The Secrets of Mary Jane Kelly, Jack the Ripper’s Last Victim

A mournful funeral procession made its way to St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery in Leytonstone on Nov. 19th, 1888. Thousands lined the streets to say farewell to the woman in the coffin, some of them weeping.

“God forgive her,” some called out as the procession lumbered past.

Forgive her for what?

The tragedy began the morning of Nov. 9th, ten days before. James Whitehead, a 54-year-old merchant who’d made a successful second career in politics, was the star of the Lord Mayor’s…