The Legend of Jack the Ripper

Ch15: Another one bites the dust.

On July 17th 1889, PC Walter Andrews found the body of a woman called Alice McKenzie, whom locals knew as a prostitute and immediately speculation was rife that her death might spell the return of Jack the Ripper after a prolonged absence for the streets of the East End of some nine months.

That same night, PC Andrews gave his testimony at the official inquest into the death of Alice McKenzie.

About ten minutes to 1 this morning I saw Sergeant Badlam at the corner of Old Castle-street, leading into Castle alley. That was on the opposite corner of the public house. The sergeant said, "All right," and I said the same. I then proceeded up Castle-alley and tried the doors on the west side of the alley. While doing so I noticed a woman lying on the pavement. Her head was lying eastward, and was on the edge of the kerbstone, with her feet towards the building, which was a wheelwright's shop and warehouse.

Coroner:Was the body touched before the doctor arrived?

Andrews:Only by touching the face to see if it was cold. It had not been disturbed.

Coroner:How far was it from the lamp? - Almost underneath.

Andrews:About 2 ft. from the lamp post.

Coroner:Was any wagon there? -

Andrews:Two; one was a scavenger's wagon and the other a brewer's dray. They were on the same side of the way. The wagons hid the body from persons in the cottages opposite. The head was almost underneath the scavenger's wagon.

Coroner:Was her clothes up?

Andrews:Yes, almost level to the chin. Her legs and body were exposed. I noticed that blood was running from the left side of the neck.

Coroner: You said you felt her?

Andrews:I touched the abdomen. It was quite warm. I then blew my whistle, and between two and three minutes Sergeant Badlam came up. The sergeant gave me orders to stay by the body and not touch it until the doctor arrived. The body was not touched until Dr Phillips arrived about five or ten minutes past 1.

Coroner:Had you seen anyone?

Andrews:- I had not. There was not a soul in the alley that I saw. After I saw the body lying on the pavement I heard a footstep coming from Old Castle-place, and I saw a young man, named Isaac Lewis Jacobs. I said, "Where are you going?" He said, "I am going to Wentworth-street to fetch something for my supper." At the time he was carrying a plate in his hand. Jacobs came back with me and stayed there until the sergeant arrived.

Coroner:Had you been in the alley before?

Andrews - Yes. Between 20 and 25 minutes past 12. I went into the alley after Allen. After he came out I went in two or three minutes later. No one was in the alley then. After I left Allen I went into Goldston-street, then into Whitechapel High-street, down Middlesex-street into Wentworth-street again. It was there I saw the sergeant, as I have already stated.

Coroner:Did anyone attract your attention?

Andrews- No, I saw no one in Goldston or Middlesex streets.

The Foreman. - Do you think the deceased had been drawn to where you found her or murdered there?

Andrews - I think she was killed there. I should think she had been standing up against the lamppost, and then pulled or dragged down. There was no trail of blood away from the body, and no splashes of blood.

Coroner:How long have you been on the beat?

Andrews- A fortnight.

Coroner:Do people come there?