The mysterious surroundings of the East End murders still continue to puzzle us, and there does not at present appear any chance of the miscreants being brought to justice. So far the efforts of the police have failed to secure any reliable information likely to lead to a clue. The public are getting impatient, and several indignation meetings are announced for to-night. The Home Secretary's decision not to offer a reward for the discovery of the murderer does not meet with the approval of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, and much dissatisfaction is expressed by those who have formed the Vigilance Committee. Three consultations of the detectives engaged in the case have been held to-day and the scene of the last outrage was visited again this morning by the authorities and a careful examination of the surroundings was made. A rumour was current late this evening that the police have made an important discovery, but as we are hearing some dozen of these reports daily not much credence is placed in the rumour.

An instance of over-zeal on the part of a detective officer formed a topic of gossip in the vicinity of Whitechapel to-day. Some few of the men at first engaged in the case are now on holiday leave. Their places have been filled by comparative strangers from Scotland Yard, who merely report themselves to the local inspectors and proceed upon their duty at the positions allotted them. At two o'clock this morning a man was seen talking to a woman near Great Pearl street. A detective on the look-out considered that he was at last within measurable distance of the real "criminal." Approaching the stranger cautiously he questioned him as to what his business was at that hour. His answers were not considered satisfactory, and certain recriminations led to such unpleasantness that the woman's companion was told he must go to the station. The detective was then somewhat surprised to find that he had arrested a brother officer, who was forthwith liberated on production of his warrant card.