The Eastern Post & City Chronicle
Saturday, 22 September 1888.
RESUMED INQUEST ON ANNIE CHAPMAN.
MR. WYNNE E. BAXTER, coroner for South-East Middlesex, resumed on Wednesday afternoon, at the Working Lads' Institute, Whitechapel, the inquest into the circumstances attending the death of Annie Chapman, who was found in the yard of the house, 29, Hanbury Street, Whitechapel, on the morning of Saturday, September 8th, with her throat cut and her body frightfully mutilated.
Eliza Cooper, a hawker, lodging at 35, Dorset Street, Spitalfields, said she knew the deceased and had a quarrel with her on the Tuesday before her death - September 4th - in consequence of her bringing Mr. Stanley on the previous Saturday to 35, Dorset Street. The quarrel was about a piece of soap which she lent the deceased for Stanley to wash himself with.
Dr. George B. Phillips, recalled, gave the reasons for his believing that the perpetrator of the crime had held the woman's chin while he cut her throat. There were abrasions on the left side of the neck, and on the corresponding side was a more marked bruise. These indications led him to the conclusion that the woman was seized by the chin while the incision in the throat was perpetrated.
The Coroner asked for full details of his examination of the body.
The witness then proceeded to enlarge the evidence he had given at the last sitting, describing the condition of the organs that were cut or injured. The conclusion he came to was that the whole object of the operation was to obtain possession of a certain portion of the body.
By the Foreman: I was asked by the police whether a photograph of the deceased's eye would be of any use; but I gave it as my opinion that the photograph of the eye would be useless in this case. I was also asked whether bloodhounds could be used with success. I said I thought not, as there was so much of the woman's blood in the yard. The injuries I found on the lower part of the woman's face were consistent with partial suffocation.
After Elizabeth Long had given evidence,
Edward Stanley, a tall elderly working man, said: I live at 1 Osborn Place, Osborn Street, Spitalfields. I am a bricklayer's labourer, and I am known by the name of the "Pensioner." I knew the deceased. I visited her at 35, Dorset Street, once or twice, and at other times elsewhere. I last saw her alive on Sunday, the 2nd inst., between one and three o'clock. She was then wearing rings. I knew no one she was on bad terms with. I have never been with her week after week.
William Stevens, living at 35, Dorset Street, saw the deceased at 20 minutes past 12 on the Saturday morning, the 8th inst. She was not the worse for drink, and she wore rings on her finger. When she left the kitchen, where he saw her, she said she would not be long out of bed.
The Coroner (to the jury): Well, that is all the evidence there is. It is a question for you now to say whether you would like to close the inquest, or have it adjourned.
The jury expressed an opinion in favour of an adjournment to see if the police could get any further evidence, and the inquest was accordingly adjourned till Wednesday, the 26th inst.
Up to the hour of going to press no intelligence has reached us of any further discovery with reference to the recent terrible murders. Our representative on Friday morning visited each of the police-stations of the district, and interviewed the officers engaged in the investigation. Nothing of importance was communicated.
