125 Years Later – A Look Back at The Ripper’s ‘First’ Victim

Tomorrow marks the 125^th anniversary of the first canonical victim of “Jack the Ripper,” the name given to an unidentified serial killer during the savage murders that took place during the autumn of 1888.

Jack the Ripper

Jack the Ripper is Britain’s most notorious serial killer. Although many suspects have been identified, no one has ever been undeniably determined to be "The Ripper." But that has never stopped “Ripperologists” from attempting to solve this very ‘cold case.’

Mary Ann (Polly) Nichols

It was around 3 a.m. on August 31^st, 1888 when Mary Ann (Polly) Nichols, a local drunk and prostitute, was searching for one more trick to turn so she could pay for her lodging that night. Polly was a good-looking woman and she didn’t have long to wait – but she got more than she ever bargained for.

At 3:40 a.m. Charles Cross, a cart driver on his way to work, noticed a bundle of rags lying across the street. When he walked over to them he discovered that the pile of rags was a woman, who appeared to be dead. Cross stopped another man, Robert Paul, who was passing by on his way to work.

Body of  Polly Nichols

When both men knelt by the body, Paul thought he could still feel a faint pulse. They went in search of a constable for assistance and after finding one both proceeded on to work.

Just moments after Cross and Paul had left, Constable John Neil discovered the body and sounded the alarm. It was only after shining his lantern on the woman did he discover she was dead. The victim’s throat had been cut so deeply that the head was almost severed from the body.

The woman’s skirt had been raised almost to her stomach, her abdomen had been ripped open and she had been disemboweled. According to surgeon Dr. Henry Llewellyn, who was called to the scene, the woman was killed by a swift slash to the throat. The body was later identified as 43-year-old Mary Ann (Polly) Nichols of Spitalfields.

Polly had been born to London locksmith Edward Walker and his wife Caroline on August 26, 1845. Polly married William Nichols in 1864 and was the mother of five children. Around 1880, Polly and William separated. Police reports indicate that it had to do with her drinking.

Women in Workhouse

After her final separation from William, Polly moved into a workhouse since she was unable to support herself. She lived in several workhouses during the next 8 years, most notable at Lambeth.

Conditions in the workhouse were hard although the food was considered to be adequate. The inmates were required to work for their food and lodging, doing such chores as chopping firewood, cleaning the wards, and caring for the sick.

Wandsworth House

In May of 1888, Polly left Lambeth to take a position as a domestic servant in Wandsworth, southwest of London. She was able to hold the position for two months before her drinking caused problems. Polly left her employment, taking with her clothing she had stolen worth just over 3 pounds. At the time of her death, she was living at a common lodging house at 18 Thrawl Street in Spitalfields, Whitechapel.

Polly Nichols was last seen alive on Friday, August 31^st at about 2:30 in the morning at the corner of Whitechapel Road and Osborn Street by her friend, Ellen (Nelly) Holland. Polly had indicated to Holland that she was trying to earn enough money to buy a four pence bed for the night. Polly had told Nelly that she had already earned enough money to have purchased her bed three times over, but instead she kept spending it on drink.

Discovering The Body

Polly's Death Certificate

It was around 3:40 a.m. when Polly’s body was discovered by the workers, lying in front of a stable gate on Buck’s Row in White Chapel, just 1/8^th of a mile away from the Royal London Hospital. Polly’s body was later identified by her husband, William Nichols and her friend, Nelly Holland. No one in the vicinity of the murder had reported seeing or hearing anything unusual.

John (Jack) Pizer

Newspaper Story 

When Polly’s murder occurred, the Metropolitan Police were already dealing with two similar
 murders that had taken place earlier in the year. The police had reason to believe John (Jack) Pizer, a Jewish boot maker who went by the nickname of ‘Leather Apron’’ was a good suspect. Pizer was known to have a vicious temper and enjoyed harassing prostitutes. He would be the first of many suspects the Metropolitan Police would investigate as the Whitechapel Murderer.

Polly in Her Coffin

Cemetery Plaque

Mary Ann (Polly) Nichols was buried in a polished elm coffin on Thursday, September 6, 1888 at the City of London Cemetery. Her husband, son, and father were in attendance. In 1996, cemetery officials marked Polly’s grave with a plaque.

Morgue Photo of Polly

On Saturday, September 1^st an inquest into the murder of Polly Nichols was held at the Working Lad’s Institute in Whitechapel.  According to the inquest testimony of Dr. Llewellyn, the neck “incision completely severed all the tissues down to the vertebrae. The large vessels of the neck on both sides were severed. The incision was about 8in. in length. The cuts must have been caused by a long-bladed knife, moderately sharp, and used with great violence… There were several incisions running across the abdomen. There were three or four similar cuts running downwards, on the right side, all of which had been caused by a knife, which had been used violently and downwards. The injuries were from left to right and might have been done by a left-handed person. All the injuries had been caused by the same instrument.”

Jack the Ripper?

The inquest lasted for four Saturdays before the jury heard all of the evidence. After a short consultation they returned the verdict of “willful murder by some person or persons unknown.”

So began the three month murderous reign of terror on Whitechapel’s prostitutes by a killer who would come to be known as Jack the Ripper.  No one suspected then that this would become one of the most perplexing cold cases of all times…

~ Joy

Celebrate #Cabernet Day

Tomorrow, August 29^th, is #Cabernet Day and that’s reason enough for me to pop open a bold Cabernet Sauvignon and toast to the day.

 

Started by Rick Bakas in 2010, #Cabernet Day has been held as a collaboration through social media. http://cabernetday2013-eorg.eventbrite.com  This is actually a global event now, to be celebrated around the world with a raised glass, or bottle, of your favorite Cabernet (Franc, Sauvignon or blend.)

Cabernet Sauvignon Grapes

 But why toast to the glories of Cabernet? Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most recognized grapes in the world. It is grown throughout Europe, America, and Canada.

Cabernet Franc Grapes

Sauvignon Blanc Grapes

During the 17^th Century an accidental crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc resulted in the Cabernet Sauvignon grape.  The grape became very popular in Bordeaux in the 18^th Century and continues to be today. The vines are hardy and resistant to disease and cold temperatures, which makes them easier to grow, and they are abundant producers. 

Cabernet Sauvignon was the most planted grape in the world until Merlot took over in the 1990’s. But never fear Cabernet has bounced back and is once again the most planted grape in the world. In fact, in the U.S. 25% of all grapes planted in California are Cabernet Sauvignon.

In France, the majority of the country’s Cabernet grapes come from the Left Bank in the Bordeaux region. (The Right Bank tends to lean toward Merlots.)

Cabernet Sauvignon can be crafted into a wine that cellars well. Mature Cabernets can demand a high price and they are the stars of the wine auctions. It is not unusual for more mature California Cabs to command $300 to $800 a bottle. 

If you’re looking for mature California Cabernets at better than expected prices, check out Sotheby’s http://www.sothebys.com and Christie’s http://www.christies.com auction houses in New York and Chicago where these bottles can range from 65% to 85% of the prices the same wines go for in San Francisco at Bonhams & Butterfields http://www.bonhams.com. But one word of caution, know your vintages for the best deals.

And speaking of the high prices, Screaming Eagle http://www.screamingeagle.com 

commands first place as the most expensive California Cabernet with an average selling price of $2,500 a bottle. The reason it can command such a price? When it was first released in 1992, Robert Parker gave it 99 points and Wine Spectator gave it 96 points. It’s now a prestigious bottle for the wealthy to name-drop that they have cellared.

However, Penfolds of Australia http://www.penfolds.com holds the title for the world’s most expensive wine, which just happens to be a Cabernet. Last year Penfolds offered 12 handmade ampoules of their 2004 Block 42 Cab for $168,000 each. Why the price? According to Penfolds:

Blowing the Ampoule

"2004 Block 42 is a rare, single-vineyard wine, only released in stellar vintages and produced from the oldest continuously producing Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the world." 

But there's even more bang for the buck(s). You can't open the bottle, only a Penfolds winemaker can. (Watch the video @ http://www.penfolds.com/en/news-events/ampoule-project.aspx)

Cabernet Ampoule

"When the decision is made to open the ampoule a senior member of the Penfolds Winemaking team will personally attend a special opening ceremony for the owner. The winemaker will travel to the destination of choice, where the ampoule will be ceremoniously removed from its glass plumb-bob casing and opened using a specially designed, tungsten-tipped, sterling silver scribe-snap. The winemaker will then prepare the wine using a beautifully crafted sterling silver tastevin."

But for today, any Cabernet will do. So pour a glass and savor those intense flavors of berries, tobacco, leather and lead pencil. After all, any time we can celebrate with a Cabernet is a good time, indeed.

~ Joy

Valentino and His Ladies in Black

Rudolph Valentino

He was one of the first Hollywood stars and he set the stage for the silent film star look. Rudolph Valentino was known as the Latin Lover and with his suave good looks he quickly became a 1920s sex symbol. 

He was born in Castellaneta, Italy on May 6, 1895 and named  Rodolfo Alfonso Raffaello Pierre Filibert Guglielmi di Valentina d’Antonguolia. Rodolfo did poorly in school and was unable to find a job when he graduated. At the age of 18, he left Italy for the United States and better opportunities.

Dancing Valentino

Once here, Valentino worked in restaurants and as a gardener before becoming a taxi dancer – a dance partner who is paid by the dance – at Maxim in New York. These paid dance partners were sometimes referred to as “a ticket a dance” or “a dime a dance” partner.

Valentino with a Shiner

Valentino and Friend

Valentino was able to support himself like this until he became involved in a prominent love triangle. After the wife murdered her husband, Valentino realized that it was best if he just left town quietly, so he joined a traveling musical troupe and headed out West.

Alexander Hotel

Society Women

By 1917, Valentino was performing in small musical productions in California. But he discovered that the money was better as a taxi dancer at the Alexander Hotel in Los Angles where several older women supported him.

A Scene from Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Valentino

In his free time, Rudolph was soon auditioning for parts in the silent films, but because of his dark looks he was always cast as the gangster or thug. His luck changed when he signed with the Famous Players and was cast in The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The movie, released in 1921, became the first million-dollar box office success.

A Scene from The Sheik

The Sheik

Valentino soon starred in several other films, but it was The Sheik in 1921 that solidified his reputation as the “Latin Lover.” With his now sought after dark, smoldering looks he had women swooning across America.

Valentino & Rambova

Natacha Rambova

Valentino married Natacha Rambova (Winifred Shaughnessy) in 1922 but the marriage had to be annulled after a bigamy trial. They married again, this time legally in 1923. Valentino and his wife worked on several films together but by 1925 the marriage was in trouble and they separated.

Son of the Sheik

It was the summer of 1926, Valentino was promoting his latest film, The Son of the Sheik when he became ill and collapsed at the Hotel Ambassador in New York City. He was taken to Stuyvesant Polyclinic Hospital in New York where he was diagnosed with appendicitis. Emergency surgery was performed but peritonitis set in and he developed sever pleuritis in his left lung.

Crowds Watch

Valentino's Funeral

Rudolph Valentino died on August 23, 1926 in New York City at the age of 31. It was reported that mass hysteria broke out across the country when his fans heard the news, some committing suicide. Thousands lined the train route as his body traveled from New York to California. He was laid to rest in the Cathedral Mausoleum at Hollywood Memorial Park, now Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Several songs were written about his death including “There’s a New Star in Heaven Tonight” and “We Will Meet at the End of the Trail.”

To listen to "There's a New Star in Heaven Tonight" click here:

http://youtu.be/YYTAwdQgePk

The First Lady in Black

Valentino's Crypt

In 1927, the first anniversary of his death, a woman dressed in black wearing a long black veil appeared at Valentino’s crypt, carrying a long stemmed red rose. At first, it was thought to be a publicity stunt, but each year the woman returned to pay her respects.

Ditra Flame

Rumors abounded as to who she could have been. Many claimed at the time that they were the Lady in Black but in 1947 Ditra Flame stepped forward and told her story.

As a young girl Valentino had visited Ditra when she was sick in the hospital and afraid she would die there.  Flame said that Valentino assured her that she would outlive him by many years and that when he died, he’d like her to come and talk with him at his grave, to keep him company, so he wouldn’t be lonely.

Flame continued to visit his grave each year until 1954 when there had become a parade of Ladies in Black. In fact, it was said that there were so many Ladies in Black visiting Valentino's crypt that day, it looked like a sale at Woolsworth. Eventually the crowd thinned out and Flame began her annual visits again in 1977, this time without the black mourning clothes and veil. She continued to visit Valentino’s crypt until her death in 1984. 

Estrellita del Regil

But another Lady in Black began visiting Valentino in the early 1970s. Spanish actress Estrellita del Regil paid her respects as a tribute to her late mother whom she believed to be Valentino’s unrequited love. She visited the grave on August 23rd for almost 20 years until illness stopped her visits in 1993. 

Vicki Callahan

Soon after a third Lady in Black took up the mantel and began annual visits. Vicki Callahan said that she was a fan of Valentino’s and simply wanted to pay her respects on the anniversary of his death. Dressed in black she was captured by a TV crew as she placed roses at his crypt and another tradition began.

Valentino and His Ladies

Valentino would probably be pleased with all of the visits (and publicity), for he has never been forgotten. And to this day,there are various adoring females to keep him company…

~ Joy