FIRST AMONG EQUALS - The Death, Funeral and Burial of Jack the Ripper Victim, Mary Ann Polly Nichols
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ย. 2024
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In this episode Edward Stow tells the story of Mary Ann 'Polly' Nichols last day, her tragic end - and how her body was treated after death - taking you to all the relevant locations. He then asks the question - is it disrespectful to look for her killer?
Extra dialogue and camera by Adam Scarborough and Susan Stow
With thanks to Mike Pemberton for re-imagined picture of Charles Lechmere talking with PC Mizen.
Mike's TH-cam channel can be found here: / @pembysgamingworld
very good video Edward, well presented. I like the added voices, RIP Polly.
This channel never ever fails to both inform and entertain. Thank you so much for providing such top class programming.
Thank you
Edd has quickly become one of my favourite Ripperologists alongside Sir Richard Jones
Ed (and Richard) are entertaining and interesting presenters even if you don't agree with their specific conclusions.
Another fine video. Concise and well-researched. Looking forward to the next one... Thank you, Edward!
A new upload always makes my day. Excellent as always. Thanks 🤩
Thanks
Awesome film! There are some details here that I was unaware of. Thank you Ed!
It’s Friday August 30th. 11:45pm my time in south eastern Pennsylvania. But it’s 445am in White Chapel. Rest in peace Polly. ❤️🇬🇧
Fantastic, mate! You are second to none, Edward
Many thanks!
Thank you for another great video, and for being so respectful of women who have been traditionally and deliberately forgotten.
Really interesting details re: Mary Ann's life and death. Still a fascinating subject. Great job.
It seems possible that Lechmere encountered Nichols on Whitechapel High street, not Buck's Row. Then suggested they conduct business around the corner on Bucks Row. After shell knelt to do her usual business, he strangled her, possibly by garrote, or belt or even by hands, then while mutilating her, heard the footfall of Paul. Perhaps fearing it to be a beat officer, he would know not to run, as that would raise an alarm. He wasn't sure what to do until Paul nearly passed him, and thinking quickly decided to make out like he had just discovered the body.
Yes exactly
Hiya Edward, I like these Jack The Ripper TH-cam channels, Me and my friend Michael go to London in September that's one thing where going to do is go on Richard Jones's Jack The Ripper tour and looking forward to it tremendously, this is Paul (aka Choppy) in Whitehaven, Cumbria, England
Enjoy your visit!
Hi, Im new to the Jack the Ripper mystery. I was wondering why do many people belive Lechmere is the one. I find it extremely hard to believe that a man about to walk into work decides to commit bloody murder just before.
3:52 well said! I, too, dislike the modernity we sometimes place upon historical figures/victims; these women were no less valuable because of their profession, nor are any women who engage in it today. It doesn't, however, mean we get to rewrite history if we want to make for a more 'victim-y' victim. Often in true crime, you will hear TH-camrs go to great lengths to explain why this victim was an amazing person, worked with charity, lit up rooms, well, that may be but even if they were hermits and made no impact upon other peoples lives, their murders would still matter just as much as those who did! It gets a bit exhausting to see it time and time again, from well-meaning people that unfortunately accidentally perpetuate the idea that a victim needs to be 'wholesome/innocent' in order to matter. They ALL matter!
I've always been interested in the case of Jack the ripper. Thank you for a very fine video.
Love your videos and your channel I recently visited all the graves of the rippers victims as well as all the sites in Whitechapel video up on my channel.
Only recently come across your channel and the theories on lechmere and what can I say wow! Blown away! And now in my mind as number 1 suspect! Love this content! 👏👏
Do you have a link to your film
@@thehouseoflechmere9407 also some one recently commented on my video who pointed me in your direction and is a descendant of lechmere amazing the experience and knowledge this is providing.
Cracking stuff mate. Love your work. I can't help bit think that a few pints in an old London pub and a chat with you would be great! Unfortunately, I live in Durham. 😄🍻
Brilliant work Ed the research is impeccable..
Owen from The Pub test revealed his take on who Jack the Ripper was, and it was not what I was expecting. I enjoy both of your channels and asked him if he is interested in maybe having a joint discussion video to kind of bring both channels' audiences together. I would be very interested in the conversation and I think your viewers would enjoy it, too.
Totally agree with you about the sanitising, but people lap that up. I unfortunately was recommended the book that does this and have never read so much tripe in my life. Still, it gets rave reviews for some reason.
Reviews from.people who know no better
Can you do a reenactment of exactly how Charles Lechmere approached Paul in the alley. I think it will shed light on whether Lechmere was asking for "help" or actually controlling the situation. A person that wants help is going to scream for help before or as they run over. If Lechmere walked over and grabbed Paul before he said anything, then he was stalking Paul. I'm certain that if Paul had ran, Lechmere would have assaulted him. I'm certain that Lechmere didn't ask for help before approaching because he wouldn't know how loud Paul's response would have been. Charles Lechmere demonstrated all the characteristics of someone on the hunt.
We know that Lechmere did not utter a word before touching Paul because Paul said he tried to avoid and walk around Lechmere as he approached. He had no idea why this man was approaching him in the dark. If Lechmere had asked for help prior to approaching or as he approached, there would not have been any uncertainty in his mind as to what was happening. I think it is very plausible that Lechmere would have been cool enough to achieve this. We should remember that Lee Harvey Oswald was just as cool after shooting president Kennedy. Oswald was approached and questioned by a policeman before he made his way out of the school book depository building
Unless the reenactment replicates to the highest degree the surroundings and conditions of that early morning I think such an exercise would be flawed and only serve to confirm rather than prove the Letchmere theory.
It is always possible that Lechmere was wary of Paul for the same reasons that Paul was wary of Lechmere.
@@bendavies8881 given the reputation of Bucks Row for "incidents" that is a credible suggestion. I am sure both Paul and Lechmere who used it regularly, would not have travesered its length without a thought in the back of their minds that they could have been the focus of attention of some malevolent person or persons.
@@wattyler2994 That’s absurd. If you walk up to a person in what is clearly an emergency situation and grab their arm before saying a word, that’s stalking. That’s not merely asking for assistance. I am convinced that if Paul had attempted to flee, Lechmere would have ki**ed him.
Top work Ed, yet again.. cant believe i havent bumped into you on your Jaunts around Spitalfields…
I'm always excited to see your videos; they are so well researched and filled with extraordinary detail. And you always cut a very dapper figure!
Here’s what bugs me about Lechmere: He changes his mind frequently in a very short period of time. Initially, he seems to want to help the woman, flags down Paul to help, but then a moment later he refuses to do something that might save the woman’s life if she were not dead. Remember, Lechmere thought she was dead, but Paul thought he noticed a tiny bit of breath. Forget what we know now about Polly Nichols’ being dead. What if Paul had been right? And what if propping her up might have made it easier for the woman to breathe? Lechmere refused. Then later, after talking to Mizen, Lechmere now seems uncertain himself if the woman is dead or not, and implies so to the policeman. “She’s either dead or drunk.” To me, all of these actions combined doesn’t make much sense, psychologically.
Not surprising, as he was the killer. Watch Ed's other excellent videos.
@@maryarigho5868, yes, that’s what I think too. He could only have been trying to manipulate the situation so that he could leave the scene undetected after almost being caught in the act by Robert Paul.
It was Robert Paul who told PC Mizen, “I think she is dead.” Charlie Cross told Mizen. “She looks either dead or drunk.” Cross gave his evidence at the Inquest and never changed his account. Paul gave interviews to newspapers for money that contradicted his Inquest evidence.
Lechmere knew she was dead. He was trying to deflect any suspicion of himself on Paul's part by pretending to have found her, and pretending to be concerned about her welfare. He knew that sitting her upright would make her slashed throat obvious. I think his refusal to further handle the body when he had already done so was the beginning of his strategy to get Paul away from the scene on the pretext of locating a policeman and getting on to work.
@@susanshepard699, I agree with you. What you have said here, it’s the only conclusion that makes sense.
Currently reading Hallie Rubenhold’s book ‘ The Five’ she says that neither Polly nor the second of the canonical five Annie Chapman were prostitutes. Rubenhold questions whether the quote attributed to Polly as she left Wilmott’s “I’ll soon get my doss money, see what a jolly bonnet I’ve got now “ was ever said. She may have intended to pawn her hat or ‘borrow’ her doss money from an acquaintance, the poor helped each other more than they received from other sources. The above quote could also be ‘padding’ by a journalist to spice up the story or the exchanges as reported at the inquiry.
You can go down the route of questioning all the statements reportedly made by everyone... were pawn shops open at 2.30 am?
What friends did she have in the direction of Whitechapel - the direction she walked off towards? She was new in the area. She refused a bed from Emily Holland. Was Emily Holland lying? The Rubenhold theory holds no water
No pawn shops open in the middle of the night. Just bump into a friend wandering the streets? Well, she met the warden but turned down her offer.
I have read the book and I find it very convincing. They weren't all prostitutes.
Unfortunately she misses out evidence that goes against her theory. The evidence that Polly Nichols was a prostitute is overwhelming. And Mary Kelly. She actually concedes that Elizabeth Stride was.
There is no sensible alternative explanation for Catherine Eddowes' movements and behaviours either.
With Annie Chapman there is possibly less evidence.
They’re all dead, victims of a serial killer. Being out in the early hours offering trade to men made them an easy target. Trying to make up facts many years later to fit some ideological image of women today, is dumb and that book is utter and total trash that just appeals to a certain audience.
As Edward as pointed out, it’s the dress being pulled down. The concealing of the neck and abdominal wounds that’s the key to solving this. There’s no good explanation for this unless Lechmere did it himself. Great video as always! Where’s that HOL merch store? lol
Merch... that will come...
It was dark. If something is not observed it does not automatically mean it was deliberately covered up.
@@davekeating.
Not so dark that they couldn't see her hat. They also described her dress as up to her hips. The abdominal wounds were covered.
You could try to argue dudcthis by accident rather than by design. But the other victims including Tabram were left 'on display'.
@@thehouseoflechmere9407 Part of the Rippers M.O. was to leave the dismembered bodies on display for maximum effect when the sun came up. With Polly Nichols the Ripper struggled with her layered clothing. He’s learning as he goes along. He didn’t cut Polly’s clothing like he did later with Catherine Eddowes. He lifted up Polly Nichols’ clothing as best he could and sliced her lower abdomen. When disturbed he ran away, allowing her clothing to fall back down and cover her wounds but still leaving her clothing partially up and disturbed.
@@davekeating.I agree leaving the wounds on display was part of his MO and that the killer was disturbed. The obvious scenario is that Paul disturbed Lechmere.
It should be noted that, as PC Mizen said at the inquest that the other man (Robert Paul) "I think he was also a carman" suggesting both men looked like a carmen, this should comfort Paul a bit. But apparently it didn't.
This is a great video, many new facts learned, thanks a lot
So nice of you
when lechermere hears pauls footsteps how does he know its not a policeman coming along
Police on the beat had a certain slow methodical footfall - also I think he'd already seen the local beat policeman slowly walking down Whitechapel Road going in the opposite direction - PC Neil.
Youd have to think he’d been planning it for a while and since it was on his regular way to work he was familiar with the surroundings and what to expect in terms of the ‘comings and goings’ of others.
@@richardl772 interestingly as a road known for "incidents" one might ask the question why Letchmere or anyone else did not take another route to work which took slightly longer? This begs another question that the police too would have been aware of its reputation hence perhaps the beats of at least 3 PCs coming through or near Bucks Row. That being so why did the killer choose a riskier venue for his "work" and not a quieter street?
The usual presumption is that the victim chose the location
have you done one yet on that dude in Dundee, who semi-confessed to the ripper killings and brutally murdered his wife having left London in early 1889?
not being snide.....genuinely interested to hear your take on it.
William Bury. Yes I will do a film on him at some point
Well done video Edward.
A Tabloid Frenzy with Polly's Murder in 1888 & 136 Years later, there is an Internet Frenzy, trying to determine what happened and who was JTR, eh Edward...Lately, everyone seems to have made their choice from the multitudes of suspects, but the Mystery Endures...Cheers fm Damo😀👍
Excellent as always
Thank you! Cheers!
Odd that there was a railway policeman in the gate of the yard at the end of the road and yet he saw no one heard nothing.
Asleep on the job? Rather like the gentleman (who to be fair denied it - although not convincingly) overseeing roadworks on Winthrop St the street just adjacent to Bucks Row and a possible (possible) escape route through to Whitechapel High Street for Polly's killer.
There was a nightwatchman “wide awake” in Mitre Square but still heard nothing at the time of Catherine Eddowes killing.
@@davekeating. yes but he was indoors while the killer went about his "work" evisorating Kate Eddows.
@@wattyler2994 The nightwatchman near Buck’s Row had the whole premises to watch. The gate entrance hut would be his base; he really only needed to be there for unscheduled deliveries, shipments. The nightwatchman could have been anywhere on his round of the premises when the killer struck.
@@davekeating. except that his main job that night was to watch over the works being undertaken on Winthrop Street. He was there the workers at the Horse slaughter yard testified to that, the real question was did he tell the coroners inquest the truth about how alert he was. He asserted, as one would expect, that he was awake. He didn't want to loose payment for his long shift.
Bit late watching this one. Excellent as usual Ed.
Cheers.
Edit. Dapper attire by the way. Cool look. 👍
Ha thanks!
Wish I could pull that look off. Im too scruffy 😂
Another intriguing video Ed Lechmere told Paul & Mizen that he was on his way to work at Pickford’s that morning he could have been lying we obviously don’t know just wondering if in those days Pickford’s had kept records of their employees but if they did I suppose those records have now been lost in time
All the records were destroyed long ago
omg these poor women very interesting video thank you
Ed another fantastic video👏
I love this channel
Thank you so interesting well done 👏👏👏👏
Jack the ripper Day is here...the 31st
Good film. And, by God, that's a scary photo at the end...
I Love this channel. Edward certainly does His homework and he clearly has passion about this.
But Me thinks thou doth protest too much.
I will be secretly starting up the "House Of Stow" and investigating this suspicious Character...
Ha
@@thehouseoflechmere9407 I am honoured to have you reply to my post.
@EdwardStow I was wondering what you thought about regarding the "Jack the *Stripper"* murders during the 1960s, in and around the Hammersmith area.
I think there's a lot of similarities between that case and the "Jack the ripper" case, assuming, as I do, you believe that Harold Jones is indeed the prime suspect.
Like Charles Lechmere, there is a plethora of circumstantial evidence pointing towards Harold Jones being the culprit, and like with Lechmere, it's only way after Harold Jones has died, and the case is BEYOND "cold", has all that circumstantial evidence been "found" and present day highly experienced detectives and other "experts" have agreed that he would very likely be the "prime suspect" if it were a modern day investigation.
Just wondering what, if any, your opinions on this were.
Great video, *again,* btw.. 😊 👍
I may do a comparative film about the Jack the Stripper murders at some point.
@@thehouseoflechmere9407 That would be brilliant!! 😁👍
dear Mr Stow,
we are currently producing a radio documentary on jack the ripper for german media networks. would be great to include your thoughts on the lechmere approach!
feel free to contact,
best regards
I am on Facebook under Edward Stow and also The House of Lechmere. You can message me via there if you like!
I think that if Mr Stow had been around 160/170 years ago he would have been a mate of Charles Dickens. (And, of course, he would be in the record books now for being the oldest man on TH-cam!)
A different, but interesting, thought. 🤔
I need to ask if you will do a video about James Kelly and if he was the ripper. I believe he's the only prime suspect you haven't covered yet.
I would be really interested in a presentation about the death of Alice McKenzie if you ever have time. Was she a Ripper victim or not?
Apparently the Frying Pan pub -- the one we see today -- is a building from slightly after 1888. Anyone have a picture of the building that was there before?? I'd love to see it!!
I didn't know that
I've read references to it being rebuilt in 1891 but also of landlords listed every year around then in trade directories so any rebuilding cannot have been that drastic... I think.
I have a theory about the letters he sent to the police. I thought I should write it here for you Edd if you maybe find it of interest. Maybe someone has thought of this before but either way, I was coming to think of it. The thought came to my mind so to speak.
In the letters, the perpetrator wrote in a way of making fun of the police and playing games with them. How plausible would it be that this could imply Lechmere as being both the killer and the writer of the letter? Reason being that if Lechmere was caught in the act of murder by Paul and the fact that he was later cleared from suspicion, that could imply that he wanted to ridicule the police for their incompetence and inadequacy of catching him. He wrote ”catch me if you can” or something of that sort. This to me implies that he felt very confident from getting away and that he thought that they would never be able to catch him or even be suspicious to them at all.
I will do an independent film in the letters in due course
@@thehouseoflechmere9407 I was on your page looking for that very thing.
Excellent.
Does Mary Ann Nichols have any living relatives, I seem to remember a tv series not long ago with a woman who was related to her?
Yes
Another excellent video and I feel very respectful. I feel so many so called 'Ripperologists' do not have enough respect for the victim's. And as Unfortunates/prostitutes they get painted with a bad brush .
I also feel that we must remain open minded to who the perpetrator of the crimes was as if we don't look at it correctly it turns into a game of cludo.
I belive its not a game and discovering who done it would bring closeure to victim's family's. However we must also consider that there may be family members of the suspect also.
In hindsight it is easy to fit in suspects but the evidence for it being Cross/Lechmere is compelling and also belive that there were victim's before and after The 5 my main parallels being Sutcliffe and The Black out Ripper .
I noticed that you showed Emma Smith , Annie Millwood & Martha Tabram from the City of London Cemetery also. But not Catherine Eddows so I guess you have a video planned, great suff you and Richard Jones content for JTR the best balanced 👌
I included those three markers as they were non canonical. I will.on due course do specific films on all the victims
Whay is the name of your podcast sir?
Perhaps I used the wrong words what I ment was that in my opinion JTR didn't necessarily only target Unfortunates/prostitutes but that they were the easiest targets as they would take a client to a place where they could conduct business and ultimately death by JTR. But that we shouldn't necessarily assume that he only targeted such
After Charles Cross and Robert Paul left the drunken passed-out Polly, JTR slashed her throat and further mutilated her abdomen before running off. Next, P.C. Neil happened upon the scene. This is the only scenario in which Lechmere isn't the murderer.
Do we know how long Lechmere worked at that job and lived in his place after the death of MJK ?
If Cross was the Ripper and he escaped getting caught by Paul, he would have totally avoided the police on his way to work, the last thing he would have done is approach an officer (once he separated from Paul) and get involved with the investigation. Just asking.
Got some people saying not all victims sold there bodies from you knowledge is thix new idea correct?
No!
@@thehouseoflechmere9407 yes arguing at moment with sone TH-cam promoting some book by someone else rubenholdt or something
I'll believe u as you deal with facts from the inquests where associates of the victim spoke,
Lechmere was innocent!
Tell us how you know that?
More proof of guilt than innocence. I'm afraid.
He was 100% present that night.
He was 100% found standing over the body.
He 100% walked past the next murder sight with Paul.
He 100% gave Cross as his name when he was 100% using Lechmere by this point.
Police 100% said his story didn't match PC Mizens story.
He was Jack!
How many lodging houses were in the Whitechapel area in 1888?
I've seen a figure of 233
@@thehouseoflechmere9407 Thanks, a lot of lodging houses
@@sameyers2670
Yes the area had the highest concentration in London which artificially skewed the poverty of the area and the overcrowding. Take them out of the equation and the East End then was not so poor or overcrowded.
I still think J T R or Lechmere got so lucky here and even luckier at Mitre Square. Policemen all around him and no one sees or hears a thing.
I've asked you this before Edward and I'd like to know if your answer is still the same as the one you gave me way back when....
You've described the knife wounds being in a downward motion. In your opinion what direction is the killer likely facing as he's doing his mutilating, if we take sideways to the body outside of the equation? Would you say the killer is more likely to be facing Brady Street or Baker's Row?
You've also questioned as to why neither men alerted the railway policeman, prior to alerting P.C. Mizen, as he was nearer to the crime scene. Would you not agree that the onus in this particular point is more on Robert Paul? As he was likely to have been walking that route for around a decade, as opposed to Lechmere who had been walking it, at best for the better part of a couple of months? Robert Paul knew that road better than Lechmere, describing the road as a place where attacks were common and would more likely know where policemen were based and patrolling.
Regarding the railway Policeman arguably Paul would have been more aware of his presence - but we know he was anti police so may not have wanted to involve himself. Also his wife was about to give birth which may have made him less helpful. Whereas overtly Lechmere was Mr helpful, public spirited and humble and respectful to the coroner so what's his excuse?
My view on the wounds is that the killed looked west raised the dress as a shield and cut into the body that way
@@thehouseoflechmere9407 "Whereas overtly Lechmere was Mr helpful, public spirited and humble and respectful to the coroner so what's his excuse? " : - Exactly what I previously wrote Edward.... Lechmere had only been taking that route to work for less than two months. He may not have known about the presence of a railway Policeman.
In regards to which way the killer was facing, again I would have to disagree with you here Edward given the direction of the wounds. I believe he was facing Eastwards and gave no regard from what was coming from Baker's Row, but more alert to what may be coming down Brady Street. It would have been just as easy to lay Polly Nichols the other way before he started his mutilations. if his concern was more on an approach from the direction of Baker's Row.
@@andy5xcool
I would guess Lechmere would have noticed a policeman at that gateway if he usually walked that way for 60 or so work days - 120 trips back and forth.
Take Lechmere out of the equation for the other issue.
Regarding laying the body down. This would have happened upon his strangling her and she would probably be difficult to maneuver round. Or she may have lain down herself before strangulation, again making maneuvers difficult if not impossible.
If you visit the site it is obvious that the main point of potential danger is westwards as the distance to dead ground is only about 50 yards, whereas eastwards it is 130 yards. Any sensible culprit would be more worried about the western direction which would also be Neil's direction of travel - presuming the culprit knew this. And the direction to PC81 GER - if he knew this.
The abdominal wounds were more superficial than the other victims - even the two deeper wounds and there were several minor stabs or slashes as well. I take it that he knelt pretty much over her face, pulled the dress up as a shield and then realised that the slashing was awkward - hence the uncertainty with the smaller wounds and even the nature of the two bigger ones. The minor wounds were lower down it seems and the knife may have hit bone. Preventing proper slashing. The longer wounds started under the rib cage - the thorax - and went down and away from him, whichbis slightly awkward. I think that's why they were not as drastic as seen with Chapman or Eddowes. He learnt from his error. This being his first properly outdoor attempt.
@andy5xcool
""I believe he was facing Eastwards and gave no regard from what was coming from Baker's Row, but more alert to what may be coming down Brady Street.""
I can't believe ANYONE would "give no regard" to the blind spot just beyond the Board School and instead just focus on the far greater field of view towards Brady Street. The blind spot past the Board School is far more potentially problematic. You'd have to be stupid to give no regard to it.
@@lyndoncmp5751 The killer was highly likely to have approached Buck's Row with Polly passing the boarding school on the way to the murder spot. He would have gauged that it was unlikely that anyone would approach from that direction ha had just come from, having not been followed to Buck's Row, with also a last minute glance back up Buck's Row towards Baker's Row, before killing Polly moments later. However he did not know what may be coming from the direction of Brady Street, therefore more attention would have been diverted to an approach from that direction.
On a final note, I thought we were done with each other? You accused me of being a troll, so why are you commenting on my comments again? Unless you're forthcoming with an apology first and foremost I will no longer reply to anymore comments you direct at me. Regardless of how well you may think you have the bested me. For two years you've tried and you haven't bested me yet! Whats more, I see more and more people raising their suspicions on Robert Paul.
watched the episode on jack the ripper on netflix unsolved mysteries was disappointing
When I heard the theory about these women not being unfortunates and merely rough sleepers I had a similar moment to when someone told me that there is no such thing as evolution. Pushing a religious or politcal agenda to shoehorn a theory, historical or otherwise, is just pitiful.
Yes
Read the book called, The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women killed by Jack The Ripper. Written by Hallie Rubenhold. Very, very good book. Very interesting.
But unfortunately very inaccurate
Very poignant.
wonder why nobody has ever suspected dr llewelllyn as being jack he could easy get home from there
I bet he’s on someone’s list 😅
And the other locations such as Chapman and Eddowes?
@@lyndoncmp5751 hwe knew the police so he could go anywhere and rhey would not of stopped him i dont know letchmere is my guess
Your hat is crooked!
Battered