The Eastern Post & City Chronicle
Saturday, 8 September 1888.
The funeral of the unfortunate woman, Mary Ann Nichols, who was murdered in Buck's Row early on Friday morning last week, took place on Thursday. The arrangements were of a very simple character. The time at which the cortege was to start was kept a profound secret, and a ruse was perpetrated in order to get the body out of the mortuary, where it has lain since the day of the murder. A pair-horsed closed hearse was observed making its way down Hanbury Street and the crowds, which numbered some thousands, made way for it to go along Old Montague Street, but instead of doing so it passed on into the Whitechapel Road, and, doubling back, entered the mortuary by the back gate, which was situated in Chapman's Court. Not a soul was near other than the undertaker and his men, when the remains, placed in a polished elm coffin, bearing a plate with the inscription, "Mary Ann Nichols, aged 42; died August 31st, 1888," was removed to the hearse, and driven to Hanbury Street, there to await the mourners. These were late in arriving, and the two coaches were kept waiting some time in a side street. By this time the news had spread that the body was in the hearse, and people flocked round to see the coffin, and examine the plate. In this they were, however, frustrated, for a body of police, under Inspector Allisdon, of the H division, surrounded the hearse, and prevented their approaching too near. At last the cortege started towards Ilford, where the last scene in this unfortunate drama took place. The mourners were Mr. Edward Walker, the father of the deceased and his grandson, together with two of the deceased's children. The procession proceeded along Baker's Row and past the corner of Buck's Row into the main road, where police were stationed every few yards. The houses in the neighbourhood had the blinds drawn, and much sympathy was expressed for the relatives.
Up to a late hour no arrest had been made in connection with the murder. Latest information, from a reliable source, is to the effect that, unless the unforeseen happens, and a participator in the crime confesses - in which case a free pardon would be at once granted to the lesser criminal - no arrest will be made until Mr. Wynne Baxter has concluded his investigation at the forthcoming adjourned inquiry. More than one man, however, is suspected and watched.
