On the night of 30 September 1888, Elizabeth Stride’s body is discovered in Dutfield’s Yard, London. The night is still, and her throat bears a single, fatal slash. Witnesses report seeing her with various men before her death, one of whom was described as having a dark moustache. Her murder, occurring less than an hour before Catherine Eddowes’ in nearby Mitre Square, raises questions about its connection to Jack the Ripper.
The investigation unfolds amid a city gripped by fear. Stride’s body is found with a cache of sweets still clutched in her hand, suggesting the attack was swift and unexpected. Witnesses provide differing accounts of her companions that night, complicating the search for her killer. Despite no mutilations, similarities in the method suggest a chilling link to the Ripper’s other gruesome acts.
The inquest concludes with an open verdict, leaving the shadow of Jack the Ripper looming over London. The lack of conclusive evidence, combined with the terror of the Ripper’s spree, ensures Stride’s murder remains an enigma, a silent testament to the era’s darkest fears.
