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Story: Jack the Ripper Files: Mary Ann Nichols
[Link to original at Newspapers.com] – Page 6, Column 5
THE WHITECHAPEL MURDER
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The funeral of the unfortunate woman, Mary Ann Nichols, who was murdered in Buck’s-row early on Friday last, took place yesterday. The arrangements were of a very simple character. The time at which the cortege was to start was kept a profound secret, and a ruse was perpetrated in order to get the body out of the mortuary where it has lain since the day of the murder. A pair-horsed closed hearse was observed making its way down Hanbury-street, and the crowds, which numbered some thousands, made way for it to go along Old Montague-street, but instead of doing so it passed on into the Whitechpael-road, and, doubling back, entered the mortuary by the back gate, which is situated in Chapman’s-court. No one was near besides the undertaker and his men, when the remains, placed in a polished elm coffin, bearing a plate with the inscription, Mary Ann Nichols, aged 42; died August 31, 1888, was removed to the hearse and driven to Hanbury-street, there to await the mourners. These were late in arriving, and the two coaches were kept waiting some time in a side street. By this time the news had spread that the body was in the hearse, and people flocked round to see the coffin, and examine the plate. In this they were, however, frustrated, for a body of police, under Inspector Helston, of the H Division, surrounded the hearse and prevented their approaching too near. At last the procession started towards Ilford, where the last scene in this unfortunate drama took place. The mourners were Mr. Edward Walker, the father of the victim, and two of her children. The procession proceeded along Baker’s-row and past the corner of Buck’s-row into the main road, where policemen were stationed every few yards. The houses in the neighbourhood had the blinds drawn, and much sympathy was expressed for the relatives.
Up to a late hour last night no arrest had been made in connection with the murder.
