The Early Life of Mary Jane Kelly
Mary Jane Kelly was born around 1863 in Limerick, Ireland, she moved to Wales with her family when she was a young child. According to her lover Joseph Barnett, she came from a “well to do” family.
Around 1879, when she was 16, Mary married a collier named Davies who died in an explosion 2-3 years later, Mary also suggested she had a child as well. After the death of her husband, Mary moved to Cardiff where she worked as a prostitute.
Arriving in London in 1884, Mary initially worked in a high class brothel in the West End, she claimed that she had travelled to Paris but did not like the city.
By 1886, Mary was living in Colley’s lodging house in Thrawl Street, Spitalfields where she met Joseph Barnett and began their relationship. The couple were remembered as friendly.
In 1887, Mary and Joseph decided to live together but they are evicted from several residences for not paying the rent. The situation did not improve when Joseph Barnett lost his job in September 1888, forcing Mary to return to prostitution.
On 30th October 1888, between 5-6pm, witnesses reported hearing Mary and Joseph arguing over her allowing other prostitutes to stay in the room they were renting. Joseph decided to leave, staying at a lodging house.
Time Line of the Night Mary Kelly Died
Thursday, 8th November 1888:
Joseph Barnett visits Mary, arriving between 7.30-7.45pm, he later claims another woman was there.
8pm: Joseph Barnett leaves and returns to the lodging house, going to bed at around 12.30am.
There are no confirmed sightings of Mary between 8-11.45pm.
11.45pm: Mary Ann Cox, a prostitute who lives near is returning home to warm herself up, she sees Mary with a man and says “Goodnight”, Mary replies “Goodnight, I am going to sing”. A few minutes later, Mary is heard singing in her room.
Friday, 9th November 1888:
1am: Returning to her room again, Mary Ann Cox hears Mary singing and sees a light on in her room.
2am: George Hutchingson meets Mary on Flower and Dean street where she asks him if he can give her any money, he tells her he does not have any. A few minutes later, he sees Mary with a man.
3am: Mary Ann Cox returns home for a third time, she claims there is no light or sound coming from Mary’s room.
4am: Elizabeth Prater- a neighbour- hears a faint cry of “oh, murder” but as this is a regular occurrence, she ignores it. The cry is also heard by Sarah Lewis.
10.45am: Rent collector Thomas Bowyer comes to collect rent, getting no response, he looks through the window and sees the body. Thomas Bowyer informs John McCarthy who goes to Commercial Road Police Station and speaks to Inspector Walter Beck.
After several hours waiting for bloodhounds to arrive, Superintendent Arnold orders John McCarthy to break down the door with an axe handle. When they enter the room, Mary’s clothes are folded neatly.
Dr. Thomas Bond, a police surgeon, described the body:
“The whole of the surface of the abdomen and thighs were removed and the abdominal cavity was emptied of its viscera. The breast were cute off…Uterus, kidneys and one breast (were) under the head, the other breast by the right foot, the liver between the feet, the intestines by the right side and the spleen by the left side of the body.” There were extensive mutilations to the face.
Mary Jane Kelly was buried on Monday, 19th November 1888, her murderer has never been identified.
Sources:
www.casebook.org- the best online resource for the study of Jack the Ripper and Victorian London.
Jack the Ripper: The Facts by Paul Begg
 |
 |
 |
