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Jack the Ripper

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Narrative notes across 1 linked event

An early Whitechapel murder victim included in the broader Whitechapel murders file, but not generally treated as a canonical Jack the Ripper victim.

Osborn Street / Brick Lane Junction
Linked events
Apr 3, 1888• Osborn Street / Brick Lane Junction

Assault of Emma Elizabeth Smith

Emma Smith was sexually assaulted and robbed by a gang near the junction of Osborn Street and Brick Lane, dying the next day from peritonitis caused by the attack. She was included in the broader Whitechapel Murders file but is not generally regarded as a Jack the Ripper victim.

  1. Emma Smith is attacked by two or three men, one described as a teenager.
  2. She manages to return to her lodging house at 18 George Street, Spitalfields, and is taken to the London Hospital.
Narrative notes across 1 linked event

A Whitechapel murder victim sometimes discussed in relation to the Ripper case, though her inclusion in the canonical series remains debated.

George Yard Buildings, Whitechapel
Linked events
Aug 7, 1888• George Yard Buildings, Whitechapel

Murder of Martha Tabram

Martha Tabram (also known as Martha Turner) was stabbed 39 times in a frenzy, potentially with two different weapons. Some historians discuss her as a possible early Ripper victim, but her inclusion in the canonical series remains disputed.

  1. Tabram separates from her friend, 'Pearly Poll,' going into George Yard with a soldier.
  2. Her body is discovered on a first-floor landing of George Yard Buildings by a resident, John Saunders Reeves.
Narrative notes across 1 linked event

A resident of George Yard Buildings who discovered Martha Tabram's body.

George Yard Buildings, Whitechapel
Linked events
Aug 7, 1888• George Yard Buildings, Whitechapel

Murder of Martha Tabram

Martha Tabram (also known as Martha Turner) was stabbed 39 times in a frenzy, potentially with two different weapons. Some historians discuss her as a possible early Ripper victim, but her inclusion in the canonical series remains disputed.

  1. Tabram separates from her friend, 'Pearly Poll,' going into George Yard with a soldier.
  2. Her body is discovered on a first-floor landing of George Yard Buildings by a resident, John Saunders Reeves.
Narrative notes across 1 linked event

Known as 'Polly' Nichols, she is widely regarded as the first canonical Jack the Ripper victim.

Buck's Row, Whitechapel
Linked events
Aug 31, 1888• Buck's Row, Whitechapel

Murder of Mary Ann Nichols

Mary Ann 'Polly' Nichols, 43, is considered the first canonical victim. Her throat was slit twice, and her abdomen was partially ripped open by a deep, jagged wound.

  1. The body of Mary Ann Nichols is discovered by cart driver Charles Cross in Buck's Row.
Narrative notes across 1 linked event

The cart driver who discovered Mary Ann Nichols's body in Buck's Row.

Buck's Row, Whitechapel
Linked events
Aug 31, 1888• Buck's Row, Whitechapel

Murder of Mary Ann Nichols

Mary Ann 'Polly' Nichols, 43, is considered the first canonical victim. Her throat was slit twice, and her abdomen was partially ripped open by a deep, jagged wound.

  1. The body of Mary Ann Nichols is discovered by cart driver Charles Cross in Buck's Row.
Narrative notes across 1 linked event

One of the canonical Jack the Ripper victims, found murdered in the yard of 29 Hanbury Street.

29 Hanbury Street, Spitalfields
Linked events
Sep 8, 1888• 29 Hanbury Street, Spitalfields

Murder of Annie Chapman

Annie Chapman, 47, was found with her throat cut. Her abdomen was entirely laid open, and her uterus had been removed.

  1. The body of Annie Chapman is discovered in the backyard of 29 Hanbury Street.
Narrative notes across 1 linked event

A canonical Jack the Ripper victim killed during the 'Double Event' of September 30, 1888.

Dutfield's Yard, Berner Street
Linked events
Sep 30, 1888• Dutfield's Yard, Berner Street

The 'Double Event': Murder of Elizabeth Stride

Elizabeth Stride, 44, was found with her throat cut but with no other mutilations. It is believed the killer was interrupted during the attack by the cart of Louis Diemschutz.

  1. Louis Diemschutz discovers the body of Elizabeth Stride in Dutfield's Yard.
Narrative notes across 1 linked event

The steward who discovered Elizabeth Stride's body in Dutfield's Yard.

Dutfield's Yard, Berner Street
Linked events
Sep 30, 1888• Dutfield's Yard, Berner Street

The 'Double Event': Murder of Elizabeth Stride

Elizabeth Stride, 44, was found with her throat cut but with no other mutilations. It is believed the killer was interrupted during the attack by the cart of Louis Diemschutz.

  1. Louis Diemschutz discovers the body of Elizabeth Stride in Dutfield's Yard.
Narrative notes across 3 linked events

A canonical Jack the Ripper victim murdered in Mitre Square during the 'Double Event'.

Mitre Square, City of LondonGeorge Lusk Residence, 1 Tollet Street
Linked events
Sep 30, 1888• Mitre Square, City of London

The 'Double Event': Murder of Catherine Eddowes

Less than an hour after Stride's murder, Catherine Eddowes, 46, was found dead. Her throat was slit, and she was severely mutilated, with her left kidney and a major part of her uterus removed.

  1. PC Edward Watkins discovers the body of Catherine Eddowes in Mitre Square.
  2. A piece of Eddowes' blood-stained apron is found in a doorway on Goulston Street along with the 'Juwes' graffiti.
Oct 16, 1888• George Lusk Residence, 1 Tollet Street

The 'From Hell' Letter Received

George Lusk, head of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee, receives a letter and a small box containing half of a preserved human kidney, allegedly taken from Catherine Eddowes.

Jan 13, 2025

Demand for New Inquest based on Shawl DNA

Descendants of Catherine Eddowes and suspect Aaron Kosminski supported a legal application for a new inquest into Eddowes's death, citing DNA analysis of a shawl said to be associated with the case. The shawl evidence and the resulting identification claims remain heavily disputed.

Narrative notes across 1 linked event

The police constable who discovered Catherine Eddowes's body in Mitre Square.

Mitre Square, City of London
Linked events
Sep 30, 1888• Mitre Square, City of London

The 'Double Event': Murder of Catherine Eddowes

Less than an hour after Stride's murder, Catherine Eddowes, 46, was found dead. Her throat was slit, and she was severely mutilated, with her left kidney and a major part of her uterus removed.

  1. PC Edward Watkins discovers the body of Catherine Eddowes in Mitre Square.
  2. A piece of Eddowes' blood-stained apron is found in a doorway on Goulston Street along with the 'Juwes' graffiti.
Narrative notes across 1 linked event

Head of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee who received the 'From Hell' letter and kidney parcel.

George Lusk Residence, 1 Tollet Street
Linked events
Oct 16, 1888• George Lusk Residence, 1 Tollet Street

The 'From Hell' Letter Received

George Lusk, head of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee, receives a letter and a small box containing half of a preserved human kidney, allegedly taken from Catherine Eddowes.

Narrative notes across 1 linked event

The final canonical Jack the Ripper victim, murdered indoors in Miller's Court.

13 Miller's Court, Dorset Street
Linked events
Nov 9, 1888• 13 Miller's Court, Dorset Street

Murder of Mary Jane Kelly

Mary Jane Kelly, around 25, was the final canonical victim. She was murdered indoors, allowing the killer an extended period of time for the most extensive mutilation of the series.

  1. The landlord's assistant, Thomas Bowyer, discovers the horrific scene at 13 Miller's Court after peering through a broken window pane to check on her outstanding rent.
Narrative notes across 1 linked event

The landlord's assistant who discovered Mary Jane Kelly's body in Miller's Court.

13 Miller's Court, Dorset Street
Linked events
Nov 9, 1888• 13 Miller's Court, Dorset Street

Murder of Mary Jane Kelly

Mary Jane Kelly, around 25, was the final canonical victim. She was murdered indoors, allowing the killer an extended period of time for the most extensive mutilation of the series.

  1. The landlord's assistant, Thomas Bowyer, discovers the horrific scene at 13 Miller's Court after peering through a broken window pane to check on her outstanding rent.
Narrative notes across 1 linked event

A senior Metropolitan Police official whose memorandum shaped later theories about Jack the Ripper suspects.

Linked events
Feb 23, 1894

The Macnaghten Memorandum Written

Sir Melville Macnaghten, Assistant Chief Constable of the Metropolitan Police, writes an internal memorandum listing three suspects: Montague John Druitt, Aaron Kosminski, and Michael Ostrog. This document heavily influenced the major Ripper theories for decades.

Narrative notes across 1 linked event

One of the three major suspects named in the Macnaghten memorandum.

Linked events
Feb 23, 1894

The Macnaghten Memorandum Written

Sir Melville Macnaghten, Assistant Chief Constable of the Metropolitan Police, writes an internal memorandum listing three suspects: Montague John Druitt, Aaron Kosminski, and Michael Ostrog. This document heavily influenced the major Ripper theories for decades.

Narrative notes across 2 linked events

One of the principal historical Jack the Ripper suspects and the subject of later, disputed DNA-based claims tied to Catherine Eddowes.

Linked events
Feb 23, 1894

The Macnaghten Memorandum Written

Sir Melville Macnaghten, Assistant Chief Constable of the Metropolitan Police, writes an internal memorandum listing three suspects: Montague John Druitt, Aaron Kosminski, and Michael Ostrog. This document heavily influenced the major Ripper theories for decades.

Jan 13, 2025

Demand for New Inquest based on Shawl DNA

Descendants of Catherine Eddowes and suspect Aaron Kosminski supported a legal application for a new inquest into Eddowes's death, citing DNA analysis of a shawl said to be associated with the case. The shawl evidence and the resulting identification claims remain heavily disputed.

Narrative notes across 1 linked event

One of the suspects listed in the Macnaghten memorandum.

Linked events
Feb 23, 1894

The Macnaghten Memorandum Written

Sir Melville Macnaghten, Assistant Chief Constable of the Metropolitan Police, writes an internal memorandum listing three suspects: Montague John Druitt, Aaron Kosminski, and Michael Ostrog. This document heavily influenced the major Ripper theories for decades.

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