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

  Annie Chapman

  Wife, Mother, Victim

  The Life and Death of a victim of Jack the Ripper

  Mike Covell

  Copyright (C) 2014 Mike Covell

  Layout Copyright (C) 2014 by Creativia

  Published 2014 by Creativia

  eBook design by Creativia (www.ctivia.com)

  Cover art by http://www.thecovercollection.com/

  Edited by Brian L Porter

  Editorial note: Much of the text used in this book is taken directly from contemporary newspaper and other printed sources, and the spelling and grammar is literally as originally written in 1888.A few changes have been made where it has been felt necessary to modernize certain words or grammar to prevent confusion in a modern-day reading audience. e.g. You may find the name Martha Tabran, (Martha Tabram), used frequently in certain publications, and the way streets are described `Hanbury-street' is as originally published.

  These are not errors, but simply the author's choice to include original text as written by those reporting at the time of Annie Chapman's murder.

  This is the second edition of the book, published by Creativia.

  Foreword by Brian L Porter

  When invited to contribute the foreword to Mike Covell's new book, I was delighted to oblige. For the first time, an author has taken the time to truly research the life of Ripper victim Annie Chapman in meticulous detail, and produce a thorough presentation, in full-length book format, of the facts relating to Annie's life and death. He does this not so much by the use of his own words and text, which, by their very nature, could be interpreted in different ways by different people, but by bringing together a number of contemporary sources and linking them together to give you, the readers an opportunity to read the story of Annie Chapman as if you are back in the year 1888, seeing the story presented as fresh news, as reported by the newspapers of the day.

  The fact that this wonderful book has been signed for film adaptation, in a movie about the life of Annie Chapman, by Thunderball Films, (Annie Chapman, Wife, Mother, Victim), prior to its release is a sure testament to its quality.

  This new literary approach works exceedingly well, as I'm sure you will soon discover as you enter the pages and the world of Mike Covell's Annie Chapman!

  Brian L Porter

  Author, A Study in Red – The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper

  Introduction

  Over 7 years ago I started seriously researching and writing about “Jack the Ripper.” It has been seven years of long hours spent at microfilm readers, computer screens, in local studies libraries, archives, and museums, studying, researching, writing, reading, travelling and trying to sort out the wheat from the chaff.

  Initially I started researching my home city's connection to the case, where I discovered that no fewer than 14 suspects had links, I then started looking at the Hull press and how they covered the case. Eventually I was to go off on tangents and research and write about specific scares, suspects, and victims.

  One such victim was Annie Chapman.

  What can be said or written about Annie Chapman that has not already appeared previously? That was the question I was asked recently, and my reply was, quite a lot actually. We know of only a handful of reports and primary sources regarding her life and untimely death at the hands of a serial killer known only as “Jack the Ripper,” but there is always new material being discovered.

  Whilst there are hundreds of books that feature Annie Chapman, with some concentrating on the victims in detail, there has never been a full length standalone Annie Chapman book. Mary Kelly, said to be the fifth and final victim of “Jack the Ripper” has had numerous books written about her, Elizabeth Stride received a very lovely treatment about her life and death, and even non canonical victims, such as Frances Coles, have received feature length books, but to date Annie Chapman has not.

  My aim was to feature as many primary sources, genealogical details, press reports, and official files on Annie and her life together in one place.

  So why Annie? My interest in Annie Chapman began some years ago whilst setting up for a Rippercast podcast. Back then it was not uncommon for Ripperologists to call each other before the shows to discuss future shows, potential guests and suitable topics. That day was hot and sunny, and I was sitting at the computer typing up newspaper reports from the Hull press for Jack the Ripper – Newspapers From Hull volumes one and two, and had been scouring through reports on Annie Chapman.

  I had been discussing the case with host Jonathan Menges, and as I sat chatting I was transcribing reports from the Hull press that featured Annie Chapman and the woman and her murder seized my imagination.

  The press reports, which are included in this volume, were very vivid in describing her life, death, and the area where she was discovered. Reading these press reports gave me a new found respect for not just her but the other victims. These were women, sisters, mothers, daughters; wives who were taken from their families so suddenly and so tragically. Whilst the victims were espoused from their families, as can be seen from the inquest reports and press reports, the families were all affected.

  Annie Chapman's life was filled with such tragedy, from the death of a child, to the separation from her husband, to his death, and subsequently her own untimely death. It was a life filled with tragedy before the Whitechapel murders began, and one that needed further investigation. I hope this volume does her justice.

  Primary Sources

  PROPERTY OF MIKE COVELL BASED ON RESEARCH UNDERTAKEN AT THE HULL HISTORY CENTRE THURSDAY MARCH 20TH 2014.

  Annie's mother and father were George Smith and Ruth Chapman, the couple are said to have married in 1842

  Birth:

  Whilst no birth record can be traced at present, we do have information from both the 1881 census, which shows she was born in 1841/1842, and the following baptism entry:

  Source: London Metropolitan Archives, Christchurch, Albany Street, Register P90/CTC2, Item 001

  Name: Annie Eliza Smith

  Record: Baptism

  Date: April 23rd 1842

  Father: George Smith

  Occupation: Trooper

  Mother: Ruth Smith

  Parish: Christ Church, Albany Street

  Borough: Camden

  Ceremony By: G.S. Woodgate

  The family moved to Windsor in 1856.

  The marriage of John and Annie is recorded in the British Birth, Marriage and Death records, thus,

  Year: 1869 Year: 1869

  Quarter: June Quarter: June

  Surname: Smith Surname: Chapman

  Name: Annie Eliza Name: John

  District: Westminster District: Westminster

  Vol: 1A Vol: 1A

  Page: 601 Page: 601

  Emily Ruth Chapman is born June 25th 1870 her birth is recorded in the British Birth, Marriage and Death records, thus,

  Year: 1870

  Quarter: Sept

  Surname: Chapman

  Name: Emily Ruth

  District: St George Hanover Square

  Vol: 1A

  Page: 373

  In 1870 the family moved to Bayswater

  In 1873 the family moved to some mews off Berkley Square, London

  Annie Georgina Chapman is born June 5th 1873 her birth is recorded in the British Birth, Marriage and Death records, thus,

  Year: 1873

  Quarter: Sept

  Surname: Chapman

  Name: Annie Georgina

  District: St George Hanover
Square

  Vol: 1A

  Page: 323

  John Alfred Chapman born November 21st 1880, but no sign of a birth

  Some reports state he was crippled

  1881 Census, [Source: RG11, P120, F70, P27, GSU1341027]

  29 Montpelier Place, St George Hanover Square,

  Ruth Smith 62 Head Laundress

  Fountain Smith 20 Son

  Annie Chapman 40 Stud Grooms Wife

  John Chapman 4mths Son

  Annie Chapman 7 Dau Scholar

  Emily Chapman 10 Dau Scholar

  Annie Chapman left her family in 1882 and returned to London

  Emily Ruth Chapman's death is recorded in the British Birth, Marriage and Death records, thus,

  Year: 1882

  Quarter: Dec

  Surname: Chapman

  Name: Emily Ruth

  District: Windsor

  Vol: 2C

  Page: 283

  John Chapman Senior's death is recorded in the British Birth, Marriage and Death records, thus,

  Year: 1886

  Quarter: Mar

  Surname: Chapman

  Name: John

  District: St George Hanover Square

  Vol: 1A

  Page: 393

  Annie Chapman is said to have resided at 30 Dorset Street in 1886

  Annie Chapman's death is recorded in the British Birth, Marriage and Death records, thus,

  Name: Annie Chapman

  Birth: Abt 1841

  Date of Registration: July/Aug/Sept 1888

  Age at Death: 47

  Registration District: Whitechapel

  County: London

  Vol: 1C

  Page: 175

  Press Reports: 1888

  The following press reports have been gleaned from local, national and international sources. The British Library's 19th Century Newspaper's Online, Gale's 19th Century Newspaper's Online, The Times Archives, The Australian Newspaper Archives, The New Zealand Newspaper Archives, The American Library of Congress Newspaper Archives, and the Casebook Press Project. Material has also come from the National Archives, Collingwood Newspaper Archives, and The Hull History Centre.

  With each report I have included the spelling, grammar and layout as close to the original as possible, the only difference being is that the headlines are nowhere near as big as the original headlines, which screamed from the front pages and columns of the Victorian press.

  Prior to the murder of Annie Chapman Hanbury-street had already appeared in the national press for a number of reasons. On September 4th 1888, The Daily News, a London based newspaper, featured a brief report on the Mary Ann Nichols murder, where it is claimed that Police Constable Mizen had been on duty on the corner of Hanbury-street and Baker's-row, when he was alerted to a woman lying in Buck's-row.

  On September 7th 1888, The Morning Post, reported that the funeral of Mary Ann Nichols had passed along Hanbury-street. The Star, dated September 8th 1888, also featured a report of the funeral passing along the street.

  September 8th1888

  The Echo, a newspaper published in London, England, featured the following, dated September 8th 1888,

  Another ghastly murder has been committed in the Whitechapel district this morning, the circumstances of the crime being almost identical with those which horrified London last week. Although the woman has not yet been identified, there can be little doubt that she belonged to the “unfortunate” class; indeed, it is said that she was drinking at a public-house at five o'clock this morning. The murder was effected precisely the same way as that of Mary Ann Nicholls, the throat being cut and the lower part of the body horribly mutilated. The only clue to the mystery, at present, is the knife, which this time the assassin left behind him. It is not much, but not infrequently the instrument with which a murder has been committed has led to the unravelling of the mystery. We are less than ever disposed to put any value on the theory that these murders of unfortunate women are the work of a gang of miscreants who levy black mail. The idea always appeared to us highly improbable, for the simple reason that, were such a gang in existence, the testimony of some of those who had paid blackmail would be forthcoming. There can be little doubt, however, that the murders had one common origin. The whole four were committed in or near Whitechapel, for though Hanbury-street, the scene of the latest tragedy, is actually in Spitalfields, it is very close to the Whitechapel border. All the circumstances favour the theory that they are the work of a lunatic with homicidal tendencies. The swiftness and secrecy of the murders, and the success of the perpetrator in destroying all traces of his presence, rather support the theory than tell against it, for criminal lunatics are often far more cunning than sane men. As all the murders were committed in the same locality, there can be little doubt that the murderer, whoever he is, will be found in or near Whitechapel. To the people of that district the inability of the police to unearth the assassin must cause great uneasiness. It is not possible always to have a policeman in every street. The dissatisfaction arises from the fact that the police, as they have become militarised, seem to have lost the art of detecting murders. ANOTHER WHITECHAPEL MURDER. A WOMAN HORRIBLY MUTILATED. BODY FOUND IN BACK YARD. Another murder, of a most brutal nature, has been committed in Whitechapel. At a spot only a few hundred yards from where the mangled body of the poor woman Nicholls was found just a week ago, the body of another woman, mutilated and horribly disfigured, was found at about six o'clock this morning. She was lying in the back yard of 29, Hanbury-street, Spitalfields, a house occupied by Mrs. Richardson, a packing-case maker. As late as five o'clock this morning it is said the woman who is at present unidentified, but is supposed to have been one who frequents the streets of the neighbourhood, was drinking in a public-house near at hand called the Ten Bells. The wounds upon the poor woman, so far as is at present known, are almost identical with those found upon the body of the woman Nicholls. The throat was cut in a most horrible manner and the stomach ripped up. LOCALITY OF THE CRIME. A crime of even a more revolting character than that recently committed at Buck's-row, where Mary Ann Nicholls was killed in a barbarous manner, was discovered this morning in Hanbury-street, Whitechapel, not five minutes' walk from the scene of the previous tragedy. As may well be imagined, the inhabitants in the district are seized with the greatest alarm, and at every street corner near the spot crowds of neighbours continue to assemble and discuss this latest edition of Whitechapel mysteries. Hanbury-street (lately known as Brown's-lane), is a respectable thoroughfare at the back of the Whitechapel-road, and it is but a few yards from Spitalfields Working Men's Club. No. 29, Hanbury-street, is a building of about four storeys, the rooms being let to tenants of the working classes. The room in front, on the ground floor, is used as a cat's-meat shop. FINDING THE BODY. From the front door is a passage about twenty feet long, leading to a small paved yard. It was in this yard that the body of a middle-aged woman, terribly mutilated, was discovered this morning, lying in a pool of blood. The sight was too shocking to describe. The poor creature was found by John Davis, a man employed in the Spitalfields Market. He is a married man, and lodges with his wife in a room at the top of the house. He went down this morning, at six o'clock, when he saw the deceased lying prostrate and lifeless in the yard. SURGICAL EXAMINATION. Dr. Phillips, of Spital-square, the Divisional Surgeon of Police, was at once apprised of the case as soon as it was reported to the police by John Davis. On arriving there Dr. Phillips found that the woman's throat had been cut nearly to the vertebrae, that she was completely disembowelled, and other dreadful injuries had been inflicted. She was then removed to the mortuary. To show the barbarity with which the crime was committed, the poor creature's intestines were lying near her. THE VICTIM'S ANTECEDENTS. A further examination showed that the woman had a bruise on her chest - supposed to be a rather old-standing injury - as it is believed that for this injury she had been in St. Bartholomew's Hospital. She went by the nickname of “Sibby,” but it is believed that her right name is Annie Chap
man. Her husband, a pensioner, allowed her, it is stated, 10s. a week. Late last night she was at Vauxhall. At half-past five o'clock this morning she was in a public-house - believed to be the Ten Bells, Church-street, where, it is alleged, she was drinking with a man. This tavern is about five minutes' walk from the scene of the crime. POLICE INQUIRIES. Chief Inspector West, Inspector Chandler, and other officers, were promptly investigating the case. Inquiries were at once made as to the man said to have been seen with the woman drinking in a public-house, and later on HER DESCRIPTION. Was issued. It was as follows: - “Woman, about 45 years of age, found murdered in a yard at 29, Hanbury-street. Length of body 5ft 4in, Hair (wavy) brown; blue eyes. Two teeth deficient in the lower jaw. Rings recently taken off from hands. (This is believed to be the case, from the marks left on the woman's fingers.) Black hat, black cloth jacket, and brown linsey bodice, and skirt trimmed black, light striped petticoat, lace boots, old and dirty.” On the body were found some papers in the name of a soldier of a Surrey Regiment. These papers were almost illegible. MRS. DAVIS STATEMENT. Mary Davis, wife of the man who discovered the deceased in the yard, made the following statement this morning - “The bell was ringing for six o'clock, and that is how I know the time that my husband went downstairs. He then said to me, `Old woman, I must now go down, for it is time I was on to my work.' He went down, but did not return, as he tells me that when he saw the deceased, and the shocking state in which she was, he at once ran off for the police. We never heard any screams, either in the night or this morning. I went down myself shortly after, and nearly fainted away at what I saw. The poor woman's throat was cut, and the inside of her body was lying beside her. Someone beside me then remarked that the murder was just like the one committed in Buck's-row. The other one could not have been such a dreadful sight as this, for the poor woman found this morning was quite ripped open. She was lying in the corner of the yard, on her back, with her legs drawn up. It was just in such a spot that no one could see from the outside, and thus, the dead creature might have been lying there for some time.” The murdered woman had lodged on and off at 35 Dorset-street, Spitalfields, a common lodging-house, for the past eight or nine months. Last night she had not anything to pay for her lodging, and she stated to the deputy that she should “Go out and get some money.” She did not return. Recently she was an inmate of the Whitechapel Workhouse for a brief period, occasionally making use of the casual ward when her funds would not permit of her paying for her lodging in Dorset-street. WHAT THE MILKMEN SAW James Wiltshire and Alfred Henry Gunthorpe, two milkmen in the employ of the Dairy Supply Company, Museum-street, Bloomsbury, were driving in separate carts through Hanbury-street early this morning. Wiltshire passed the thoroughfare at twenty minutes to six. He says, “There was no bother then, and no sign that a murder had been committed. There were people about, but I did not notice anyone in particular.” Alfred Henry Gunthorpe passed through part of Hanbury-street into Brick-lane, shortly after, and he saw nothing of a suspicious character. It is reported that two men have identified the body found in Spitalfields as that of a woman, whom they say is known as Ellen Clarke. They assert that they were drinking with her last night. HAD BEEN DEAD TWO HOURS. One singular circumstance in connection with the discovery is the statement of a lad, named Richardson, that at half-past five he passed through the yard, and the body was not there. This, however, can be accounted for by the fact that the body lay in a corner, and might not have been observed by the young man. The doctor, too, says that the deceased had been dead for about two hours when he was called to see her. NO WEAPON - NO CLUE. The police have, at present, no reliable clue to work upon, the fact that no weapon, or anything to give the slightest trace of the murderer, was near the body. EXCITEMENT IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. The excitement in the neighbourhood of Whitechapel this morning is intense. The discovery of this terrible crime, following as it does so rapidly upon the murders in George-yard and Buck's-row, seems to have paralysed the inhabitants with fear. All business in the vicinity of the scene of the murder, has, apparently, for the time, been stopped. The streets were, this morning, swarmed with people, who stood about in groups, and excitedly discussed the details of this morning's murder. The opinion is now firmly expressed that the murders have been committed by either the same person, or the same gang of persons. All these murders have been committed either shortly before or after midnight, and the dead bodies of the victims have been found in the morning. But the police authorities have yet been able to bring the crimes home to anyone. Such was the gist of the conversation which was carried on by the excited throng. Great anxiety is also felt for the future. While the murderer is at large they cannot feel safe. These people, however, were not content with simply discussing the subject of the murder. Every little diversion that was likely to create excitement, was eagerly sought after. Consequently, a poorly-clad woman, WHO WAS SEEN CRYING BITTERLY In Commercial-street attracted attention, and was quickly surrounded by a large and sympathetic crowd. The poor woman was in a very distressed condition. She averred that the murdered woman was her mother. She had, she said, been to the mortuary, but the police would not allow her to see the body. A police-constable ultimately arrived and requested the woman to “move on.” She refused to do so, and struggled violently. A man who was present, and who apparently was acquainted with the woman, however, lifted her on to his shoulder and carried her away. Almost at the same moment the cry of “STOP THIEF!” Was raised. It was then seen that a youth - apparently about 19 years of age - was being chased along Commercial-street by a large crowd of men, boys, and women. The lad turned down a side street. A constable; however, was in the street, and captured the runaway. The prisoner was taken to the police-station, accompanied by a crowd of several hundred persons. Then AN EXTRAORDINARY SPECTACLE was witnessed. While passing Hanbury-street, the cry of “The murderers caught,” was raised. This was the signal for a general stampede in the direction of Commercial-street. From every alley and bye street, men, women, and children rushed in hundreds. The excitement was intensified by the spread of the cry “The murderer is caught.” The majority of the crowd, however, ultimately found out their mistake. A taste for the morbid was also evinced by the crowd. The roadway facing the scene of the murder in Hanbury-street was completely blocked by the people, who stood idly gazing at the house, and the mortuary gate was also besieged. After the captured thief had been taken away, and the excitement had somewhat subsided, the crowd was again thrown into a ferment of excitement by the appearance of a small body of police who were wheeling an ambulance, containing what appeared to be the DEAD BODY OF A WOMAN. The crowd immediately surrounded the ambulance, and the police had the greatest difficulty in forcing their way through it. One woman, who ran forward and looked through a small opening in the covering of the ambulance, asserted that the woman's head was almost completely severed from her body. It was also rumoured that it was the body of another woman who had been found dead this morning, and who, it is thought, has also been the victim of a foul murder. ANOTHER ALARM. Excitement was once more caused in the Whitechapel-road by the appearance of a two-horse van belonging to the Great Eastern Railway Company, being rapidly driven towards the London Hospital. On the floor of the van lay the body of a man apparently dead. The body was covered over, but the face was exposed to view. A police-constable and four workmen were also in the van. The van, though driven at such a rapid rate, was followed by a crowd, which gradually increased in size while on its way to the hospital. THE “WRITING ON THE WALL” It is currently reported in Hanbury-street that this morning the following paragraph, written in chalk, was seen upon the wall of one of the back gardens there, and four persons distinctly stated they had actually seen the writing. The words are, “I have now done three, and intend to do nine more and give myself up, and at the same time give my reasons for doing the murders.” Whether there is any truth in the matter remains to be seen. RUMOURED ARRESTS. There have been several rumours of arrests to-day, but we are assured that these reports are wit
hout any foundation.