Annie Farmer: possible JTR survivor?

[JTRSickert]

I just recently read about this attack and, I have to say, I was surprised I did not come across it earlier or that it hasn't been discussed all that much on this website. For those that are unfamilar with this incident, what happened was Annie Farmer was a prostitute who picked up a client on the 21st of November, 1888, who gave her some money and afterwards agreed to go with him in the bedroom of a lodging house. About an hour and a half later, the man runs out and Annie comes down the stairs with her neck cut. The man was never apprehended, but he was seen by a few witnesses across the street fleeing from the lodging house. Annie's cuts were not really severe and she was able to get them treated.

I, for one, think this may have been an aborted attack by Jack The Ripper. What I personally think he was trying to do is this: His last murder on Mary Kelly was probably the ultimate thrill for him, thus far. He was able to fulfill most of his fantasies in the comfort and privacy of her room. So, he probably figures doing this in private is much more suitable than in the streets of Whitechapel. So, he picks up Annie Farmer and lets her lead him back to this bedroom, where he intends to pull off another "Mary Kelly" job. However, for some reason, something goes wrong. Either Annie puts up much more of a fight or maybe they were interrupted by another guest in the house. Either way, Jack had to abort the attack for fear of being apprehended and so, darts off into the night.

[How Brown]

JT:

Most of us are well aware of the Farmer incident. Thanks for starting this thread.

Whenever I think of this incident, I think of Jack The Guy With The Death Wish Ripper. What was this guy thinking ?

Time for me to bring some Farmer related material up. I'll start now, JT, and finish tomorrow.

Ciao
How

[JTRSickert]

THanks, Howard (Hope Nina's doing alright, by the way).

Some people say it couldn't have been JTR due to the fact that the cuts on the neck weren't severe and possilbly inflicted with a different knife than the other attacks. Well, I didn't know a serial killer needed to stick to just one knife to commit his killings?

By the way, does anyone know what day of the week the 21st of November was? If it was on the weekend, then that could be consistent with the other Ripper murders.

This little interesting tidbit was also on the Casebook website:

"The police called off the investigation and stopped searching for the man, believing he would turn himself in in order to clear his name. This never happened, and Farmer never recanted her original story."

[How Brown]

JT...the 21st of November was a Wednesday

THE WHITECHAPEL MONSTER AGAIN SEEN SEEKING ANOTHER VICTIM OUTRACES AT THE EAST END .
The Illustrated Police News
Saturday, December 1, 1888

http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac287/HowieNina/Photo%20Thanksgiving/ipna.jpg

[JTRSickert]

A Wednesday, huh? Damn! I had my hopes up.

Thanks for the illustration though, man.

[How Brown]

JT.. on this same day, Robert D'Onston Stephenson's article was published in the Pall Mall Gazette.
Nina's doing well buddy. She went back to work today. I made her walk. She needs the exercise.

The Illustrated Police News
Saturday, December 1, 1888

http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac287/HowieNina/Photo%20Thanksgiving/farmer1.jpg
http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac287/HowieNina/Photo%20Thanksgiving/farmer2.jpg
http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac287/HowieNina/Photo%20Thanksgiving/farmer3.jpg
http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac287/HowieNina/Photo%20Thanksgiving/farmer4.jpg

[JTRSickert]

aaah, what a coincidence...or is it?

[How Brown]

Yeah its coincidence JT. December 7th was even more exciting.
Cohen was busted in the brothel raid, D'Onston was cut loose from the hospital and Joe Isaacs was picked up for suspicion.

More to come tomorrow on Farmer...

[How Brown]

Here's a link to a thread which had discussion on Farmer:
http://www.jtrforums.com/showthread.php?p=94796&highlight=annie+farmer#post94796

Birmingham Daily Post
Thursday, November 22, 1888

http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac287/HowieNina/Photo%20Thanksgiving/aaf1.jpg
http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac287/HowieNina/Photo%20Thanksgiving/aaf2.jpg
http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac287/HowieNina/Photo%20Thanksgiving/aaf3.jpg
http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac287/HowieNina/Photo%20Thanksgiving/aaf4.jpg

[How Brown]

In this article we see her described as being of "good appearance" and yet several paragraphs later as being a "drunk and abandoned woman".

I've been meaning to ask whether any name, false or otherwise, was ever presented of her assailant, since after all she claimed to have known him for about a year. As of this point in time I don't recall one mentioned.


Liverpool Mercury
Thursday, November 22, 1888

http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac287/HowieNina/Photo%20Thanksgiving/amw1.jpg
http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac287/HowieNina/Photo%20Thanksgiving/amw2.jpg
http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac287/HowieNina/Photo%20Thanksgiving/amw3.jpg

[Jon Simons]

Hi How

Although it seems like the guy was the victim in this instance, there are two points of interest in this case. Firstly, the early morning pick up time of before 5.00am, and yet again, the description of a red faced man with a fair moustache crops up.

[How Brown]

Dear Jon:

Unless I am mistaken, there isn't a reference to the man having a red face and a fair moustache in those articles.

Give it the once over twice Jon...maybe you misread the piece.

What stands out to me is that if Farmer knew this guy for approximately a year, where's the man's name anywhere in print...even if this was inevitably shown to be a story with a twist ?

[Jon Simons]

Hi How

The description was in The Star, 21st Nov. The witness, Frank Ruffell, who chased after the man and described him as having a red fresh looking face and a fair moustache. He may well have been inspired by Cox`s description.