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In this session we will-

Know the story of five women from Whitechapel ‘The Five’ by Hallie Rubenhold

I wish to retrace the footsteps of five women, to consider their experiences within the context of the era, and to follow their paths through both the gloom and the light…They were children who cried for their mothers; they were young women who fell in love; they endured childbirth and the deaths of their parents; they laughed and celebrated Christmas. They argued with their siblings, they wept, they dreamed, they hurt and they enjoyed small triumphs…It is for them that I write this book. Family Born to parents Edward and Caroline Mary Ann ‘Polly’ Nichols Walker th st The middle child and only daughter. 26 August 1845 – 31 August 1888 Father was a blacksmith By 1854 her mother and younger Alone Education brother had died of tuberculosis Polly got an unofficial separation from Unusually for her Polly looked after her father and William with the help of the workhouse. gender and class brother after the death of her mother. William, it was ruled, should pay Polly a Polly attended weekly sum of 5 shillings. This would not school until she was Marriage have been the case if the workhouse 15 and could read 16th January 1864 Polly, age 18, married believed her to be a drunk as William and write. William Nichols, age 22, a printer. claimed. 8th Sept 1888 The Peabody Estate Instead of returning to her father and Illustrated Police Designed for the ‘most deserving of the brother Polly struck out on her own. Reputation News working poor’ William and Polly were Work Ellen Holland, a accepted as tenants after writing a letter of Polly could not afford to live on 5 shillings, friend of Polly’s, application, being visited by the Peabody jobs for working class women paid was questioned at trustees, providing proof of smallpox pittance for 70+ hours work per week. the coroners Polly and William’s inoculation, and shown to be sober and Eventually William stopped paying her the inquest as to children: lawful. allowance as he cited that she was in a whether Polly had William Edward - relationship with another man. The Peabody estate would have been the been a prostitute. 1864 (died 1866) nicest place Polly had lived. They had to Workhouses Ellen denied this When she lacked money for a room Polly Edward John - 1866 adhere to strict rules about being clean and clearly more than George Percy -1868 tidy. Breaking any rules would result in would go to the workhouses. This would once. As did her eviction have been deeply unpleasant and she father and husband. Alice Esther - 1870 likely was ashamed. Eliza Sarah - 1876

Marriage breakdown To avoid this she would also sleep rough. Henry Alfred - 1878 29th March 1880 Polly left her husband and children. Her father stated that William was having an affair with Rosetta Walls, the next Alcohol door neighbour, and had turned nasty. While she may not have been a William stated it was because Polly was drunk when her husband claimed, Coroner recorded profession on death drinking. William and Rosetta left Peabody she did start to drink, which lost certificate: so they could live as man and wife and had a her a job as a servant. ‘Wife of William Nichols, Printing Machinist’ child of their own. Family Father, George Smith, was in the military in the 2nd regiment of the Life th Guards who would guard the monarch September 1841 - 8 September1888 against crowds. Work Education Mother, Ruth Chapman was a servant. By 1861 Annie was a housemaid, as was Annie attended the Annie was born out of wedlock, but common among women of her age. She regimental school at George was given permission to marry would have had a room of her own, worked the barracks. She by the military later the same year long hours and only had a day or half a day would have been able Annie had 6 siblings, all younger. 4 off each month which made visiting her to read and write and died in childhood. The family moved family difficult. experienced a higher around when George was posted to quality of education different areas, living in or near Alcohol than most of her barracks which were unhygienic, damp Annie’s father had been an alcoholic and according working class peers. Annie, 1869 around and cramped. to her sister Annie ‘inherited the curse’. It is likely the time of her George was promoted and became a that Annie started to drink more after marriage wedding when she had free time. Annie had a child with high ranking servant when he retired Annie and John’s foetal alcohol syndrome and more than one baby from the army. He committed suicide children that died young, possibly linked to drinking. After he in 1863. In order to keep a roof over Reputation Emily Ruth daughter Emily died Annie developed a reputation her families head Ruth invested the There is no Chapman, 25 June for drunkenness, which eventually led to John’s last of George’s pay into renting a evidence Annie 1870 (died age 12 employer making it clear that she could not stay on house and taking lodgers was ever a meningitis) his property. John and Annie decided to separate so prostitute, she Annie Georgina he didn’t lose his job. crocheted and Marriage Chapman, 5 June sold matches to John Chapman was a lodger at Annie’s Whitechapel 1873 mothers house. They married in 1869 John paid Annie 10 shillings a week with the earn money. when Annie was 27. John was a expectation she would live with family. But her She was very John Alfred gentleman's coachman, driving horse alcoholism meant that this was not possible. John unwell at the Chapman, 21 and carriage for his employer. This was died and Annie was distraught. The loss of money also time of her November 1880 murder. a job quite high on the hierarchy of made her choices of accommodation much worse. (disabled and servants and as a result the couple had She took up with Edward Stanley and they would needed specialist nice rooms by the stables on their share a room in a lodging house over the weekends care) employers land. Annie rose to the and get drunk. She was not known to see any other Coroner recorded profession on position of lower middle class, having a men at this time and wore rings to give the impression death certificate: day maid to help in the house and her she was married. She would sleep rough on nights she ‘Widow of John Chapman, a children were educated. could not afford lodging houses. coachman’ Family Born in Torslanda, Sweden. She was th th the daughter of a Swedish farmer, 27 November 1843 – 30 Gustaf Ericsson, and his wife, Beata Carlsdotter. She had an older sister September 1888 and two younger brothers. Just Marriage Michael Kidney before she turned seventeen she In March 1869 she married John After John’s death Elizabeth moved to the city of Gothenburg to Thomas Stride, a ship's carpenter took up with the dock worker seek employment as a servant from Sheerness who was 13 years her Michael Kidney. They did not senior. They opened a coffee house have a happy relationship. together, but went out of business. In Both drank heavily and Kidney Pregnancy 1877 the couple separated for a time was violent towards her. It is Illustrated Police In 1865 Elizabeth was pregnant with and she was picked up by the police also likely that relationship News 6th October an illegitimate child. Nothing about for vagrancy and taken to a problems came from Kidney’s 1888 the father is known. Elizabeth was workhouse. After this the couple were infidelity – he caught placed on a police register for reconciled temporarily, splitting up for but Elizabeth would no longer Education prostitution. She was found to have good in 1881. have been contagious. Limited – could syphilis and the 19th century ‘cure’ Making a living in not read and in unhygienic wards caused the When John was unable to bring in write. Her miscarriage of her child. enough money Elizabeth used her Reputation parents focused

wits to make money – she claimed From 1886 – death Elizabeth’s on teaching her Work in Sweden to be a survivor of a recent, behaviour seems to have how to run a Upon arriving in Gothenburg Elizabeth devastating ship sinking where over changed dramatically. With farm and house. found work as a servant, but left for 600 people died. She claimed her several arrests for drunk and After moving to reasons unknown in Feb 1864. She husband and children had perished disorderly behaviour and she continued to describe herself as a and appealed for charity. She also obscene language. One spoke English so servant. After her miscarriage she found pretended to be a woman's possibility is that the syphilis she well people work again as a servant in Gothenburg estranged sister so the woman caught 20 years ago was in the didn’t realise before taking an opportunity to leave would occasionally give her money final stages, where it attacks the she was not Sweden for London and escape her brain and nervous system native. reputation as a fallen woman. Prostitution in London In October 1884 John Stride died. The Coroner recorded profession on death London next month Elizabeth was arrested for drunk and disorderly behaviour and certificate:

Moved to London in 1866 soliciting. There is no evidence she was ‘Widow of John Thomas Stride, arrested again for soliciting after this. carpenter’ Family Parents George and Catherine Catherine ‘Kate’ Eddowes Eddowes. Moved to London from 14th April 1842 – 30th September 1888 Wolverhampton when Kate was a Work Education baby. George was a tin plate worker, Travelling with Tom and helping him to sell trinkets and song Attended school which was skilled work. If they had sheets – some of which they wrote – involved sometimes until less children then might have lived in sleeping rough or in a workhouse if they had not earnt approximately moderate comfort. They had 12 enough for a bed for the night. But it played to her strengths age 14. Was children, 10 who survived to their an entertainer and got her out of the factories of noted as having teens and as a result they were poor. Wolverhampton and . They would resort to an ‘unusual Her mother died in 1855 and her begging when needed. Eventually Kate settled in London. degree of father two years later. Kate’s older Tom still travelled to find work and Kate and her children intelligence’ sister appealed to family in The Penny were in and out of workhouses. Wolverhampton to take Kate in. Five illustrated paper, th of her younger siblings were sent to Alcohol 13 October 1888 the workhouse as orphans. 1876 arrested for drunk and disorderly behaviour and served Reputation 14 days in prison. There were times when her children were There is no Wolverhampton and Birmingham taken to the workhouse because she and Tom were missing Kate and evidence she Her aunt and uncle got her a job as a for several days or weeks probably linked to drinking. Tom’s children ‘scourer’ 12 hour days working in a was ever a Catherine factory environment. She was caught prostitute. ‘Annie’

stealing. Age 19 she left New relationship When she died Conway – Wolverhampton for Birmingham to After Conway, Kate formed a relationship with John Kelly. nearly 500 1863 George - 1868 live with another aunt and uncle, who They shared a love of drinking. But had no fixed address, people paid Harriet – 1869 found her a similar job staying in Whitechapel lodging houses or sleeping rough. He their respects was not violent and they got on with other locals, sharing their at her funeral (died at 3 money when they could on 8th October weeks 1888 including malnutrition) Un-married many Thomas – Kate met Tom Conway in 1862. He was a ‘chapman’ he was nomadic, travelling the country selling members of 1873 books, song sheets, and an assortment of trinkets. Kate’s family disliked him. He had no reliable income her family. or fixed address. By July Kate was pregnant and left her family to travel with Tom. She was forced to go to a workhouse to have her first child and claimed she was married. It was fairly common some poor Coroner recorded profession couples to live in ‘common-law marriages’ without being married, but workhouses would not provide on death certificate: the same level of help to these women and they were often put into the same category as prostitutes, ‘Supposed single woman’ looked down on by higher levels of society. Conway was violent to Kate. They broke up in 1881 Education Family Nothing is known Nothing is known for certain about for certain. But she her family. She told different stories to th had no Irish or different people, sometimes claiming c.1863 – 9 November Welsh accent to be Welsh, sometimes Irish. suggesting 1888 elocution lessons. One landlady ‘High end’ prostitution Less privileged prostitution commented on her Mary Jane arrived in London between When she returned from Paris, Mary Jane did ‘scholarship’ and 1883 – 1884. She took lodgings in not go back to the wealthy London areas she artistic ability. Brompton and Her profits from top had worked before. Possibly to avoid Which a working end of the sex trade in London meant detection from the people who trafficked her class girl would she earnt a good living. She ‘led the to France, they would have been dangerous likely not have life of a lady’ being driven about in a men. Instead she moved to a cheaper areas been taught. So carriage. She would have had fine near the docks to continue her trade. possibly she was clothes and the men she met would from a well to do 1888 newspaper have spoilt her with fine food and family and sketch ‘A lost woman’ drink, jewellery and nights out as well Alcohol educated as such. as paying her for sex. Once returned from France Mary Jane took to drinking more. She was described as ‘one of the Trafficked to Paris most decent and nicest girls when sober … very Mary Jane was offered a trip to quarrelsome and abusive when intoxicated’ Reputation Paris, although when she got there it Her neighbours described her as ‘one of was not what was expected. Many Relationships the smartest, nicest looking women in women at this time could be duped In 1886 – 1887 Mary Jane formed a relationship the neighbourhood’ ‘good, quiet and into foreign prostitution, where with Joseph Fleming, a labourer in the building pleasant’ well liked, she enjoyed singing their belongings were taken and trade. They lived together in one room for a few and telling stories, especially stories they were told they needed to work months until they split up. She then moved to about her time in the West End, when off their debt – which was always Whitechapel and met Joseph Barnett. They lived in she had led the life of a lady. increased – before they could leave. shabby one room accommodation together until Mary Jane managed to leave, latter she was murdered. They both enjoyed a drink, saying ‘she did not like the part’ which meant money was tight even though Barnett (what was expected of her) but it is had a job as a porter. When he lost his job Mary Coroner recorded profession not known how she alluded her Jane had to consider going back to prostitution. on death certificate: trader but she did. ‘Prostitute’ Woman Key features of her life. Links to areas we have studied. Mary Ann ‘Polly’ Nichols Peabody estate.

Annie Chapman

Elizabeth Stride

Catherine ‘Kate’ Eddowes

Mary Jane Kelly The five woman you have investigated were all murdered in Whitechapel.

st was found in Bucks Row on 31 August Annie Chapman was found in the back yard of 29 on th 8 September Elizabeth Stride, found in Berners Street on 30 September

Catherine Eddowes was found in Mitre Square, also on the 30th September th Mary Jane Kelly was found inside Miller’s court on 9 November

The police believe that all women had been killed by the same person. The murdered was never caught but has been given the popular nickname ‘ ’. Today the Whitechapel area has been described as a fashionable, trendy, cool place to live and visit.

There are art galleries to browse in, bars to drink in, clothing shops to visit. This is the Cereal Killer café on in the Whitechapel area of London.

London hipsters regularly pay £5 for a bowl of cereal!!

This is the pub in Whitechapel.

For years it was known as “The Jack the Ripper”. After a long campaign Reclaim the Night- a charity fighting violence against women, succeeded in forcing a name change.

Do you think that the Cereal Killer café is also guilty of being insensitive towards Ripper victims like Polly Nicholls? Do you think that the Cereal Killer café is also guilty of being insensitive towards the five victims? Should it change its name? Whitechapel 8

In this session we will:

Understand how to answer a 2b follow up question. EXAM QUESTION 2b (4 marks) How would you follow-up on Source A to find out more about the effects of poverty on the people in Whitechapel in this period?

Detail in source I would follow up on:

Question I would ask:

What type of source I could use:

How this might help answer my question: EXAM QUESTION 2b (4 marks) How would you follow-up on Source A to find out more Source A: Inspector Byrnes, New York Police, reflecting on the Whitechapel about the attitudes to the Police force. police in Whitechapel in this period? The perpetrator would have been captured long ago but for the stupidity of Detail in source I would follow the London police. up on: These murders have all been committed within a very small district. They have Question I would ask: been localized and all show the hand of the same assassin. What type of source I could The crimes were all of the same class. use: They were committed within a well-known quarter patronized by How this might help answer wantons and depraved men. my question: EXAM QUESTION 2b (4 marks) How would you follow-up on Source A to find out more about attitudes towards the Step 1: Decode the Question police in Whitechapel in this period? What does the question want you to focus your enquiry on? Detail in source I would follow up on: Attitudes towards the Police Question I would ask:

What type of source I could use:

How this might help answer my question: EXAM QUESTION 2b (4 marks) Source A: Inspector Byrnes, New York Police, How would you follow-up on Source reflecting on the Whitechapel Police force. A to find out more about attitudes towards the police in Whitechapel in The perpetrator would have been captured this period? long ago but for the stupidity of the London police.

Detail in source I would follow up on: These murders have all been committed within a very small district. They have been localized “These murders have all been and all show the hand of the same assassin. committed within a very small district.”district’’ The crimes were all of the same class. They were committed within a well-known quarter patronized by wantons and depraved men. Step 2: Select a detail from the source

Does it relate to the focus of the question: - attitudes towards the police?

No: - we need to make sure it looks at the focus of the question/enquiry Public opinions about the police force EXAM QUESTION 2b (4 marks) Source A: Inspector Byrnes, New York Police, How would you follow-up on Source reflecting on the Whitechapel Police force. A to find out more about attitudes towards the police in Whitechapel in The perpetrator would have been captured this period? long ago but for the stupidity of the London police.

Detail in source I would follow up on: These murders have all been committed within a very small district. They have been localized “These“The perpetrator murders have would all havebeen been and all show the hand of the same assassin. committedcaptured long within ago abut very for small the stupidity district.”of the London police.” The crimes were all of the same class. They were committed within a well-known quarter patronized by wantons and depraved men. Step 2: Select a detail from the source

Does it relate to the focus of the question: - attitudes towards the police?

Yes: - Inspector Byrne thinks the police are stupid. EXAM QUESTION 2b (4 marks) Source A: Inspector Byrnes, New York Police, reflecting on the Whitechapel Police force. How would you follow-up on Source A to find out more about attitudes The perpetrator would have been captured long ago but for the stupidity of the London police. towards the police in Whitechapel in this period? These murders have all been committed within a very small district. They have been localized and all show the hand of the same assassin. Detail in source I would follow up on: “The perpetrator would have been captured long The crimes were all of the same class. ago but for the stupidity of the London police.” They were committed within a well-known quarter patronized by wantons and depraved men. Question I would ask: Were the London Police stupid? Step 3: What question could you ask of the source?

Does your question still link to the enquiry? EXAM QUESTION 2b (4 marks) Source A: Inspector Byrnes, New York Police, reflecting on the Whitechapel Police force. How would you follow-up on Source A to find out more about attitudes The perpetrator would have been captured long ago but for the stupidity of the London police. towards the police in Whitechapel in this period? These murders have all been committed within a very small district. They have been localized and all show the hand of the same assassin. Detail in source I would follow up on: “The perpetrator would have been captured long The crimes were all of the same class. ago but for the stupidity of the London police.” They were committed within a well-known quarter patronized by wantons and depraved men. Question I would ask: Were the London Police stupid? Step 3: What question could you ask of the source?

Does your question still link to the enquiry?

No: - We don’t need to look at whether or not the Police were good at their jobs EXAM QUESTION 2b (4 marks) Source A: Inspector Byrnes, New York Police, reflecting on the Whitechapel Police force. How would you follow-up on Source A to find out more about attitudes The perpetrator would have been captured long ago but for the stupidity of the London police. towards the police in Whitechapel in this period? These murders have all been committed within a very small district. They have been localized and all show the hand of the same assassin. Detail in source I would follow up on: “The perpetrator would have been captured long The crimes were all of the same class. ago but for the stupidity of the London police.” They were committed within a well-known quarter patronized by wantons and depraved men. Question I would ask: Did other people share Inspector Byrne’s Step 3: What question could you view that the London Police were stupid? ask of the source?

Does your question still link to the enquiry?

No:Yes: - We- We don’t are stillneed exploring to look atviews whether about or the not the Police werePolice good at their jobs EXAM QUESTION 2b (4 marks) Source A: Inspector Byrnes, New York Police, reflecting on the Whitechapel Police force. How would you follow-up on Source A to find out more about attitudes The perpetrator would have been captured long ago but for the stupidity of the London police. towards the police in Whitechapel in this period? These murders have all been committed within a very small district. They have been localized and all show the hand of the same assassin. Detail in source I would follow up on: “The perpetrator would have been captured long The crimes were all of the same class. ago but for the stupidity of the London police.” They were committed within a well-known quarter patronized by wantons and depraved men. Question I would ask: Did other people share Inspector Byrne’s view Step 4: What question could you that the London Police were stupid? ask of the source? What type of source I could use:

A Diary This source is too general

This source would not tell me if other people

Charles Booth’s Poverty Map would share the view that the Whitechapel police were stupid EXAM QUESTION 2b (4 marks) Source A: Inspector Byrnes, New York Police, reflecting on the Whitechapel Police force. How would you follow-up on Source A to find out more about attitudes The perpetrator would have been captured long ago but for the stupidity of the London police. towards the police in Whitechapel in this period? These murders have all been committed within a very small district. They have been localized and all show the hand of the same assassin. Detail in source I would follow up on: “The perpetrator would have been captured long The crimes were all of the same class. ago but for the stupidity of the London police.” They were committed within a well-known quarter patronized by wantons and depraved men. Question I would ask: Did other people share Inspector Byrne’s view Step 4: What question could you that the London Police were stupid? ask of the source? What type of source I could use:

A newspaper from the 1880s This is better but can we be more specific or give an example? EXAM QUESTION 2b (4 marks) Source A: Inspector Byrnes, New York Police, reflecting on the Whitechapel Police force. How would you follow-up on Source A to find out more about attitudes The perpetrator would have been captured long ago but for the stupidity of the London police. towards the police in Whitechapel in this period? These murders have all been committed within a very small district. They have been localized and all show the hand of the same assassin. Detail in source I would follow up on: “The perpetrator would have been captured long The crimes were all of the same class. ago but for the stupidity of the London police.” They were committed within a well-known quarter patronized by wantons and depraved men. Question I would ask: Did other people share Inspector Byrne’s view Step 4: What question could you that the London Police were stupid? ask of the source? What type of source I could use:

A newspaper like the Illustrated Police You don’t need to give a specific answer, but News from 1888 the more specific you can be, the better EXAM QUESTION 2b (4 marks) Source A: Inspector Byrnes, New York Police, reflecting on the Whitechapel Police force. How would you follow-up on Source A to find out more about attitudes The perpetrator would have been captured long ago but for the stupidity of the London police. towards the police in Whitechapel in this period? These murders have all been committed within a very small district. They have been localized and all show the hand of the same assassin. Detail in source I would follow up on: “The perpetrator would have been captured long The crimes were all of the same class. ago but for the stupidity of the London police.” They were committed within a well-known quarter patronized by wantons and depraved men. Question I would ask: Did other people share Inspector Byrne’s view Step 5: What are you hoping to that the London Police were stupid? find that can answer your What type of source I could use: question? A newspaper like the Illustrated Police News from 1888 This is too vague. How might this help answer my Make sure you make a link between the question enquiry focus, details from the source, question you have asked and the type of It would tell me if other people shared source Inspector Byrne’s view. EXAM QUESTION 2b (4 marks) Source A: Inspector Byrnes, New York Police, reflecting on the Whitechapel Police force. How would you follow-up on Source A to find out more about attitudes The perpetrator would have been captured long ago but for the stupidity of the London police. towards the police in Whitechapel in this period? These murders have all been committed within a very small district. They have been localized and all show the hand of the same assassin. Detail in source I would follow up on: “The perpetrator would have been captured long The crimes were all of the same class. ago but for the stupidity of the London police.” They were committed within a well-known quarter patronized by wantons and depraved men. Question I would ask: Did other people share Inspector Byrne’s view Step 5: What are you hoping to that the London Police were stupid? find that can answer your What type of source I could use: question? A newspaper like the Illustrated Police News from 1888

This is good. How might this help answer my It links between the enquiry focus, details question from the source, question you have asked and

It would show how the press presented the the type of source London Police and I could infer how others viewed the Police at the time of the Ripper Case. 2b. How would you follow-up on Source B to find out more about the problems facing immigrants in the Whitechapel area? (4 marks)

Source B: An extract from evidence given Detail in Source B that I would follow up: to the committee in 1890 by Charles Freak, a shoemaker. Question I would ask: These Jew foreigners work in our trade for 16 or 18 hours a day. The consequence of that is they make a lot of What type of source I could use: cheap and nasty stuff that destroys the market and injures our businesses. The Jewish labourers cause the defeat of English workmen in their battle to attain How this might help answer my question: higher wages. 2b) Study source A. How could you follow up Source a for an enquiry into the effects of poverty on the people of Whitechapel? In your answer, you must give the question you would ask and the type of source you could use. Complete the table below. (4)

Source A: From the Board of Works Step 1. Identify your focus (1) report on sanitary condition of the • • Overcrowding Whitechapel district 1880. • Houses condemned • 210 adults and 88 children The houses, 38 in number, contain 143 rooms, and are occupied by 298 persons. Step 2. Link the question to the detail (1) • What were other streets like? 210 adults and 88 children… discovered • How many people lived in a room? 4 cases of overcrowding only, 2 in • What happened to condemned houses? • What happened when adults couldn’t support Flower and Dean Street and 2 in Lower their children? Keate street. The interior condition of these houses is not good, they are worn Step 3. A source to answer your question (1) out, and many of the walls and ceilings • Charles Booth map • Census Records are dirty and dilapidated. The greater • Dwellings Act 1875 Home Office Records portion of these houses have been • Poor Law Board Records condemned. Step 4. Answer provided by source (1) • Conditions of Whitechapel e.g. Semi-criminal • Number occupants and their occupations • Slums to be demolished and replaced • Surveys of conditions inside Workhouse