Killer Cocktails: Jack the Sipper

It was 3.40 am on Friday, 31st August 1888, when Mrs Emily Holland was walking along Buck’s Row (now Durward Street) in Whitechapel, London, when she discovered the body of Mary Ann Nichols. The body was horrifically mutilated, the throat severed, the abdomen ripped open, and her genitals stabbed.

At 6 a.m. on Saturday, 8th September, Annie Chapman’s body was discovered at the back of 29 Hanbury Street, Spitalfields (part of the Whitechapel area). Her body had been attacked similarly to Mary’s, but her small intestine had been placed above her right shoulder. Her post-mortem also showed that her uterus, part of her bladder, and genitals had been removed.

At 1 a.m., Sunday, 30th September, Elizabeth Stride was found in Dutfield’s Yard, just off Berner Street (now Henriques Street) in Whitechapel. She had a 6-inch slash across her throat, severing her carotid artery and trachea. One of the differences with Elizabeth’s body is the lack of mutilation; canonically, she is classed as a victim of Jack the Ripper, but she may have been murdered by someone else. Of course, the murderer may have been interrupted before ‘finishing’ the job and ran off.

The interruption theory would make sense as later that night, at 1.45 a.m., the body of Catherine Eddowes was found. Again, the throat was severed, her abdomen had been cut wide open, and the intestines again placed over her right shoulder. There were added mutilations this time, possibly to make up for the lack of those inflicted on Elizabeth. Catherine’s left kidney had been removed along with most of her uterus; this time, the face had also been attacked. Her nose had been cut off, there were slits on her eyelids, and her cheeks had been slashed with triangular incisions. Part of her ear was later found within her clothing.

At 10.45 am on Friday, 9th November, the butchered body of Mary Jane Kelly was found on her bed at 13 Miller’s Court, off Dorset Street in Spitalfields. Her throat was cut down to the spine. Her face was ‘hacked beyond all recognition’. The abdomen was nearly emptied of all its organs. Her uterus, kidneys and one breast had been placed by her head. Other organs were left by her foot and throughout the bed; part of her abdomen and thighs were left on a small table. Her heart had been cut out and could not be found.

These five victims are classed as the official canon victims, although there were more Whitechapel murders around the same time. Rose Mylett, Alice McKenzie, the Pinchin Street Torso, and Frances Coles could all have been considered victims of Jack the Ripper, but officially, the last one was Mary Jane Kelly. You can read more here.