29 Facts About Annie Chapman

Annie Chapman was born Eliza Ann Smith in Paddington on 25 September 1840.

Annie Chapman was the first of five children born to George Smith, and Ruth Chapman.

Annie Chapman's parents were not married at the time of her birth, although they married on 22 February 1842, in Paddington.

Annie Chapman is believed to have remained in London, possibly due to her employment commitments as a domestic servant.

Annie Chapman lodged with his employer that evening at the Elephant and Castle, Wrexham.

On 1 May 1869, Annie married John James Chapman, who was related to her mother.

John Chapman retained custody of their surviving daughter, while Annie relocated to London.

Annie Chapman's husband was obliged to pay her a weekly allowance of 10 shillings via Post Office Order.

Two years later, in 1886, John Annie Chapman resigned from his job due to his declining health and relocated to New Windsor.

Annie Chapman's surviving daughter, Annie Georgina, is believed to have either subsequently been placed in a French institution or to have joined a performing troupe which travelled with a circus in France.

Census records from 1891 reveal both of Annie Chapman's surviving children lived with their grandmother in Knightsbridge.

One of Annie Chapman's friends said she became depressed after this separation and seemed to lose her will to live.

Annie Chapman earned some income from crochet work, making antimacassars, and working as a flower seller, supplemented by casual prostitution.

Palmer later informed police Annie Chapman had appeared visibly pale on this occasion, having been discharged from the casual ward of the Whitechapel Infirmary that day.

Annie Chapman complained to Palmer of having felt "too ill to do anything".

Stevens then observed Annie Chapman take a box of pills from her pocket.

Annie Chapman was wearing a brown low-crowned felt hat and possibly a dark coat.

Annie Chapman then exited the property via the front door approximately three minutes later, having not proceeded beyond the steps to the back yard.

Annie Chapman's body was lying on the ground near the doorway to the back yard, with her head six inches from the steps to the property.

Two pills, which Annie Chapman had been prescribed for a lung condition, a section of a torn envelope, a small piece of frayed coarse muslin, and a comb were recovered close to her body.

Annie Chapman added that any individual who knew where the latch to the front door of the property was could open it to facilitate access to the backyard.

Palmer testified that although Annie Chapman had a fondness for alcohol, she considered her a respectable woman who never used profane language.

Annie Chapman thought the knives used by those in the leather trade would not be long enough in the blade.

Phillips concluded that Annie Chapman suffered from a long-standing lung disease, that she was sober at the time of her death, and that she had not consumed alcoholic beverages for at least some hours before death.

Annie Chapman appeared before the Thames Magistrates' Court on 4 August 1888, charged with indecent assault.

Annie Chapman was called as a witness on the second day of the inquest into Chapman's murder to publicly clear his name, and demolish the public suspicions that he was the killer.

Stanley was eliminated as a suspect as his alibis for the nights of the murders of both Nichols and Annie Chapman were quickly confirmed.

Annie Chapman's body was moved from Hanbury Street to a mortuary in Montagu Street, Marylebone by Sergeant Edward Badham in a handcart large enough to hold one coffin.

Annie Chapman was laid to rest in a communal grave within Manor Park Cemetery, Forest Gate, east London.