Jack the Ripper: Case Study

Lesson 1: The Setting, the Crimes, and the Victims

Mary Kelly - The Final Murder

Jack did not strike again until five weeks later, but when he did, it was the most vicious crime of all. Mary Kelly was murdered at 3:30 AM on November 9, 1888. She was the youngest and prettiest of the victims. She was in her early twenties at the time of her murder. No photographs save the one of her mutilated corpse remain, but sketches show her as being a fair-complexioned, attractive woman with a shapely figure.

Mary was born in Limerick, Ireland. She was more educated than the other Ripper victims, and was literate. Her life seemed to have taken a turn for the worse after the death of a young husband in mine explosion. Mary moved to Cardiff where she began a life of prostitution, and in 1884 moved to England. For a while, she worked the more stylish West End.

For a long time, she lived with Joseph Barnett. They became at odds with each other when Mary brought home another prostitute to stay, Marie Harvey. Barnett moved out, but the two of them were still on fairly good terms and he looked in on her once in a while. The other victims were all found outdoors, but Mary had been murdered in her lodgings at 26 Dorset street, also often referred to as #13 Miller's Court. Around midnight, she was still very much alive, for she had been heard drunk and singing "Sweet Violets" at the top of her lungs.

Shortly before her death, Mary was seen by a neighbor woman. She was wearing a dark, shabby skirt, red jacket and no hat. The neighbor said Mary was accompanied by a man with a thick, carroty mustache. She described him as being dressed in dark clothing and wearing a black billycock hat.

At 2:00 AM, witness George Hutchinson saw Mary with another man near the Queen's Head pub. He gave a lengthy description of this gentleman who was "Jewish looking", with a heavy dark mustache, wearing a soft felt hat, a long dark coat, and white collar with black necktie. He also had a massive gold chain in his waistcoat. He had kid gloves in his right hand and a small package in his left. He saw the man give Mary Kelly a red handkerchief.

Mary's body was not found until the next morning when the landlord, hoping to get back rent, peered into her window and saw the brutal crime scene.

Inspector Abberline worked the case. The door was locked and the police had to open it with an axe. Through the window the doctor called could see that the victim was "not in need of immediate attention." Dr. Bond estimated that Mary Kelly had been dead about 12 hours.

At 4 AM a neighbor had heard a shout of "Murder!" coming from the apartment. Since Kelly's clothing was found neatly folded by the side of the bed, it is likely she had undressed for the killer and was taken by surprise when he pulled out a knife. Mary had been aware of the murders in the area, but she had no other way except prostitution to get by. She was in danger of being evicted and had no job prospects.

Mary was found lying across the bed. Like the other victims, Mary's throat had been slashed. The killer had started a fire in the grate, probably in order to see. He had taken his time mutilating her corpse. Her face was virtually unrecognizable as her ears and nose were gone. The flesh had been torn away from her face, chest and ribcage. She had been literally torn apart and disemboweled. Her heart, among other organs, was missing.

Further reading about Mary Kelly can be found in The Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper in the chapter "Just the Facts" on page 15 and Chapter 27 in Portrait of a Killer - Jack the Ripper Case Closed, pages 341-351.