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Case File: Tabram, Martha née White (1888)
[Link to original] – Page 6, Column 5
THE WHITECHAPEL MURDER ----
An inquest was opened yesterday afternoon by Mr. George Collier on the body of a single woman, named Martha Turner, aged 35, of 4, Star-place, Commercial-road, which was found lying on the landing of 47, George’s-yard buildings, Whitechapel, early on Tuesday morning. – The evidence of Elizabeth Mahony, who lived in the house in question, showed that at 2 a.m. on Tuesday the stairs were perfectly clear of any obstacle, and that she and her husband heard no noise during the night, learning only at ten o’clock the next morning that a murder had been committed. – Alfred G. Crow, a cabdriver, stated that at half-past three he saw somebody lying on the first landing, but as it was not an unusual thing to see he passed on and went to bed. He did not know whether the person was dead or alive when he passed. – John Saunders Reeves, a waterside labourer, deposed that on Tuesday morning he left home at five o’clock to go in search of work. On the first floor landing he saw a woman lying in a pool of blood. She was on her back, and seemed dead. He at once gave notice to the police. The woman was a perfect stranger to the witness. Her clothes were disarranged, as if she had had a struggle with some one. The witness did not notice any instrument lying about. – Dr. Keelene, who examined the body, said he found on it 39 punctured wounds. There were no fewer than nine in the throat and 17 in the breast. He had since made a post-mortem examination, and found the left lung punctured in five places. The heart, too, had been penetrated. He did not think the wounds had been caused by a sword-bayonet or dagger, and the others by a penknife. It was impossible for the whole of the wounds to have been self-inflicted. Death was due to loss of blood consequent on the injuries. – The inquiry was adjourned.
