K.A.W PRESENTS

The fear that had gripped London since August reached a peak on November 9, 1888 when the most ghastly of the series of murders occured. The ferocity of the mutilations associated with the latest of the murders was unprecedented.

At 10:45 A.M., John Bowyer, a pensioner who was employed by John McCarthy to collect rents went to a room occupied by a young prostitute named Mary Kelly. She was 29 shillings behind on her rent, and it was Bowyer's intent to collect in full. When he first arrived, he knocked on the door receiving no response. Believing that Kelly might be home but avoiding paying her debt, he went around the corner of the building to look into the window. One of the glass panes was broken, so Bowyer pulled back the drapes slightly to get a view inside.

Immediately Bowyer noted a large quantity on blood on the window, and suspected foul play. He then went to notify McCarthy. The two men returned to the building and McCarthy opened the drape covering the broken window further. Inside, he saw the unclothed, visciously mutilated body of a woman. The duo notified police immediately.

Two police stations were within a 5 minute walk of the crime scene. Inspector Beck was the first to arrive. He immediately sent for Inspectors Abberline and Reid. Dr. Phillips and Dr. Bond also arrived shortly after 11 A.M. but no effort was made to enter the room, as it was quite evident that the victim was well beyond need of medical assistance. Eventually police Superintendent Arnold arrived and the order to break down the door was given at around 1:30 P.M.

Both Phillips and Bond were well acquainted with the sight of murder victims, but even they were aghast at the horrible situation at the crime scene. The victim's face was mutilated beyond recognition with the nose and ears cut off completely. The throat tissues were severed down to the bone and large flaps of skin were removed from the abdomen and thighs. All of the visceria were removed from the abdominal cavity.

The victims breasts had been cut off and one was placed under the head along with the uterus and one kidney. The other breast was placed next to the right foot. Her liver was placed between her feet and the intestines were piled next to the right side of the body. By the left side of her body lay the spleen. The flaps of skin removed from the thighs and abdomen were piled on a small table near the bed. Her heart had been cut out and was not found at the crime scene.

BACKGROUND

The victim was identified as Mary Jane Kelly by her lover, Joseph Barnett. He identified the body by her eyes and hair. The two had shared the room together for about a year and 8 months, but split after fighiting on the night of October 30 when Kelly brought another prostitute into the room to share her bed.

According to Barnett, he had last seen Kelly alive the evening before her murder at around 7:30 P.M. They were together for about an hour, and were on friendly terms.

At around midnight, Mary Cox, who lived in the same building reported seeing Kelly enter her room with a short man wearing a long coat and black hat. He had a blotchy face and a full, carroty moustache. He was carrying a bottle of ale. Cox reported that she heard Kelly singing in her room as late as 1 A.M. At about 3 A.M., she noted that Kelly's light was out and there was no noise. She further noted that she heard several men going in and out of the building through the early morning, one as late as 6 A.M.

Another woman, Sarah Lewis, reported hearing a single cry of "murder!" coming from the direction of Kelly's room. She heard the cry at around 4 A.M. Earlier in the week, Lewis and two companions, a male and a female had been approached by a short pale faced man with a black moustache who appeared to be around 40. The man was wearing a long brown overcoat and a black hat. He was carrying a bag around 9 inches in length. The man frightened them and they fled. She reported seeing the same man with a woman at around 2 A.M. in the vicinity of the crime scene. He was carrying the same bag. She could not positively identify the woman as Kelly.

While police immediately suspected a link between this crime and some of the earlier murders, a few puzzling aspects surrounded the circumstances of the case. Unlike the earlier victims, who were in their 40's and not particularly attractive, Kelly was in her mid-20's and described as pretty. This murder was also the only one committed indoors.

ERRATA

For the most part, reporting of the Kelly killing has been reasonably free of inaccuracies. However, some sources have noted an eyewitness sighting of a woman identified as Mary Kelly as late as midmorning the day of the murder. There can be little doubt that the sighting in question was in error. These reported sightings, however, have presented considerable fodder for various bizzare conspiracy theories.

There are also conflicting reports as to whether Kelly's heart was removed from the crime scene by the murderer, or if remains of it were found in a pot over the hot fire that was burning in the fireplace in the room. Even official records are somewhat contradictory on this point, however the bulk of credible evidence from the records would seem to indicate that it was removed from the crime scene.

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PAGE LINKS

Introduction
The Murder of Mary Ann Nichols
The Murder of Annie Chapman
The Murder of Elizabeth Stride
The Murder of Catherine Eddowes
Doubts About The Double Event
Physical Evidence
Prime Suspects
A Royal Conspiracy?
Other Murders
Conclusion
Kex's Amazing World