East London Observer
Saturday, 14 February 1891.
HORRIBLE TRAGEDY IN WHITECHAPEL.
At a quarter-past two on Friday morning, Police-constable 240 H found under one of the Great Eastern archways in Chamber-street, Whitechapel, the body of a woman, with the head well-nigh decapitated by a large incised wound inflicted on the throat. The woman was lying on her back in the roadway with her head towards the footpath, and her feet crossed one over the other. She was about twenty-five years of age, five feet in height with light hair and eyes, and a pale complexion. She was dressed in a black diagonal jacket, black dress, satin bodice, button boots with a black ribbon round her neck. Her hair was disheveled, and her appearance suggested that she had been engaged in a struggle. The assistance of Police-constable 327 H was obtained, and Dr. Philips, of Spital-square, the divisional surgeon, subsequently appeared on the scene. When he arrived he declared the woman to be still alive, but she expired before a stretcher from Leman-street station could arrive. The body was subsequently taken to the Whitechapel Mortuary, where it awaits an inquest. Chief Inspector Swanson, of Scotland Yard; Superintendent Arnold of Leman-street; and Detectives Reid and Thicke are engaged on the case, but up to the time of going to press no clue to the murderer has been found. An impression prevails that she is the victim of the so-called “Ripper,” who made Whitechapel a terror two years ago.
During the whole of yesterday large numbers of people were gathered at the scene of the murder, and also at the Pavilion Yard, where the body of the woman lies. The woman is known to be an unfortunate, commonly frequenting in the neighborhood of Tower Hill, and known as “Carrotty Annie” amongst her companions. Some doubt is expressed as to the author of the crime being the perpetrator of the former murders, owing to the fact that the deadly work on this occasion was done in an evidently bungling manner. A rumour was prevalent that a man employed in the Great Northern goods yard saw the woman, a short time before she was found, in company with a man of middle height, but owing to the darkness it was impossible to identify his features.
