Morning Advertiser (London)
11 September 1888
THE HANBURY-STREET MURDER
The inquest on the body of Annie Chapman, alias Sivvey, was opened at ten
o’clock yesterday morning by the district coroner, Mr. Wynne Baxter.The
enquiry was held in the Alexandra Room, at the Working Lads’ Institute.
Inspector Helson, J division, represented the police authorities.
There was a large attendance of the general public in court and in the
precincts of the institute, and the approaches thereto were guarded by a
large number of constables. The latest newspaper accounts of the murder were
eagerly scanned by those in waiting, who thus passed the interval of time
between the opening of the court and the coroner’s arrival. There are
everywhere visible signs of the profound impression made by the crime.
Mr. Collier, deputy-coroner, now accompanied Mr. Wynne Baxter. The jury,
having been formally sworn in, went to view the body at the mortuary. On
their return,
John Davis deposed – I live at 29, Hanbury-street, Spitalfields. I am a
carman. I occupy one front room, which is shared by my wife and three sons.
I went to bed on Friday night at eight o’clock, and my sons came in at
different times – the last one at about a quarter to eleven. I was awake
from three o’clock until five, but fell off to sleep for about half an hour.
I got up at a quarter to six on Saturday morning, and went across the yard.
The house faces Hanbury-street. On the ground floor there is a front door
leading into a passage, which runs right through to the back yard. There is
a back door to this passage. Sometimes both doors are open during the night,
and I have never known either of them to be locked. Anyone who knows where
the latch of the front door is can open it and pass along into the yard. I
cannot say whether the back door was latched on Saturday morning when I got
down, but the front street door was wide open and thrown back against the
wall.I was not surprised at that. Witness was here asked to describe the
general appearance of the yard, but was not very clear in his statements.
Some time having been occupied in attempting to elucidate answers,
The coroner said that in country inquests the police were always ready to
assist him by preparing a plan of any locality which was the subject of
investigation. Certainly this was a case of sufficient importance for such a
plan, and he hoped that at any future time a plan would be laid before him.
Inspector Chandler said a plan should be drawn up.
The coroner observed that it might be then too late to be of any service.
Davis, resuming his evidence, said – When I opened the back door of the yard
I found a woman lying on her back. I called two men who are in the employ of
Mr.Bayley, packing-case maker, in Hanbury. They were standing outside their
place of work, which is three doors from 29, Hanbury-street, on the same
side of the road. They came and looked at the sight. I do not know them
personally.
The coroner asked if these men were known to the police.
Inspector Chandler said they were not.
The coroner expressed his surprise at this.
Witness. - I had to go to my work myself.
The Coroner. – Your work is of no importance compared with this inquiry. (To
Inspector Chandler.) - We must find these men out, either with the
assistance of the police, or with the assistance of my officer.
Witness. – The men did not wish to be seen in the job.
The Coroner. – If they have not been seen and identified yet, they must be.
Davis (continuing). – I informed the inspector at Commercial-street what I
had seen in the yard.I have never seen any women in the passage. I heard no
noises on Saturday morning.
Amelia Palmer said – I live at No.30, Dorset-street, which is a common
lodging-house. I am the wife of a labourer, who is a pensioner from the
army. I have known the deceased well for the past five years.I have seen a
body at the mortuary, and am quite sure it is that of Annie Chapman. She was
a widow. Her husband was formerly a veterinary surgeon at Windsor, and was
well known there. He died about eighteen months ago.The deceased had lived
apart from him for four years. Since the separation the deceased had lived
principally, though not altogether, in common lodging-houses in the
neighbourhood of Spitalfields. She lived two years ago at 30, Dorset-street,
with a man named “Sivvey.” At that time she was receiving 10s. a week from
her husband.The money was always sent by post-office order, payable at
Commercial-road. The remittances stopped 18 months ago, and the deceased
found that her husband was dead. The fact was ascertained from a brother or
sister of her husband living in Oxford-street, Whitechapel. Mrs. Chapman was
called Mrs. Sivvey, because the man she lived with was a sieve maker. He
left her some time ago. I saw the deceased two or three times during last
week. I saw her on Monday, Sept. 3, standing in the road opposite a
lodging-house, 35, Dorset-street. She had been staying there, and complained
of feeling unwell. The deceased had a bruise on one of her temples ; I think
the right temple. I asked how she got it. The deceased asked me to look at
her chest, which was also bruised, and said, “You know the woman,”
mentioning some name, which I do not remember, but it was a woman who
carried out books for sale. That woman and the deceased were acquainted with
a man called “Harry the Hawker.” The deceased told me that on Saturday,
Sept. 1, she (deceased) was with a man called Ted Stanley – a very
respectable man. She was in a beer-shop with him – 87, Commercial-street,
which is at the corner of Dorset-street. “Harry the Hawker” was also there,
and put down 2s. for beer ; the book-selling woman picked it up, and put
down a penny. There was an ill-feeling in consequence, and the same evening
the book-selling woman met the deceased and struck her in the face and
chest. I saw the deceased again on Tuesday, Sept. 4. I met her as she was
walking at the side of Spitalfields Church. The deceased said she felt no
better, and should go into the casual ward for a day or two. The deceased
told me she had not had even a cup of tea that day. I said, “Here is
twopence. Get a cup of tea.” Deceased used to do crochet work, make
anti-macassars and wall flowers. I am afraid she was not particular how she
earned her living, and I know that she was out late at times. She has told
me so. On Fridays the deceased used to go to Stratford, East, to sell
anything she had.i did not see her from Tuesday afternoon until Friday
afternoon.On that day I met her in Dorset-street about five o’clock. She
then appeared perfectly sober. I said, “Aren’t you going to Stratford
to-day?” She said, “I feel too ill to do anything.” I saw her again about
ten minutes afterwards on the same spot.She said, “It’s no use my giving
way. I must pull myself together and go and get some money, or I shall have
no lodgings.” That is the last I saw of her.The deceased told me she had
been in the casual ward. She was very industrious, and was a very clever
little woman. She had been living a very irregular life for five years, more
especially since her husband’s death.she has a sister and brother in London,
but I don’t think they were on friendly terms.the deceased had two children
at Windsor, and after her husband’s death they were put in a school.
The coroner said it appeared to be doubtful whether the husband of the
deceased was a veterinary surgeon.
Timothy Donovan, 35, Dorset-street, Spitalfields, deputy of a common
lodging-house, said – I identify the body at the mortuary as that of a woman
who has lodged at my place. She had lived there for four months, but was not
at No.35 last week until the Friday. Afterwards at about two or three
o’clock, she asked me to allow her to go into the kitchen.i consented, and
did not see her until about 1.45 on Saturday morning. At that time I was
sitting in the office, and I saw deceased go into the kitchen.Deceased
afterwards came upstairs, saying she had not sufficient money for a bed, and
adding, “Don’t let it ; I shan’t be long before I am in.”The bed she spoke
of was the one she usually occupied.the deceased left, and I did not see
which way she turned, but I believe the watchman did. I saw the deceased
with no man on Saturday night.I could not say whether deceased walked the
streets.she used to come and stay at the lodging-house on Saturdays with a
man of soldierly appearance, and who is said to be a pensioner.She has come
at other times with other men, and I have refused to allow her to have a
bed.
The Coroner. – A woman has only one husband at your place?
Donovan. – The pensioner told me not to let her have a bed with any other
man. She did not come to my place with any man on Friday night.As a rule she
occupied No. 29 bed by herself.The pensioner and deceased were together at
the lodging-house on Sunday, Sept. 2.
The Coroner. – Is anything known of this pensioner?
Inspector Chandler. – No, sir.
Donovan (resuming). – On the 25th of August the woman told me she was going
out to see if the pensioner had drawn his pension. She usually saw him in
the street. She was on good terms with all the lodgers, and I never had any
trouble with her. About Tuesday, august 28, the deceased and another woman
had a row in the kitchen before I was up. I afterwards saw them both outside
the house, but I did not notice any injury on deceased. Subsequently the
deceased called my attention to her eye, which was bruised, but she did not
tell me how the injury was done.
John Evans deposed. – I am night watchman at 35, Dorset-street. The deceased
used to live there. On Saturday morning I saw her go out of the
lodging-house.she went in the direction of Spitalfields Church. That was
after she had asked us to keep the bed until she got some lodging money. She
never returned. She came into the kitchen soon after twelve o’clock. I heard
her say that she had been to her sister’s at Vauxhall. I have known that the
deceased was out at nights, but I have known only one man with whom she was
associated. He used to come with her on Saturdays. That particular man
called on Saturday last, the 88h instant, at half-past two o’clock in the
afternoon to make inquiries about the woman. He had heard of her death. I do
not know either his name or address. After I had told him what had occurred
he went out without saying a word. I have never heard any man threaten the
deceased at any time.i have never heard her express fear of any one.
The Coroner. – Have you heard any woman at your house say that she had been
asked for money by any man?
Witness. – No.
This concluded the witness’s evidence, and the coroner adjourned the inquiry
until Wednesday at two o’clock.
Notwithstanding the presence of a large number of detectives and policemen
in Whitechapel and Spitalfields and numerous arrests- not confined entirely
to the East-end – the solution of the mystery attending the recent murders
in Whitechapel seems as far off as ever. Early yesterday morning a report
spread through the neighbourhood that “Leather Apron” was arrested, but its
verification was a matter of no little difficulty, seeing that the police at
Leman-street station, at which the man was alleged to be detained, refused
all information.It appears, however, that at about nine o’clock Detective
Thicke called at 23, mulberry-street, Commercial-road East, and upon the
door being opened by a man named John Piser the officer said he wanted him
in connexion with the murder of a woman in Hanbury-street. Piser was then
taken to Leman-street police station and detained pending inquiries. After a
short investigation it was doubted that the prisoner was the “Leather Apron”
of whom so much has been heard. He has been living in Mulberry-street for
some time with his step-mother and married brother, and his relatives and
neighbours stated that they never heard him called by such a nickname as
“Leather Apron.” Mrs. Piser, his sister-in-law, stated most positively that
he was in ill-health, and had not been outside the door since half-past ten
on Thursday. About six weeks ago he left a convalescent home, of which he
had been an inmate on account of a carbuncle on his neck. Like most of the
residents in Mulberry-street, he was a jew, and earned his living as a boot
finisher. This fact accounted for the discovery of a number of sharp knives
in his house. Some time after the arrest two detectives visited
Mulberry-street and closely questioned the residents in No. 22, but these
investigations, judging by what happened subsequently, resulted entirely in
Piser’s favour. The neighbours when questioned gave him a good character,
his sister-in-law scouting the possibility of his having been guilty of such
a crime, and describing him as “an easy-going man.”
So quietly did the police effect the arrest in the morning that few people
saw it, and those who did had no idea that it had any connexion with the
recent tragedies in the district. As the news spread, however, the
excitement in the district became intense, and was momentarily heightened,
the crowd being largely composed of Piser’s co-religionists. Soon after
three o’clock a scene of the most extraordinary character took place, the
participators being in a mental condition little short of frenzy. A message
was brought to Piser’s house to the effect that Piser was about to be
released. Hundreds of Jewish men and women were in Mulberry-street. They
danced about, they danced about, clapped their hands, and shouted in great
flee, some crying, in shrill voices, “Praise Jehovah.” When tired of these
demonstrations of joy, they made a rush in the direction of Leman-street
police-station, in the hope of meeting and welcoming the released man. It
may be mentioned that Piser was confronted by Mrs. Fiddymont and another
woman, who were acquainted with “Leather Apron.” They were quite unable to
identify Piser as that person.
Inquiries made in Winsor, yesterday, elicited the fact that the murdered
woman had a connexion with that place. Confirmation of this was found in the
statement of Amelia Palmer, a pensioner’s wife, who gave evidence at the
coroner’s inquiry, and whose intimate knowledge of the deceased’s mode of
life cleared up one or two points which might not otherwise have been
elucidated. Superintendent Hayes, of the Windsor Borough Police, on Saturday
received a telegram from Superintendent Shore, Detective Department of
Scotland-yard, and immediately made inquiries.A woman, who is believed to
have been Mrs. Chapman, was on one occasion in Superintendent Hayes’s
custody, but she was never brought before the magistrates.it has been stated
that the murdered woman was the wife of a veterinary surgeon, but at the
inquest yesterday, from information in his possession, the coroner expressed
a doubt as to the correctness of the evidence on this point.It appears from
information received from Windsor that in her happier days Mrs. Chapman was
the wife of a respectable coachman in the service of a gentleman at Clewer,
but the man was compelled to give up service in consequence of ill-health.
His illness lasted for some time, and he died in Grove-road, Windsor, at
Christmas, 1886. Chapman had been forced to separate from his wife in
consequence of her habits.The deceased had two children, a boy and girl.the
boy was admitted to a London hospital as a patient, and the girl was for
some time at Grove-road, Windsor ; but nothing is known of their present
whereabouts.we understand that Superintendent Hayes sent one of his men to
London yesterday afternoon, and that the policeman identified the body at
the Whitechapel mortuary as that of the Mrs. Chapman formerly of Windsor.
Great excitement was caused in the neighbourhood of Commercial-street
police-station in the course of the afternoon, on account of the arrival
from Gravesend of a “suspect” whose appearance resembled in some respects
that of “Leather Apron.” This man, whose name is William Henry Pigott, was
taken into custody on Sunday night at the “Pope’s Head,” Gravesend.
Attention was first attracted to Pigott by the fact that he had some blood
stains on his clothes. Superintendent Berry, the chief of the local police,
was communicated with, and a sergeant was sent to the “Pope’s Head” to
investigate the case.On approaching the man, who seemed in a somewhat dazed
condition, the sergeant saw that one of his hands bore several recently
inflicted wounds.Being interrogated as to the cause of the injuries, pigott
made a rambling statement to the effect that whilst he was going down
Brick-lane, Whitechapel, at half-pastfour o’clock on Saturday morning he saw
a woman fall in a fit, and when he stooped to pick her up she bit him on the
hand. Exasperated at this he hit her, but seeing two policemen coming up he
then ran away. The sergeant, deeming the explanation unsatisfactory, took
Pigott to the police-station, where his clothing was carefully examined by
Dr. Whitcombe, the divisional surgeon.The result of the scrutiny was an
announcement that two shirts which Pigott carried in a bundle were stained
with blood, and also that blood appeared to have been recently wiped off his
boots. After the usual caution, the prisoner Pigott made a further statement
to the effect that the woman who bit him was in the street at the back of a
lodging-house when seized with the fit.he added that he slept at a
lodging-house in Osborne-street on Thursday-night, but that on Friday he was
walking the streets of Whitechapel all night. He tramped from London to
Gravesend on Saturday.He gave his age at 52, and stated that he was a native
of Gravesend, his father having some years ago had a position there in
connexion with the Royal Liver Society. As the prisoner’s description
tallied in some respects with that furnished by headquarters of the man
“wanted,” Superintendent Berry decided to detain Pigott. In response to a
telegram apprising him of the arrest Inspector Abberline proceeded to
Gravesend yesterday morning, and decided to bring the prisoner at once to
Whitechapel, so that he could be confronted with the women who had furnished
the description of “Leather Apron.” A considerable crowd had gathered at
Gravesend railway station to witness the departure of the detective and the
prisoner, but his arrival at London-bridge was almost unnoticed, the only
persons apprised of the journey beforehand being the police, a small party
of whom were in attendance in plain clothes. Inspector Abberline and the
prisoner went off at once in a four-wheel cab to Commercial-street, where
from early morning groups of idlers had hung about in anticipation of an
arrest. The news of Pigott’s arrival at once spread, and in a few seconds
the police-station was surrounded by an excited crowd anxious to get a
glimpse of the supposed murderer. Finding that no opportunity of seeing the
prisoner was likely to occur, the mob, after a time, dispersed, but the
police had trouble for some hours in keeping the thoroughfare free for
traffic.
Pigott arrived in Commercial-street in much the same condition as when taken
into custody.He wore no vest, had on a battered felt hat, and he appeared to
be in a state of great nervous excitement. Mr. Fiddymont, who is responsible
for the statement respecting a man resembling “Leather Apron” being at the
“Prince Albert” on Saturday, was sent for, as were also other persons likely
to be able to identify the prisoner, but after a very brief scrutiny it was
the unanimous opinion that Pigott was not “Leather Apron.” Nevertheless it
was decided to detain him until he could give a somewhat more satisfactory
explanation of himself and his movements. After an interval of a couple of
hours the man’s manner became more strange, and his speech more incoherent,
the divisional surgeon was called in, and gave it as his opinion that the
prisoner’s mind was unhinged. A medical certificate to this effect was made
out, and Pigott will for the present remain in custody.
At several of the police-stations in the East-end of London men suspected of
being concerned in the tragedy have been in custody during the day, but on
investigation only a brief detention has been found necessary, except in the
two cases already referred to. It is stated that altogetgher seven people
have been detained since Saturday night.
Several events have happened which show what an effect the murders have had
upon the public mind.Several men asserted that they had been connected with
the outrages, and were in one or two instances taken to the police-station
surrounded by an excited crowd. But the only result was to waste the time of
the police, and to add to the panic which may be said to exist in the
East-end.
A later account says that notwithstanding assertions to the contrary, Piser,
who is alleged to be “Leather Apron,” is still in custody, and the police
attach considerable importance to the capture.It has been stated that since
the police made public his description he has been missing to the officers,
who know him to habitually frequent the neighbourhood of Whitechapel-road by
night, and this is considered an important circumstance in connexion with
the case.When the officers lost sight of him a vigilant search was made, but
without any result until yesterday morning. It is understood that the
prisoner did not reside at the house in which he was arrested.He is detained
at the Lemab-street Police-station, but at midnight, as far as could be
ascertained, he had not been charged with any specific offence. In the
meantime, however, a large number of officers are directing their
investigations into the man’s antecedents in every quarter.The local police
last night requisitioned the assistance of some experts. Among those who
went from Scotland-yard to the East-end were Inspector Abberline and
Superintendent Shaw, of the Criminal Investigation Department, an officer
who, perhaps, knows more about crime and criminals than any other man in the
service. The prisoner was brought from the cells to the superintendent’s
office, where he was seen by the officials. Whether he made a statement or
not is, of course, not known. It is beyond the power of the police to detain
Piser any length of time without charging him. Public opinion is so high in
the neighbourhood against the person known as “Leather Apron” that the
police have for once set aside one of the rules invariably adopted in such
cases. No matter where a man is arrested for any particular crime, he is
conveyed to the police-office in the neighbourhood where the crime is
committed, but in this case it was thought advisable not to remove Piser,
and the statement made last evening by the police that he had been liberated
is believed to be only a trick to prevent any unpleasant manifestations of
public indignation in the vicinity of the police-station.
Considerable importance is attached to the arrest of Pigott, who remains in
custody in a similar condition to that in which he was when arrested. He
still adheres to his original statement that he was in the vicinity of the
crime early on Saturday morning.The divisional surgeon of police who
examined him having given orders for the man to be watched, Pigott has been
conveyed to the Whitechapel Infirmary, where several officers have him under
observation. Under the lunacy laws it is necessary to charge within three
days a man supposed to be a wandering lunatic. Therefore, unless the man
recovers, he will have to be brought before a magistrate.the divisional
surgeon has intimated that if, at the expiration of 48 hours, Pigott
exhibits no signs of recovery he will be charged. In the meantime
investigations concerning him are being actively pursued, but at midnight
nothing had been discovered, nor had any of his friends or relatives been
found. Dr. Phillips will, pending the expiration of the allotted time for
Pigott’s detention, analyse the stains which are so profusely displayed
about his garments.
James Squires, 26, bricklayer, Dorset-road, West-green, Tottenham, was
charged with assaulting elixabeth Murphy and Matilda Wall. – the first-named
prosecutrix said she was the wife of a tram-driver living in Olinda-road,
Stamford-hill. At twelve o’clock on Saturday night, returning home from
Stamford-hill with Mrs. Wall, a neighbour, and the wife of a farrier, the
prisoner followed them from a tramcar and pushed between them. – Mrs. Wall
called out that squires wanted her watch, whereupon he struck her in the
mouth. Her face was grazed, and the back of her head cut. Squires then fell
against a lamppost, striking the back of his head, becoming insensible, and
they thought he was dead. The prisoner said he was rendered insensible by
two men. Both the women were drunk and carrying on, and Mrs. Wall struck him
first. – Mrs. Wall admitted that she was carrying a pint of whisky, but
neither she nor her companion were drunk. – constable 525 N said that on
Sunday morning, at one o’clock, he was called to Olinda-road. He found
Squires lying on the road, bleeding from the back of his head. The
prosecutrix having charged him with assault he was taken into custody, but
on inquiring how the prisoner had received his injury Mrs. Wall said “I did
it. That’s the Whitechapel murderer. I kicked him on the head.” All three
were drunk, especially Mrs. Murphy. – Both women protested that they were
sober, but Mr. Smith quicjly disposed of the case by discharging the
prisoner.
THE STABBING AFFAIR IN SPITALFIELDS. - Upon inquiry at the London Hospital
yesterday it was ascertained that the woman who was stabbed in the neck by
the blind pedlar in the neighbourhood of Buck’s-row was progressing as well
as could be expected. She has not made any statement.
The police have made several arrests in connection with the Hanbury-street
murder, but only two of the parties apprehended have been detained in
custody. One of the prisoners, named Pigott, is believed to be insane. He
has a wound upon his hand, and the injury he says was inflicted by a woman
on Saturday morning in Whitechapel.Some stains were found on two shirts he
was carrying when arrested, and a surgeon has expressed his belief that they
are blood stains. The inquest on the murdered woman was commenced yesterday,
and was adjourned to next Wednesday.It is now stated that the deceased was
not the widow of a veterinary surgeon as at first reported. Her husband was
a coachman, who formerly resided in Windsor.
LYCEUM THEATRE. – Her Royal Highness the princess Mary, Duchess of Teck,
occupied the Royal box of this theatre last evening, and witnessed for the
second time Mr. Richard Mansfield’s performance of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde.”
SIR CHARLES WARREN. – The London correspondent of the Liverpool Daily Post
says :- “Sir Charles Warren has returned to London from the Continent,
unexpectedly and earlier than he intended. It is understood that the
Commissioner’s movements are not in connexion with the East-end murders, but
in consequence of a fear on the part of the police that the Socialists will
again become troublesome shortly. During the past week the red flag bearers
have had a preliminary demonstration, and came in collision with the
constabulary.”
THE HOP HARVEST. – A Canterbury correspondent telegraphs :- The ingathering
of the hop crop is progressing as rapidly as the insettled weather will
allow.during the last few days the work has beenmuch interrupted by heavy
rain and thunderstorms, and the latest reports received from nearly all the
districts represent the crop as going off very fast, the deterioration being
caused by the raw, damp air and foggy nights.Im Mid-Kent, where the ravages
of mould and vermin are more serious than in any other district, one planter
alone has nearly 400 acres which have entirely collapsed since Wednesday
last. This will represent a loss of several thousands of pounds. Two other
large growers in the same division have at least 100 acres each which are
utterly worthless. In the more favoured districts some heavy crops are being
realised. In East Kent several planters have an average of a ton per acre,
others 15cwt., some 12DO HALF cwt., and many 10 cwt. The quality of all the
best hops is pronounced to be superior to last year’s growth.
