Witnesses
Near misses: who may have seen him
11 witnesses described a man seen with, or waiting near, a victim shortly before her death. Their words are given exactly, side by side, with the time, the place, how far that place is from where the body was found, and the recorded problems with each account.
Read this firstDistances are straight-line between the two positions recorded on this site's map (about ±10–15 m), not walking distances.
This board does not suggest that any of these witnesses saw the same man. The descriptions differ, the light was often poor, and several identifications of the woman are themselves uncertain. Where a source does connect two sightings, it appears as a claim under "Reliability", with its status.
Elizabeth Long
Annie Chapman · Inquest testimony
- When
- "I heard the brewer's clock strike half-past five just before I got to the street" (8 September 1888; read as 05:28–05:35)
- Where
- Back yard of 29 Hanbury Street, Spitalfields (north side of the street)
- From the scene
- at the scene (same recorded position)
The description, verbatim
“I did not see the man's face, but I noticed that he was dark.”
“He was wearing a brown low-crowned felt hat. I think he had on a dark coat, though I am not certain.”
“By the look of him he seemed to me a man over forty years of age. He appeared to me to be a little taller than the deceased.”
Casebook transcription: Annie Chapman inquest, day 4 (19 September 1888), from The Daily Telegraph, 20 September 1888, p. 2 (excerpts; open for the full passage)
Reliability (3 claims)
- Well supported Retrieved Elizabeth Long testified that she saw a man and a woman (whom she identified at the mortuary as the deceased) talking outside 29 Hanbury Street just after a clock struck half past five.
- Well supported Retrieved Elizabeth Long, walking west on the north side of Hanbury Street at about 5.30 (brewer's clock), saw a man and a woman she later identified as Chapman talking on the pavement a few yards nearer Brick Lane than No. 29.
- Disputed Retrieved ⚠ No supporting passage CONFLICT: Cadosch (~5:20 "No", passing church 5:32) vs Long (brewer's clock 5:30, couple outside No. 29).
J. Best (with John Gardner)
Elizabeth Stride · Press interview
- When
- "shortly before eleven"... "soon after eleven" (29 September 1888; read as 22:45–23:15)
- Where
- Bricklayers' Arms, Settles Street (off Commercial Road)
- From the scene
- about 240 m
The description, verbatim
“The man was about 5ft. 5in. in height. He was well dressed in a black morning suit with a morning coat.”
Casebook transcription: Evening News, 1888-10-01 (excerpts; open for the full passage)
Reliability (1 claim)
- Weakly supported Retrieved The woman Best and Gardner saw at the Bricklayers' Arms about 11 pm was Stride.
William Marshall
Elizabeth Stride · Inquest testimony
- When
- "about a quarter to twelve o'clock" (29 September 1888; read as 23:40–23:50)
- Where
- 64 Berner Street / opposite No. 58, between Fairclough and Boyd Streets
- From the scene
- about 70 m
The description, verbatim
“I did not see the face of the man distinctly.”
“In a black cut-away coat and dark trousers.”
“Middle-aged he seemed to be.”
“A round cap, with a small peak. It was something like what a sailor would wear.”
“About 5ft. 6in.”
“Rather stout.”
Casebook transcription: Elizabeth Stride inquest, day 4 (5 October 1888), from The Daily Telegraph, 6 October 1888, p. 3 (excerpts; open for the full passage)
Reliability (2 claims)
- Well supported Retrieved William Marshall testified that at about 11.45 pm on 29 Sep 1888 he saw the woman he later identified as Stride in Berner Street with a man, and heard the man say "You would say anything but your prayers."
- Well supported Retrieved William Marshall saw a couple (woman identified as Stride) at about 11.45 p.m. on the pavement opposite No. 58 Berner Street, between Fairclough and Boyd Streets; the nearest lamp was about 20 ft off at the corner.
PC William Smith (452 H)
Elizabeth Stride · Inquest testimony
- When
- "about half-past twelve or twenty-five minutes to one o'clock" (30 September 1888; read as 00:30–00:35)
- Where
- Dutfield's Yard, beside the International Working Men's Educational Club, 40 Berner Street, St George-in-the-East
- From the scene
- at the scene (same recorded position)
The description, verbatim
“He had a parcel wrapped in a newspaper in his hand. The parcel was about 18in. long and 6in. to 8in. broad.”
“He was about 5ft. 7in.”
Casebook transcription: Elizabeth Stride inquest, day 4 (5 October 1888), from The Daily Telegraph, 6 October 1888, p. 3 (excerpts; open for the full passage)
Reliability (1 claim)
James Brown
Elizabeth Stride · Inquest testimony
- When
- "about a quarter to one" (30 September 1888; read as 00:40–00:50)
- Where
- Corner of the Board School, Berner Street at Fairclough Street (opposite side to the club)
- From the scene
- about 40 m
The description, verbatim
“I noticed the man had a long coat on, which came very nearly down to his heels.”
“I could not say what kind of cap he had on. The place where they were standing was rather dark.”
“I should say the man was about 5ft. 7in. in height. He appeared to be stoutish built.”
Casebook transcription: The Times, 6 October 1888 (excerpts; open for the full passage)
Reliability (2 claims)
- Weakly supported Retrieved James Brown, about 12.45, saw a man and woman (almost certainly Stride) at the corner of the Board School, the man with his arm against the wall.
- Disputed Inference At about 12:45 Schwartz saw a woman assaulted in the gateway of Dutfield's Yard, while Brown saw a calm couple against the Board School wall about 20-30 yards away at the Fairclough Street corner ("No, not to-night, some other night").
Israel Schwartz
Elizabeth Stride · Police statement (not at inquest)
- When
- "12.45 a.m. 30th." (30 September 1888; read as 00:40–00:50)
- Where
- Dutfield's Yard, beside the International Working Men's Educational Club, 40 Berner Street, St George-in-the-East
- From the scene
- at the scene (same recorded position)
The description, verbatim
“age about 30 ht, 5 ft 5 in. comp. fair hair dark, small brown moustache, full face, broad shouldered, dress, dark jacket & trousers black cap with peak, had nothing in his hands.”
“Second man age 35 ht. 5 ft 11in. comp. fresh, hair light brown, moustache brown, dress dark overcoat, old black hard felt hat wide brim, had a clay pipe in his hand.”
Casebook dissertation: "Interpreting Lipski" (excerpts; open for the full passage)
Reliability (3 claims)
- Disputed Retrieved According to the Home Office file quoted by Casebook, Israel Schwartz said that about 12.45 he saw a man stop and speak to a woman standing in the gateway, try to pull her into the street, then turn her round and throw her down on the footway; she screamed three times, not very loudly.
- Disputed Retrieved The two surviving versions of Schwartz's account differ materially: Star 1 Oct (woman pushed back into the passage; a second man with a KNIFE comes out of a public-house doorway) against the police statement as summarised by Swanson (woman thrown down on the footway, three screams, second man lighting a PIPE opposite, "Lipski", flight to the railway arch). The time (about 12:45) agrees.
- Disputed Inference At about 12:45 Schwartz saw a woman assaulted in the gateway of Dutfield's Yard, while Brown saw a calm couple against the Board School wall about 20-30 yards away at the Fairclough Street corner ("No, not to-night, some other night").
Joseph Lawende (with Levy and Harris)
Catherine Eddowes · Inquest testimony
- When
- "it would be twenty-five minutes to two o'clock when we passed the man and woman" (DT) / "left the place about five minutes later" (Times) (30 September 1888; read as 01:33–01:36)
- Where
- Corner of Church Passage and Duke Street (Lawende sighting)
- From the scene
- about 60 m
The description, verbatim
“He was the taller.”
“He had on a cloth cap with a peak of the same.”
“The man looked rather rough and shabby.”
“Mr. Crawford: Unless the jury wish it, I do not think further particulars should be given as to the appearance of this man.”
“[Coroner] Would you know him again? - I doubt it.”
Casebook transcription: Catherine Eddowes inquest, day 2 (11 October 1888), from The Daily Telegraph, 12 October 1888, p. 2 (excerpts; open for the full passage)
Reliability (4 claims)
- Well supported Retrieved Lawende, Levy and Harris left the Imperial Club, Duke Street, at about 1.33–1.35 and saw a man and woman at the corner of Church Passage leading to Mitre Square; Lawende later believed the clothes were the deceased's. Levy said the passage corner was badly lit.
- Well supported Retrieved Lawende's sighting took place at about 1:33-1:35, timed from the club clock (1:30) plus the few minutes taken to leave.
- Well supported Retrieved Joseph Lawende, whom Evans argues 'must' have been the identifying witness, told the Eddowes inquest that he doubted he would know the man again.
- Unknown Retrieved The identifying witness is unnamed in every source; Evans argues it 'must be Lawende', The Independent (2006) says 'believed to be' Israel Schwartz, and Wikipedia lists Schwartz, Lawende or a policeman as proposals.
Joseph Hyam Levy
Catherine Eddowes · Inquest testimony
- When
- "it would be twenty-five minutes to two o'clock when we passed the man and woman" (DT) / "left the place about five minutes later" (Times) (30 September 1888; read as 01:33–01:36)
- Where
- Corner of Church Passage and Duke Street (Lawende sighting)
- From the scene
- about 60 m
The description, verbatim
“I should think he was three inches taller than the woman, who was, perhaps, 5ft high. I cannot give any further description of them.”
Casebook transcription: Catherine Eddowes inquest, day 2 (11 October 1888), from The Daily Telegraph, 12 October 1888, p. 2 (excerpts; open for the full passage)
Reliability (1 claim)
Mary Ann Cox
Mary Jane Kelly · Inquest testimony
- When
- "at a quarter to twelve" (DT, Star; Times and MA give the same time) (8 November 1888; read as 23:40–23:50)
- Where
- 13 Miller's Court (back room of 26 Dorset Street), Spitalfields
- From the scene
- at the scene (same recorded position)
The description, verbatim
“A short, stout man, shabbily dressed. He had on a longish coat, very shabby, and carried a pot of ale in his hand.”
“A round hard billycock.”
“He had a blotchy face, and full carrotty moustache.”
Casebook transcription: Mary Jane Kelly inquest, day 1 (12 November 1888), from The Daily Telegraph, 13 November 1888 (excerpts; open for the full passage)
Reliability (1 claim)
George Hutchinson
Mary Jane Kelly · Police statement (not at inquest)
- When
- "About 2 am 9th" (police statement) / "At 2 o'clock on Friday morning"... "between 10 and 5 minutes to 2 o'clock as I came by Whitechapel Church" (press) (9 November 1888; read as 01:55–02:05)
- Where
- Commercial Street between Thrawl Street and Flower and Dean Street (Hutchinson meets Kelly)
- From the scene
- about 150 m
The description, verbatim
“Description age about 34 or 35. height 5ft6 complexion pale, dark eyes and eye lashes slight moustache, curled up each end, and hair dark, very surley looking dress long dark coat, collar and cuffs trimmed astracan.”
“And a dark jacket under. Light waistcoat dark trousers dark felt hat turned down in the middle. Button boots and gaiters with white buttons. Wore a very thick gold chain white linen collar. Black tie with horse shoe pin. Respectable appearance walked very sharp. Jewish appearance. Can be identified.”
Casebook: Jack the Ripper, witness page "George Hutchinson" (excerpts; open for the full passage)
Reliability (5 claims)
- Disputed Retrieved George Hutchinson's police statement (12 Nov) says that at about 2 a.m. he saw Kelly with a well-dressed man, followed them into Dorset Street, saw them stand at the corner of the court for about 3 minutes and go up it together, and watched the court for about three-quarters of an hour.
- Well supported Retrieved George Hutchinson made his statement at Commercial Street police station at 6 p.m. on 12 November 1888 — after the Kelly inquest had sat that day — describing a well-dressed man of 'Jewish appearance' with Kelly at about 2 a.m. on 9 November.
- Well supported Retrieved Abberline, having interrogated him that evening, wrote 'I am of opinion his statement is true'.
- Well supported Retrieved In his signed statement of 12 November 1888 Hutchinson placed himself in Dorset Street, at the entrance to Miller's Court, for 'about three quarters of an hour' after seeing Kelly go up the court with a man at about 2 a.m. At the inquest Sarah Lewis said that at 2.30 a.m. she saw a man opposite the court 'looking up the court' as if waiting.
- Well supported Retrieved Abberline believed George Hutchinson's description of a man seen with Kelly. Anderson said the only person who had a good view of the murderer was Jewish ("a fellow-Jew"), which excludes Hutchinson.
Sarah Lewis
Mary Jane Kelly · Inquest testimony · saw a man waiting, not with the victim
- When
- "at 2.30a.m. on Friday"... "I noticed the time by the Spitalfields' Church clock" (DT) / "about 2:30" (Times) (9 November 1888; read as 02:28–02:33)
- Where
- No. 2 Miller's Court (Mrs Keyler's; 'the first house')
- From the scene
- at the scene (same recorded position)
The description, verbatim
“He was a stout-looking man, and not very tall. The hat was black.”
Casebook transcription: Mary Jane Kelly inquest, day 1 (12 November 1888), from The Daily Telegraph, 13 November 1888 (excerpts; open for the full passage)
Reliability (3 claims)
- Well supported Retrieved Sarah Lewis, arriving at 2 Miller's Court at 2.30 a.m. (Spitalfields Church clock), saw a stout man in a black wideawake hat standing opposite the court by the lodging house, looking up the court as if waiting for someone.
- Disputed Retrieved Reports differ on where Sarah Lewis's waiting man stood and how tall he was: "opposite the lodging-house" (DT), "at the lodging-house door" (Times), "In the doorway of the deceased's house" (DN), "on the opposite side of the pavement" (MA), "at the entrance to the court" (Echo); "not very tall" (DT, DN) against "tall" (MA).
- Weakly supported Inference The man Lewis saw was probably Hutchinson (Casebook: 'highly likely').