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Annie Chapman
Jack The Ripper's second victim
Annie Chapman is widely accepted as Jack The Ripper's second victim.
Nickname
Annie Chapman was also known as "Dark Annie".
Murder in the back yard of 29, Hanbury Street
Annie Chapman, also known as Annie Siffey, was found dead at around 6am on the 8th September 1888. Annie Chapman's mutilated body was discovered in the back yard of 29, Hanbury Street, Spitalfields.
By the late 1880s, Annie Chapman had become involved with a bricklayer named Edward Stanley. The two only seemed to meet at weekends, but Stanley frequently paid for Chapman’s bed at Crossingham’s Lodging House.
On, or about, 1st September, 1888, Annie got into a fight with another prostitute, Eliza Cooper, who was said to be a rival for Edward Sranley's affections. It resulted with Annie having a black eye!
Amelia Palmer, a friend of Annie's last saw Annie alive on Friday 7th September 1888. They had met at approximately 5pm in Dorset Street. They discussed Annie's health where Annie responded: "I feel too ill to do anything". Annie acknowledged that she had to "pull herself together and get some money or I shall have no lodgings".
Annie returned to her previous lodgings, Crossingham’s lodging house, at 35 Dorset Street and asked to be allowed to sit down in the kitchen. The deputy of Crossingham’s lodging house, Timothy Donovan, asked her where she had been for the last week. Annie explained that she'd been in the infirmary. At just after midnight Annie is said to have visited her sister in Vauxhall and returned with 5d. It is thought the money was very quickly spent on alcohol.
Annie Chapman left 35, Dorset Street at around 1.50am in order to go and "earn" her lodging money.
Early Life
Annie Chapman was born Annie Eliza Smith in 1840 or 1841, the daughter of George Smith.
George Smith was a private in the 2nd Regiment of Life Guards.
Family Life
In 1869 Annie married John Chapman, a coachman.
Annie and George had three children:
- Emily (Unfortunately Emily died of meningitis at the age of twelve)
- John (1880)
- unknown
Annie and George eventually separated, apparently due to Annie’s drinking and "immoral ways".