chapter, James Stettler, Area Nine Publishing, 2009
Dracula Secrets, The, Jack the Ripper and the Darkest Sources of Bram Stoker, Neil R. Storey, History Press, 2012
E1- A Journey Through Whitechapel and Spitalfields, John G. Bennett, Five Leaves Publishing, 2009
Enigma of Jack the Ripper, The, John de Locksley, 1994
Epiphany of the Whitechapel Murders, Karen Trenouth, Author House, 2006
First Jack the Ripper Victim Photographs, The, Robert J. McLaughlin, Zwerghaus Books, 2005
Fox and the Flies, The, Charles Van Onselen, Vintage, 2008
From Hell- The Jack the Ripper Mystery, Bob Hinton, Old Bakehouse Publications, 1998
Identity of Jack the Ripper, The, Donald McCormick, Arrow Books, 1970
Illustrated Guide to Jack the Ripper, An, Peter Fisher, P. and D. Riley, 1996
In the Footsteps of the Whitechapel Murders, John F. Plimmer, The Book Guild, 1998
Jack the Ripper, Andrew Cook, Amberley, 2009
Jack the Ripper, Daniel Farson, Sphere, 1973
Jack the Ripper, John Mcllwain, Pitkin Guides, Jarrold Publishing
Jack the Ripper, Mark Whitehead and Miriam Rivett, Pocket Essentials, 2001
Jack the Ripper, Mark Whitehead and Miriam Rivett, Pocket Essentials, 2006
Jack the Ripper, Susan McNicoll, Altitude Publishing, 2005
Jack the Ripper- A Bibliography and Review of the Literature, Andrew Kelly, Association of Assistant Librarians, 1973
Jack the Ripper- A Bibliography and Review of the Literature, Andrew Kelly, Association of Assistant Librarians, 1984
Jack the Ripper- A Bibliography and Review of the Literature, Andrew Kelly, Association of Assistant Librarians, 1994
Jack the Ripper- A Bibliography and Review of the Literature, Andrew Kelly, Association of Assistant Librarians, 1995
Jack the Ripper- A to Z, Paul Begg, Martin Fido, and Keith Skinner, Headline Book Publishing, 1991
Jack the Ripper- A to Z, Paul Begg, Martin Fido, and Keith Skinner, Headline Book Publishing, 1992
Jack the Ripper- A to Z, Paul Begg, Martin Fido, and Keith Skinner, Headline Book Publishing, 1994
Jack the Ripper- A to Z, Paul Begg, Martin Fido, and Keith Skinner, Headline Book Publishing, 1996
Jack the Ripper- A to Z, Paul Begg, Martin Fido, and Keith Skinner, John Blake, 2010
Jack the Ripper- American Hero, Jacob Corbett, Amazon, 2012
Jack the Ripper- An Encyclopaedia, John J. Eddleston, Metro Publishing, 2002
Jack the Ripper- An Encyclopaedia, John J. Eddleston, Metro Publishing, 2010
Jack the Ripper- Anatomy of a Myth, William Beadle, Wat Tyler Books, 1995
Jack the Ripper- And Black Magic, Spiro Dimolianis, McFarland, 2011
Jack the Ripper- And the East End, Alex Werner, Chatto and Windus, 2008
Jack the Ripper- And the Irish Press, Alan Sharp, Ashfield Press, 2005
Jack the Ripper- And the London Press, Lewis Perry Curtis, Yale University, 2001
Jack the Ripper- Black Magic Rituals, Ivor Edwards, John Blake Publishing, 2003
Jack the Ripper- Casebook, Richard Jones, Andre Deutsch, 2008
Jack the Ripper- Crime Archive, Val Horsler, National Archives, 2007
Jack the Ripper- End of a Legend, Calum Reuben Knight, Athena Press, 2005
Jack the Ripper- His Life and Crimes in Popular Entertainment, Gary Colville and Patrick Lucanio, McFarland, 2009
Jack the Ripper- Inf
amous Serial Killer, Filiquarian Publications, 2008
Jack the Ripper- In Fact and Fiction, Robin Odell, Mandrake Publishing, 2009
Jack the Ripper- Letters from Hell, Stewart P. Evans and Keith Skinner, Sutton Publishing, 2004
Jack the Ripper- Light Hearted Friend, Richard Wallace, Gemini Press, 1997
Jack the Ripper- Location Photographs, The, Philip Hutchinson, Amberley Publishing, 2009
Jack the Ripper- Media, Culture, History, Alexandra Warwick and Martin Willis, Manchester University Press, 2007
Jack the Ripper- One Hundred Years of Mystery, Peter Underwood, Blandford Press, 1987
Jack the Ripper- Opposing Viewpoints, Katie Colby-Newton, Greenhaven, 1990
Jack the Ripper- Quest for a Killer, M. J. Trow, Wharncliffe True Crime, 2009
Jack the Ripper- Revealed and Revisited, John Wilding, Express Newspapers, 2006
Jack the Ripper- Scotland Yard Investigates, Stewart P. Evans and Donald Rumbelow, Sutton Publishing, 2006
Jack the Ripper- Summing up and Verdict, Colin Wilson and Robin Odell, Corgi Books, 1992
