Decatur Daily Despatch
Illinois, U.S.A.
17 July 1889

London, July 17.
The woman whose body was found in Castle alley in the Whitechapel district last night was a middle-aged prostitute. Her throat had been cut to the spine. When the body was found it was lying on its back. The clothing had been thrown up, exposing the abdomen, which had been gashed in a horrible manner in several places, although the intestines were not exposed. No part of the body was missing. Warm blood was flowing from the wounds when the body was discovered. A policeman who, with the watchman of an adjacent warehouse, must have been within a few yards of the spot where the murder took place when it was committed, heard no noise. Policemen have been placed at fixed points in Whitechapel since the murders of this character began there, and since the murder preceding that of last night officers have been stationed at a point within a hundred yards of the scene of the latest tragedy. An old clay pipe smeared with blood was found alongside the body. It was supposed by the police that this will furnish a clue to the murderer, although it may have belonged to the victim. Several arrests of suspected persons have been made, but they were discharged from custody, there being no proof on which to hold them.

It is stated that a letter was received by the police officials before last night's murder in Whitechapel signed "Jack the Ripper", in which the writer said he was "about to resume his work." There is still no important arrest or clew to the latest Whitechapel murder. The people are so blase with these horrors that there is very little excitement at the revival, but it will lead to fresh agitation against the present system of London police. Monro, the new chief commissioner in succession to Sir Charles Warren, is on his trial. His first report, published today, says the concentration of police in Trafalgar square caused an increase of crime in other parts of London. The demand for removing the London police from the control of the Central Government to the London Municipal Council is gaining strength. Rosebery, chairman of the council, yesterday showed the absurdity of the present system. The Central Government issued an order requiring the London Council to make regulations muzzling dogs, but the only way to secure the muzzling is to make the police enforce it, and the Council has no police. Therefore Rosebery returned the order to the executive and a deadlock ensues.

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Decatur Daily Despatch
Illinois, U.S.A.
17 July 1889

Special to Decatur Despatch

London, July 16.
One more murder has been added to the long list, credited to Jack the Ripper, in Whitechapel. The body of a woman, evidently one of the disreputable frequenters of that district, was found in Castle alley tonight, only a short distance from where the other murders were committed. The body was horribly mutilated and bears undoubted evidence of the work of the fiend, whose atrocities in Whitechapel have terrorized the whole district repeatedly. The police are as far as ever from a clue to the identity of the murderer and seem perfectly paralyzed. The excitement throughout Whitechapel, where the news of the discovery of this fresh victim of the mysterious Ripper has spread with lightning rapidity, is at fever heat.