The Thames Torso Murders of Victorian London by R. Michael Gordon

Author:R. Michael Gordon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Published: 2018-09-26T16:00:00+00:00

THE TORSO PACE QUICKENS!

Jack the Ripper was dead! At least that was how London authorities were playing the propaganda game. As for the Ripper himself—“Not bloody likely!” Nevertheless, the new year of 1889 had been a whole lot less violent in the East End of London as far as murders were concerned. Other types of crime were, however, continuing to increase, and the Torso Killer was about to fill the murder void. This time, however, the victim would have a name, and once again Londoners would react to a vicious murder as body part after body part was found along the river Thames. All of London would soon know that a new victim had met the Thames Torso Killer.

Elizabeth Jackson was, at the time of her death, a homeless prostitute. She was described by her mother, Catherine Jackson, as being “24-years-old, well formed, plump and around 5 feet 5 inches in height.” She was further described as being “of fair complexion and reddish gold hair with a beautiful set of teeth and nicely shaped hands.” Elizabeth was the youngest of three daughters born to Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, along with sisters Annie and May.

She did not start out to become a prostitute walking the streets of the East End, but things must have just gotten away from her. Elizabeth began work as a domestic servant in her hometown of Chelsea at the age of sixteen. It was 1881, and the work seemed to be well suited to her. She continued as a domestic, with reports of her “excellent character,” until she suddenly left her home and her work in November 1888. She would never explain why, but it was clear that a man was somehow involved.

Not long after she had left her position she could be found walking the streets on Turk’s Row in Chelsea. It was here that her sister Annie would meet her. Elizabeth had been speaking to a man, unknown to Annie, as Annie called to her. Elizabeth excused herself and went over to speak with her older sister. It was at that point that Annie accused Elizabeth of “picking up men for immoral purposes.” This observation led to an argument, as would be expected, as an angry Elizabeth simply walked away. Annie would never see her younger sister alive again.

Not long after that November meeting, Elizabeth, still working the streets and pubs of Turk’s Row, would meet a man named John Faircloth. After a few drinks, Elizabeth explained that she had been living with “a man named Charlie,” possibly her “protector.” This loose connection would not stop her from going off with Faircloth, who must at that point have realized that Elizabeth was, as they say, “easy.” Nevertheless, they both went off to Ipswich together for at least the next four months, as her family lost complete track of her.

Faircloth was not the best of people to have gone off with, but at least he was no serial killer. He was later described in press accounts as being “a miller by trade and a native of Cambridgeshire.

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