Photographing Victims in 1882

The following article from 1882 about the murder of a woman shows how the police of the H Division, including Abberline, photographed bodies of murder victims, which directly contradicts certain claims amid Ripperologists that the police only photographed the Ripper victims because of the brutal nature of the crimes. This is another blatant lie.

SHOCKING DISCOVERY IN LONDON.

Shortly before three in the morning the attention of Police-constable John Thornton, 298 H, was called to the body of a woman there is little reason to doubt has been foully murdered. It appears from the particulars that can be gathered that at 2:45 a.m., whilst Thornton was patrolling his beat, a man named Frederick Smith,
who is employed at Messrs. Baum's coal-offices and depot, Carr-street, Limehouse, London, came up, and informed him that a woman was lying either dead or dying a few yards off (in a different direction from which Thornton was walking). He at once went to the spot indicated, and found a woman, respectably dressed and
of apparently middle age. She was lying perfectly motionless, as if asleep, in a corner of the doorway; the constable turned her head gently round, and then saw that her face was in a fearful condition, being bruised and battered about terribly; blood was issuing from the eyes and nose, and from wounds in the face and head.
Police-constable Thornton at once sent for Dr. Brunton, of 717, Commercial-road, which is close by the spot, and he attended without a minute's delay, and on seeing the state of the woman advised that she be taken to the London Hospital directly, and - in consequence of her condition - ordered that she should not be taken
in a cab. Police-constable Thornton ran to Arbour-square, and procured the ambulance from Inspector Young, who also sent other constables to help him. The woman was then lifted on to the ambulance, and was conveyed with great care to the hospital, Dr. Brunton accompanying them. On arriving there she was taken into the
receiving ward and attended by the house surgeon and Dr. Brunton. She was found to be in a perfect state of collapse, almost pulseless; her face was bruised and battered about as if from heavy blows; her eyes were closed up as if from the same cause; both the upper and under jaw were fractured, and she had a terrible scalp
wound above the right ear, the skull, it is believed, being fractured. There was a deep punctured wound under the left eye, and a second punctured wound lower down on the same side of the face, both the latter having been caused evidently by some sharp instrument. After her injuries had been properly attended to, she was removed
from the receiving ward to one of the ordinary women's wards; before she reached it, however, she gave a heavy groan and expired, and the body was therefore taken to the mortuary, to await an inquest and a post-mortem examination. Until this has been held, it is impossible to speak to the cause of death. The following is a full
description of the body as circulated by the police: Height, 5ft. 7in.; age (about), 40 to 45; complexion, dark; hair, dark brown; medium figure; colour of eyes not describable, in consequence of their being closed by violence; on the upper right arm large capital "D," tattoed in blue ink in a very artistic manner; dress, Paisley shawl, brown;
rep jacket, trimmed with braid, figured with yellow flowers; two black scarves, white stockings, dark dress, side-spring boots; black silk bonnet, yellow and white flower, and good black feather; red crossover; underlinen not marked; pockets completely empty; red crossover found by her. The case is now in the hands of Detective-Inspector
Abberline, H division, and Detective-Sergeant Bennett. By direction of Chief Inspector Older, acting superintendent, the body has been photographed with a view to assist identification.

Source: Denbighshire Free Press, 8 July 1882, Page 8