On this day in history: Jack the Ripper’s first victim found in Whitechapel

Mary Ann Nichols found dead in Whitechapel 1888

Police find Nichols’ body. Pic: History extra

On 31 August the body of Jack the Ripper’s first victim, Mary Ann Nichols, is found in Whitechapel, in London’s East End.

Nichols, like Ripper’s four other victims, worked as a prostitute. The 43-year-old mother of five children was in the Whitechapel area of London when she was murdered during the early hours of August 31 1888.

Nichols was last seen around 2.30am. Her body was discovered a little over an hour later. She was found to have her throat slit. Nichols also had various slashes down and across on her abdomen.

Leave a Reply