115. Blood-Stained Ghosts
Although the environment that once harboured the elusive Jack The Ripper has altered a great deal since the foggy days of 1888, such ghastly crimes committed have no doubt made an indelible mark upon the framework of the buildings. In the annals of London folklore there is no greater enigma than the shadowy presence of this knife-wielding maniac, who over the course of his reign slayed five, or maybe more victims. Despite constant speculation and investigation, Jack The Ripper remains one of the most intriguing serial killers to have ever prowled this planet, and the echoes of such crimes can still be heard today...
Miller's Court, Spitalfields, was the setting for Jack's most evil of kills, that of Mary Jane Kelly who was dissected, mutilated and diced beyond recognition. The room (No. 13, Miller's Court) no longer exists, but on occasion it has been reported that Mary Jane has been sighted in the vicinity. Adorned in black she wanders the night.
Famous ghost-hunters Elliot O'Donnell and Peter Underwood reported on the ghosts of Ripper victims Lizzie Stride (third victim) and Catherine Eddowes (fourth victim). O'Donnell mentioned that a week after the grisly throat-cutting of Stride (whose body was found September 30th 1888 in a yard beside No. 40 Berner Street), a local businessman was unnerved by several moans coming from the shadows. Knocking on a door to enquire, he was told by a woman in the street, "It's no good knocking there guv'nor. Them sounds don't come from that 'ouse. They're in the street 'ere. We've often 'eard them since poor Lizzie Stride was done to death."
At Mitre Square, where Catherine Eddowes was found disembowelled (throat also cut, left kidney and uterus excised and taken away), there have been several reports of a female figure huddled in what became known as 'Ripper's Corner'.
Annie Chapman was killed in Hanbury Street, her body found behind No. 29 on September 8th 1888. Her throat had been so severely cut that the head was almost severed. There have been reports of strange moans and also a headless figure in this area.
With so much blood spilled at Whitechapel, it's no surprise that the victims who died by such awful means are still said to wander in limbo the alleyways and dark corners. The only question is: have they found peace, or does the spectre of the Ripper continue to haunt them, just like 'he' haunts the avenues and alleyways of London folklore?
Photo by RinzeWind on flickr
