Introduction
Victims
Suspects
Witnesses
Ripper Letters
Police Officials
Official Documents
Press Reports
Victorian London
Message Boards
Ripper Media
Authors
Dissertations
Timelines
Games & Diversions
Photo Archive
Ripper Wiki
Casebook Examiner
Ripper Podcast
About the Casebook


Most Recent Posts:
General Discussion: Liz Stride - Facts - by Lewis C 9 minutes ago.
Ripperologist: Ripperologist #172 - by jmenges 55 minutes ago.
Witnesses: A Thick, Dark Moustache and Six Men? - by Abby Normal 3 hours ago.
Witnesses: A Thick, Dark Moustache and Six Men? - by Herlock Sholmes 5 hours ago.
Ripperologist: Ripperologist #172 - by Ally 7 hours ago.
Maybrick, James: The One Where James Maybrick was Jack the Ripper - by Iconoclast 7 hours ago.
Scene of the Crimes: Broad Shoulders, Elizabeth's Killer ? - by The Rookie Detective 9 hours ago.
Maybrick, James: The One Where James Maybrick was Jack the Ripper - by FISHY1118 10 hours ago.

Most Popular Threads:
Witnesses: Packer Again - (16 posts)
Maybrick, James: The One Where James Maybrick was Jack the Ripper - (9 posts)
General Suspect Discussion: Favoured Suspect... - (8 posts)
Other Mysteries: Any DB Cooper case news. - (5 posts)
Ripperologist: Ripperologist #172 - (3 posts)
Maybrick, James: The Diary—Old Hoax or New? - (2 posts)


St. James Gazette
London, England
8 October 1888

THE WHITEHALL DISCOVERY
INQUEST TODAY

The inquest on the body found on the site of the new police buildings on the Thames Embankment was open at half past three this afternoon, at the Westminster Sessions Court, before Mr. Troutbeck, coroner for Westminster. Inspector Marshall, of the Criminal Investigation Department, Scotland Yard, represented the police authorities.

Frederick Weldbore, a carpenter, employed by Messrs. Gurner and Son at Westminster, said he was working at the building in Cannon row last Monday. He went to a vault in search of his tools, which his labourer had left on the Saturday previous at two o'clock. He was not at the place himself on Saturday. When he went to the vault at six o'clock on Monday morning he noticed what he thought was an old coat lying in a recess. It was very dark in the vault, even in daylight. He did not find his tools there, as his labourer, named Richard, had shifted them previously. He went to the vaults again in the evening about half past five o'clock and noticed the same parcel, and he drew the attention of his mate who was with him to it. He struck a light and looked at it. He did not form any idea at the time what the parcel was. He saw it again the next morning, and at one o'clock he told Mr. Brown, an assistant foreman, about it. They went and looked at the parcel, but it was not opened in his presence. He had not been at the works for eight days before, and when he was last in the vaults, he did not notice anything. He was told three quarters of an hour after he had left the parcel with Mr. Brown that it contained a portion of a body. The parcel was not changed in position from the first time he saw it until Mr. Brown's attention was called to it. There as no smell about the parcel. There was nothing else in the vault but debris from the drain which they had been making. The vault had been used to put the men's tools in until three weeks ago, when they got a lock up. He only put his tools there from Saturday to Monday. He had not seen any person carrying such a parcel. He pointed out the position of the vault on a plan produced. He said that there would be difficulty in finding the way to the vault by any one not acquainted with the way.

By the jury: There was a hoarding all round the works. On each occasion when he saw the parcel he struck a light. He struck the light to assist him to find his tools. He at first thought that the parcel was one of the workmen's old coats.

George Brigden, labourer in the service of Messrs. Gurner and Son, said he was in the vault Tuesday afternoon last. Mr. Cheque, the foreman bricklayer, told him there was a parcel in the vault, and asked him to get a light and bring it out. He thought it was a parcel of bacon. He dragged it into the light and, with his pocket knife, cut the strings. (The strings were produced.) He found it was the body of a woman. There were a lot of old wrappings round it, but no paper. Mr. Cheque, Mr. Brown, and the last witness were present. The police took charge of the parcel.

Detective Thomas Hawkins said that Mr. Brown went to the King street police station on Tuesday afternoon, and in consequence of what he said the witness was sent to the building in Cannon row. He saw a parcel containing some human remains wrapped in some dress material which had been tied with string. The material produced had since been washed. The body was black and much decomposed. The way into the vaults was very dark, and he should say that it would be impossible for a stranger to find his way there except with a light.

Frederick M. Moore, of Great Peter street, said he found an arm at a quarter to one o'clock on the 11th of September, near the place where he worked - a deal wharf in Grosvenor road. A number of workmen were looking over the Embankment and drew his attention to an arm lying on the mud. It was not wrapped in anything. There was a string tied tightly round the upper part of the arm. He gave the arm to the police.

Police Constable William James said he received an arm from the last witness. He had searched up and down the Embankment since, but no more remains had been found.

Charles William Brown, of 5, Hampton terrace, Hornsey, assistant foreman to Messrs. Gurner and Son, said he was working at the new police offices. The buildings were shut off from the street by hoardings 7ft. high. There were two entrances into Cannon row and one by the Embankment. The vaults had been completed about three months. Only the workmen and those who had business with the clerk of the works were admitted. All the gates were locked up on Saturday except one small gate in Cannon row. There was no watchman and no one was left on the premises when the workmen left. The small gate was on a latch, which the workmen knew how to open. There were no watchmen outside. The approaches to the vault were made by planks laid crossways. It was a wide road. The vault was very dark. There were no appearances that the locks had been forced on Monday morning. From his knowledge of the works he thought it would require a previous experience of them to get to the vaults. He had been several times in the in the vault recently. He had noticed no smell. He had not used lights as he knew his way about pretty well. Wildbore drew his attention ot the parcel.

Charles Cheque, foreman bricklayer, corroborated the evidence of Wildbore and Brown.

Ernest edge, 9, Peabody buildings, Farringdon road, general labourer, said he was in the vault on Saturday at twenty minutes to five in the evening for the purpose of getting a hammer. He struck a match, and there was nothing in the vault then on the spot where the remains were subsequently found. He might have been in the vault once or twice on Monday, but not in the same place. He was there again on Tuesday when the body was brought out. It was his duty to lock up the premises, and all the workmen had gone when he locked up on Saturday and Monday nights. All the workmen knew that the latch could be raised by the pulling up of a string, and this gave admission to the works.

Dr. Thomas Bond said that on Tuesday, the 2nd. inst., he was called to the site of the new police station, and was shown the decomposed trunk of the body of a woman. It was lying on the basement in a parcel, the strings of which had been cut. He visited the place where the body had been discovered and found black stains on the wall. He though the remains had lain there several days. He directed their removal to the mortuary. On the following morning, assisted by Mr. Hebburn, he made an examination. The trunk was that of a woman of considerable stature and well nourished. The head had been severed from the trunk through the sixth cervical vertebra. That had been sawn through. The lower limbs and pelvis had been removed. The length of the trunk was 17in. and the circumference of the waist 35in. The arms had been removed at the shoulder joints by several downward cuts over the body. There were clearly defined marks of where the string had been tied. The parcel had been wrapped up in a skilful manner. The neck had been divided by several incisions and then sawn through. The woman had recently had severe pleurisy. There were indications that the woman did not die of suffocation or drowning.

The inquiry was proceeding when this report (sic) left.


THE MURDERS AT THE EAST END
ARREST IN WHITECHAPEL - DESPERATE RESISTANCE

The Exchange Telegraph Company learns that a man was arrested at Baker's row, Whitechapel, this afternoon, after a desperate resistance, and conveyed to the Bethnal Green police station. He is charged on suspicion with being concerned in the recent Whitechapel murders.

FUNERAL OF CATHERINE EDDOWES

The funeral of Catherine Eddowes, who was found murdered in Mitre square, took place this afternoon at Ilford Cemetery, Essex. The expenses of the funeral were borne entirely by a private person. Thousands of people lined the streets in the neighbourhood of the Golden lane mortuary. The cortege passed the junction of Osborn street and Commercial at 2:20 p.m., and the crowds were so dense that a force of police had to direct the traffic. The remains were borne in an open hearse, the coffin bearing wreaths, and two carriages followed. At the rear of the procession the extraordinary spectacle was witnessed of a wagonload of women whose attire was far from appropriate to the occasion.


Related pages:
  Catherine Eddowes
       Home: Timeline - Catherine Eddowes 
       Dissertations: A Piece of Apron, Some Chalk Graffiti and a Lost Hour 
       Dissertations: Anything But Your Prayers: Victims and Witnesses on the N... 
       Dissertations: By Accident or Design? A Critical Analysis of the Murder... 
       Dissertations: Catherine Eddowes: Wolverhampton and Birmingham 
       Dissertations: Double Trouble: Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes 
       Dissertations: Grave-Spitting & Other Tall Tales 
       Dissertations: Hyam Hyams 
       Dissertations: May My End A Warning Be: Catherine Eddowes and Gallows Li... 
       Dissertations: Stephen White, Amos Simpson and Eddowes' Shawl 
       Dissertations: The Funeral of Catherine Eddowes 
       Dissertations: The Marking of Catherine Eddowes 
       Message Boards: Catherine Eddowes 
       Official Documents: Catherine Eddowes's Inquest 
       Official Documents: Mitre Square - Census Listings 
       Press Reports: Alderley and Wilmslow Advertiser - 5 October 1888 
       Press Reports: British Daily Whig - 1 October 1888 
       Press Reports: City Press - 10 October 1888 
       Press Reports: City Press - 13 October 1888 
       Press Reports: City Press - 17 October 1888 
       Press Reports: City Press - 3 October 1888 
       Press Reports: City Press - 6 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily News - 1 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily News - 12 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily News - 2 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily News - 4 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily News - 5 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily News - 6 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily Telegraph - 12 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily Telegraph - 5 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily Telegraph - 9 October 1888 
       Press Reports: East London Advertiser - 13 October 1888 
       Press Reports: East London Advertiser - 6 October 1888 
       Press Reports: East London Observer - 13 October 1888 
       Press Reports: East London Observer - 6 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Eastern Post - 13 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Echo - 1 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Echo - 11 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Echo - 2 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Echo - 3 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Echo - 4 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Echo - 8 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening News - 1 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening News - 10 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening News - 11 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening News - 12 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening News - 20 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening News - 3 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening News - 4 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening News - 5 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening News - 6 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening News - 9 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening Standard - 1 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Frederick News - 2 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Freemans Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser - 1 Octo... 
       Press Reports: Freemans Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser - 12 Oct... 
       Press Reports: Freemans Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser - 2 Octo... 
       Press Reports: Freemans Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser - 3 Octo... 
       Press Reports: Freemans Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser - 4 Octo... 
       Press Reports: Freemans Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser - 5 Octo... 
       Press Reports: Freemans Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser - 6 Octo... 
       Press Reports: Illustrated Police News - 20 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Illustrated Police News - 6 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Irish Times - 1 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Irish Times - 12 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Irish Times - 2 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Irish Times - 3 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Irish Times - 4 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Irish Times - 5 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Irish Times - 6 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Irish Times - 8 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Lloyds Weekly News - 30 September 1888 
       Press Reports: London Evening News - 1 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Macclesfield Courier and Herald - 6 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Manchester Guardian - 12 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Manitoba Daily Free Press - 1 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Montreal Daily Star - 1 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Montreal Daily Star - 3 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Morning Advertiser - 1 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Morning Advertiser - 11 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Morning Advertiser - 12 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Morning Advertiser - 2 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Morning Advertiser - 4 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Morning Advertiser - 5 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Morning Advertiser - 8 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Morning Advertiser - 9 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Munster News - 6 October 1888 
       Press Reports: New York Times - 1 October 1888 
       Press Reports: North Eastern Daily Gazette - 1 October 1888 
       Press Reports: North Eastern Daily Gazette - 3 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Pall Mall Gazette - 01 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Pall Mall Gazette - 03 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Pall Mall Gazette - 04 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Pall Mall Gazette - 05 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Pall Mall Gazette - 06 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Pall Mall Gazette - 11 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Penny Illustrated Paper - 6 October 1888 
       Press Reports: People - 14 October 1888 
       Press Reports: People - 7 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Philadelphia Times - 3 December 1888 
       Press Reports: Police Gazette - 19 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Police Gazette - 5 October 1888 
       Press Reports: St. James Gazette - 1 October 1888 
       Press Reports: St. James Gazette - 12 October 1888 
       Press Reports: St. James Gazette - 4 October 1888 
       Press Reports: St. James Gazette - 5 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Star - 1 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Star - 11 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Star - 3 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Star - 4 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Star - 6 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Times - 11 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Times [London] - 1 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Times [London] - 12 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Times [London] - 16 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Times [London] - 2 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Times [London] - 3 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Times [London] - 5 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Times [London] - 6 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Times [London] - 9 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Trenton Times - 23 May 1892 
       Press Reports: Weekly Herald - 5 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Woodford Times - 12 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Woodford Times - 5 October 1888 
       Ripper Media: Catherine Eddowes: Jack the Ripper Victim 
       Victims: Catherine Eddowes 
       Victims: Catherine Eddowes: Her Last Known Movements and Discovery... 
       Victorian London: Mitre Square 
       Witnesses: Dr. Frederick Gordon Brown 
       Witnesses: Emily Birrell 
       Witnesses: James Blenkingsop 
  Whitehall Mystery
       Dissertations: The Thames Torso Murders of 1887-89 
       Message Boards: The Whitehall Mystery 
       Official Documents: Whitehall Mystery Inquest 
       Press Reports: Alderley and Wilmslow Advertiser - 19 October 1888 
       Press Reports: British Daily Whig - 3 October 1888 
       Press Reports: British Daily Whig - 9 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily News - 16 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily News - 18 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily News - 23 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily News - 3 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily News - 8 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily News - 9 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily Telegraph - 18 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily Telegraph - 19 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily Telegraph - 23 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily Telegraph - 3 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily Telegraph - 4 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily Telegraph - 8 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Echo - 10 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Echo - 15 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Echo - 16 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Echo - 17 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Echo - 18 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Echo - 19 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Echo - 20 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Echo - 22 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Echo - 30 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Echo - 5 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Echo - 6 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening News - 17 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening News - 18 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening News - 19 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening News - 30 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Freemans Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser - 9 Octo... 
       Press Reports: Irish Times - 18 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Irish Times - 23 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Irish Times - 9 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Manchester Guardian - 19 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Morning Advertiser - 17 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Morning Advertiser - 18 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Morning Advertiser - 19 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Morning Advertiser - 22 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Morning Advertiser - 23 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Morning Advertiser - 3 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Morning Advertiser - 31 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Morning Advertiser - 6 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Munster News - 17 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Newark Daily Advocate - 9 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Pall Mall Gazette - 08 October 1888 
       Press Reports: People - 28 October 1888 
       Press Reports: People - 4 November 1888 
       Press Reports: St. James Gazette - 3 October 1888 
       Press Reports: St. James Gazette - 6 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Star - 10 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Star - 18 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Star - 30 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Star - 5 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Star - 8 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Star - 9 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Times [London] - 18 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Times [London] - 19 October 1888 
       Press Reports: Times [London] - 23 October 1888 
       Victims: The Whitehall Mystery