MRS FIDDYMONT

MRS FIDDYMONT

Landlady of The Prince Albert Pub.

Mrs. Fiddymont was the landlady of the Prince Albert Pub, which was situated at the junction of Brushfield Street and Stewart Street.

On the morning of Annie Chapman's murder - 8th September, 1888 - she was in the bar at 7am, when a sinister looking man entered and ordered a drink.

The Morning Post carried the storey of her frightening encounter on Monday, 10th September, 1888:-

Another clue which may prove of value was furnished by Mrs. Fiddymont, wife of the proprietor of the Prince Albert public-house, better known as the 'Clean House,' at the corner of Brushfield and Stewart Streets, half a mile from the scene of the murder.

Mrs. Fiddymont states that at seven o'clock on Saturday morning she was standing in the bar talking with another woman, a friend, in the first compartment.

Suddenly there came into the middle compartment a man, whose rough appearance frightened her.

He had on a brown stiff hat, a dark coat, and no waistcoat. He came in with his hat down over his eyes, and with his face partly concealed asked for half a pint of four-ale.

She drew the ale, and meanwhile looked at him through the mirror at the back of the bar.

As soon as he saw the woman in the other compartment watching him he turned his back, and got the partition between himself and her.

The thing that struck Mrs. Fiddymont particularly was the fact that there were blood spots on the back of his right hand. This, taken in connection with his appearance, caused her uneasiness. She also noticed that his shirt was torn.

As soon as he had drunk the ale, which he swallowed at a gulp, he went out.

Her friend went out also to watch him.

Her friend is Mrs. Mary Chappeli, who lives at 28, Stewart-street, near by.

Her story corroborates Mrs. Fiddymont's, and is more particular. When the man came in the expression of his eyes caught her attention, his look was so startling and terrifying.

It frightened Mrs. Fiddymont so much that she requested her to stay.

He wore a light blue check shirt, which was torn badly, into rags, in fact, on the right shoulder. There was a narrow streak of blood under his right ear, parallel with the edge of his shirt. There was also dried blood between the fingers of his hand.

When he went out she slipped out the other door, and watched him as he went towards Bishopsgate-street."

Source: The Morning Post, Monday, 10th September, 1888.