ELIZABETH ALLEN - ANNIE CHAPMAN WITNESS

SHE KNEW ANNIE CHAPMAN

Resident of Crossingham's Lodging House, 35 Dorset Street

In an interview published by The Echo, on 14th September, 1888, Elizabeth Allen is reported to have told a journalist that Annie Chapman was in the habit of spending three or four nights a week at Crossingham's lodging house, where she would take an eightpenny bed, as it came with more privileges than a cheaper fourpenny bed.

She also claimed that she had encountered Annie Chapman in the lodging house on the afternoon prior to her murder, and that Annie had told her, "Betty, I'm sick of this. I've no money and shan't come in here tonight. If someone would give me a pair of boots I should go off hopping at once. Goodbye, Betty. Be good."

Elizabeth Allen was also mentioned in several newspapers, in September, 1888, as having provided the police with a statement that had cast suspicion on a man living "not far from Buck's Row", the scene of the murder of Mary Nichols.

On Saturday, 22nd September, 1888, The Londonderry Sentinel published the following article that briefly mentioned her contribution to the case:-

The Whitechapel murders are as inexplicable as ever, and at present the utmost energy on the part of the police has failed to secure sufficient evidence to justify an arrest in a quarter where suspicion lurked shortly after the commission of the fatal outrage at George Yard Buildings.

Inspector Reid, Detective-Sergeant Enright, Sergeant Goadby, and other officers then worked upon a slight clue given them by "Pearly Poll.".

It was not thought much of at the time, but from what was gleaned from her, coupled with the statements given by Elizabeth Allen and Eliza Cooper, of 35, Dorset street, Spitalfields, certain of the authorities have had cause to suspect a man actually living not far from Buck's-row.

At present, however, there is only suspicion against him."

Source: The Londonderry Sentinel, Saturday, 22nd September, 1888.