Brooklyn Daily Eagle
New York, USA
20 April 1891

A rumor that Central Office detectives had made an arrest spread from station to station like wildfire last night, and when all doubt as to the truth of the rumor was dispelled the rejoicing was general. Patrolman Fourstripes, who is regarded as an authority by the younger men in his precinct, sat smoking in the muster room when the news was received. Taking the pipe from his mouth the old man remarked:

"I knew that the boys down town weren't dead by a long shot. Of course they were bound to catch the man sooner or later. I tell you, young fellows, Byrnes isn't in it."

No one doubted that the Central office men had captured Jack the Ripper and when later it was learned that the detectives had three prisoners in custody much surprise was expressed. Patrolman Fourstripes was again appealed to. He said:

"Rest easy. The boys know what they are doing."

But the detectives had not arrested Jack the Ripper. Mahoney ( recently transferred from the Seventeenth precinct) and Price were at the ferry station of the Kings county road about 6 o'clock when they saw four lads jostling men in the crowd. No sooner, allege the detectives, did one of the youngsters catch sight of them than he cried: "Lamm" and all ran. They gave their pedigrees as follows:

John Wilson, varnisher, 424 West Fourth street, New York, age 23; Thomas Moran, laborer, 85 Newark avenue, Jersey City, age 18; James H Thompson, age 17, 146 West Broadway, New York. Thompson had $66 in his possession, the others a couple of dollars each. This morning the alleged pickpockets were arraigned in the Adams street court.

"Have you any evidence against these men? " asked the justice.

"No, sir," was Mahoney's reply, "but we would like them held on a charge of vagrancy until we can find out something about them."

The justice looked at the prisoners and after a pause said:

"Well, I'll give you until tomorrow morning to get evidence against them." And the boys were sent to jail.