"Seeing you as you are now I forgive you for what you have done to me.”
These words were spoken by William Nichols when identifying the body of his ex-wife, Mary Ann Nichols, who was viciously murdered in an alleyway of Whitechapel, London, in the early hours of 31 August, 1888.
These words were spoken by William Nichols when identifying the body of his ex-wife, Mary Ann Nichols, who was viciously murdered in an alleyway of Whitechapel, London, in the early hours of 31 August, 1888.
Death in Whitechapel
A grim discovery! Mary Ann (Polly) Nichols was last seen alive at 2.30am, 31 August, 1888, standing on the corner of Osborn Street and Whitechapel Road, London. In the few hours previous she had visited a pub and had been told she could not stay in lodgings as she did not have the four pence it cost for a bed.
A little over an hour later her body was found in front of a stable entrance in Buck’s Row, Whitechapel, a dingy and poorly-lit alleyway in the heart of London’s East End – and only about 150 yards from the London Hospital. Cart driver Charles Cross found her body, and was not sure if she was dead or simply unconscious (it was the dark of night). Her skirt had been raised indecently, so he lowered it and went to find the police.
Police Constable Jonas Mizen was the first to reach the scene, with Police Constable John Neil joining him. It was not long before they realised that Polly had been murdered. None of the police officers patrolling, residents of houses along that street, or employees from the slaughterhouse heard or saw a single suspicious thing.
The surgeon made the call that she had been dead for about half an hour. Her stomach had a deep wound and several other incisions which all seemed to be caused by the same sized knife and her throat had been slit twice, so deeply that she was nearly decapitated. The surgeon was surprised there was not more blood, as there were only “about enough to fill two large wine glasses, or half a pint at the most” instead of the copious amounts you would expect. It was initially thought that the scene of the murder had been elsewhere, with her body discarded at this location, but once they lifted her they saw there was a ‘mass of congealed blood’ underneath her body and in her clothes, and concluded that the murder had in fact been committed at the same place her body was found.
It was deduced that her throat had been slit first, killing her instantly. The gorging of the torso was performed after she had died.
A little over an hour later her body was found in front of a stable entrance in Buck’s Row, Whitechapel, a dingy and poorly-lit alleyway in the heart of London’s East End – and only about 150 yards from the London Hospital. Cart driver Charles Cross found her body, and was not sure if she was dead or simply unconscious (it was the dark of night). Her skirt had been raised indecently, so he lowered it and went to find the police.
Police Constable Jonas Mizen was the first to reach the scene, with Police Constable John Neil joining him. It was not long before they realised that Polly had been murdered. None of the police officers patrolling, residents of houses along that street, or employees from the slaughterhouse heard or saw a single suspicious thing.
The surgeon made the call that she had been dead for about half an hour. Her stomach had a deep wound and several other incisions which all seemed to be caused by the same sized knife and her throat had been slit twice, so deeply that she was nearly decapitated. The surgeon was surprised there was not more blood, as there were only “about enough to fill two large wine glasses, or half a pint at the most” instead of the copious amounts you would expect. It was initially thought that the scene of the murder had been elsewhere, with her body discarded at this location, but once they lifted her they saw there was a ‘mass of congealed blood’ underneath her body and in her clothes, and concluded that the murder had in fact been committed at the same place her body was found.
It was deduced that her throat had been slit first, killing her instantly. The gorging of the torso was performed after she had died.
Mary Ann 'Polly' Nichols
Mary Ann 'Polly' Nichols Polly Nichols did not start her life out in poverty. She was the daughter of a locksmith Edward Walker. At age 18 she married William Nichols who was a printer’s machinist, and had five children, Edward, Percy-George, Alice, Eliza and Henry. It wasn’t until fifteen years after her marriage that she started drinking. She hid it at first, and when her marriage broke down, her father believed it was because her husband had been unfaithful. The truth of the matter was Polly had found the drink and used prostitution to pay for her habit.
Her husband William was still required to pay alimony for her, and did so up until he found out she was indeed working as a prostitute. After that he was not required to give her any money as she was obtaining money through illegal avenues. Unfortunately it was all downhill for Polly after that. She spent what years were left to her living in boarding houses and off charity.
Her husband William was still required to pay alimony for her, and did so up until he found out she was indeed working as a prostitute. After that he was not required to give her any money as she was obtaining money through illegal avenues. Unfortunately it was all downhill for Polly after that. She spent what years were left to her living in boarding houses and off charity.
Alice, Nichols eldest daughter. She tried to clean herself up and managed to obtain employment as a domestic servant, but her drinking was always her downfall, and she ended up leaving (or was released) due to her habit, and went back to the streets to make her living.
When she left, she also stole clothing worth three pounds, ten shillings – quite a substantial amount at that time.
At the time of her death she was sharing a room in a common lodging house in Whitechapel.
When she left, she also stole clothing worth three pounds, ten shillings – quite a substantial amount at that time.
At the time of her death she was sharing a room in a common lodging house in Whitechapel.
A Horrific Crime
Post Mortem of Nichols Polly was 44 years of age at the time of her death. The inquest held at her death stated that “her throat had been cut from left to right… the windpipe, gullet and spinal cord being cut through… the abdomen had been cut open from centre of bottom of ribs along right side, under pelvis to left of the stomach… two small stabs on private parts… death being almost instantaneous.”
There were no tracks or makings found on the cobbles where she died. Nothing at all to hint towards who the vicious murderer may have been.
Polly is considered by most people to be the first victim of the murderer who came to be called Jack the Ripper!
It is said that if you are wandering around Bucks row on a dark night, it is as if you have gone back in time... people have seen a figure, lying on the ground, glowing a greenish colour. The ghostly spectre is seen in the exact spot that Polly's body was discovered.
There were no tracks or makings found on the cobbles where she died. Nothing at all to hint towards who the vicious murderer may have been.
Polly is considered by most people to be the first victim of the murderer who came to be called Jack the Ripper!
It is said that if you are wandering around Bucks row on a dark night, it is as if you have gone back in time... people have seen a figure, lying on the ground, glowing a greenish colour. The ghostly spectre is seen in the exact spot that Polly's body was discovered.
By Peet Banks 2013
Put together by Ashley Hall 2013
Put together by Ashley Hall 2013
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