The second body was found on September 8th 1888 (Just eight days after the death of Polly Nichols). She was found in the back garden of 28 Hanbury Street, Spitalfields, her name was Annie Chapman and she was found by John Davis, who lived there. Like Nichols, her skirts had been pulled up. Chapman had one hand on her breast, her legs drawn up close to her body and knees turned outwards. Her head was turned to the right, swollen. Her small intestines and other organs were lying on the ground, above her shoulder (But, they were still attached to her body). Above her other shoulder, was part of her stomach, with a lot of blood. Her throat too had been slashed, right around her neck. As the knife was similar to the type used in amputations, the murder was considered to have been carried out by someone who had anatomical skill and knowledge.
Elizabeth Stride was found by Louis Diemschutz on 30th of September 1888. Contrary to the previous murders, her skirts were not lifted. She was lying on her side, her legs drawn up to her body with her feet against the wall on the right side of the passage she was found in. She was quite warm, except for her hands, the right of which was open and on her chest, the left, closed and lying on the ground. Her mouth was slightly open and there was a long cut in her next, above her jaw, cutting her windpipe in two. There were no mutilations on her body, which suggested that the murderer had run away.
The fourth of the Ripper victims, was found in Mitre Square, less than an hour after Stride had been found. PC Edward Watkins, who had found her, said that she was on her back in a pool of blood, feet facing the square, with her clothes pulled up above her waist. Her throat had been cut, her stomach ripped up. When the area was searched for clues, a part of this woman’s apron was found, and above it, were the words, ‘The Juwes are The men That Will not be Blamed For nothing’. But Sir Charles Warren, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, ordered it to be cleaned away. The body was later identified as Catherine (‘Kate’) Eddowes.
The final victim, Mary Jane Kelly, was found on November 9th, 1888, by Thomas Bowyer, who was sent to collect her rent. She was found with the worst mutilations, her skin had been removed, but she had been killed by a slash to her throat. This was not the only mutilation however. The surface of her abdomen and thighs had been removed, as well as her internal organs. Her breasts had been cut off, with one by her head, and one by her foot. Also, her arms and face had been slashed so badly that they couldn’t be recognised, with her neck cut to the bone. Also removed were her uterus, kidneys, liver, intestines and spleen. Her heart was missing from her body and could not be found on the scene. This time, the doctor that investigated decided that the murderer didn’t have any medical knowledge, which was a different view to all of the previous doctors.
A letter was sent to the Central News Agency, signed by ‘Jack the Ripper’. At first, this was believed to be a hoax, but after two more murders, the police began to believe differently. It had been written in red ink, and the things that were included in this letter, later matched up with the next two murders committed after it was sent.
The day after the murders of Stride and Eddowes, the Central News Agency received a postcard. This, like the letter, was signed ‘Jack The Ripper’. It had been sent the day that these two murders had been committed, but it was possible for this to be a hoax, as the writer of the card could have read about the murders before sending it.
Finally, a letter was received by George Lusk, president of the Vigilance Committee, on the 16th of October 1888. Along with the letter (Which came in a cardboard box) was a human kidney, preserved in wine, which was later discovered to be very similar to the one that had been removes from Eddowes. The letter contained poorly spelt words, and was signed ‘Catch me when you can Mishter Lusk’
After these letters had been sent, the Ripper was thought of as more terrible than ever before, he seemed as if he was proud of the killings and then tried to ‘show off’ to the police and people who were trying to stop him.
