C.Eddowes:Fourth Victim of Jack the Ripper
An Overview of the Life of Catherine Eddowes.
Nov 12, 2008
The Early Life of Catherine Eddowes
Catherine Eddowes was born on 14th April, 1842 to George Eddowes and Catherine Evans. She was educated at St.John’s Charity school, after the death of her mother in 1855, Catherine went to live with her aunt in Wolverhampton where she continued her education at Dowgate Charity school. After her death, Catherine was described as “an intelligent, scholarly woman” and it seems she was better educated than the other Ripper victims.
In 1862, Catherine left her aunt’s home to be with Thomas Conway, a man known as “The Pensioner.” According to an article published in January 1995 in the Black Country Bugle, the pair specialised in the production of gallows ballads, one of which was sold at the execution of her cousin.
After travelling all over the country, the two returned to Wolverhampton where Catherine gave birth. There is no evidence that the couple ever married, but it is known that they had three children together. It seems the partnership was not a happy one and the two were frequently separating with Catherine seeking refuge in common lodging houses.
At the time of her death, Catherine had no contact with any of her family. Her daughter blamed Catherine’s drinking for her parents repeated break-ups, but Catherine’s sister claimed Thomas Conway beat her.
The relationship seems to have ended for good by 1881, when Catherine moved into a common lodging house on 55 Flower and Dean Street. While staying there, she met John Kelly, with whom she had a relationship.
Frederick Wilkinson, the deputy at the lodging house, later described Catherine as “not often in drink” and claimed she was usually in for the night between 9-10pm. No-one seems to have known Catherine was a prostitute.On Friday, 28th September 1888, Catherine and John Kelly returned from hop-picking in the country having earned 6d. She told him to take 4d for a bed at the lodging house, saying she would get a bed on a casual ward. The Superintendent of the ward later reported that Catherine had claimed to know the identity of the Whitechapel Murderer, but there is no evidence to support this.
Time Line of the Night Catherine Eddowes Died.
Saturday, 29th September 1888:
2pm: Catherine claims she is going to visit her daughter to get some money, she promises to be back by 4pm. However, Catherine’s daughter had moved and not given Catherine her new address.
8pm: Catherine was witnessed apparently drunk, doing imitations of a fire engine before laying down in the street to sleep. She is arrested by P.C. Robinson and taken back to the station.
Sunday, 30th September 1888:
12.30am: Catherine has slept for a few hours and asks when she will be released.
12.55am: Catherine is released by P.C. Hutt, she gives her name as Mary Ann Kelly. Upon leaving the police station, Catherine heads away from Flower and Dean Street, being seen on Mitre Square about 30 minutes later.
1.35am: Three witnesses say they see Catherine with a man just outside Mitre Square.
1.45am: P.C. Watkins discovers her body in Mitre Square.
Arriving at around 2am, London police surgeon Dr. Frederick Gordon Brown described the victim as having had her throat cut across, with her “intestines drawn out and place over her right shoulder and smeared with some feculent matter. A piece of intestine about 2 foot long was detached from the body and placed between the body and the left arm, apparently by design.” The left kidney had been carefully removed.
Catherine Eddowes was buried on 8th October 1888, her murderer has never been identified.
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