London: The 1888 ‘Double Event’ murders of Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes

On September 30, 1888, East London experienced a series of killings known in criminal history as the ‘Double Event’. Within a span of less than one hour, two women, Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes, were murdered.

The first victim, 44-year-old Elizabeth Stride, was discovered around 01:00 in Dutfield’s Yard on Berner Street. Her body was found with her throat cut, though notably, she did not exhibit the extensive mutilations characteristic of other victims attributed to Jack the Ripper. This has led to theories that the killer was interrupted.

Shortly after, at approximately 01:45, police officer Edward Watkins discovered the body of Catherine Eddowes in Mitre Square. Unlike Stride, Eddowes had been killed and mutilated with significantly greater violence. Eddowes had been released from custody only about an hour prior after being detained for intoxication.

Both women are considered part of the ‘Canonical Five’ victims traditionally linked to Jack the Ripper, though the identity of the killer and the exact number of victims remain unproven more than a century later.