Tuesday, 14 August 1888
The murder of the young woman supposed to be Martha Turner, which occurred at George Yard Buildings, Whitechapel Road, London, is as much a mystery as ever, and up to the present there is no decided clue as to the perpetrator of the foul crime. The woman who was seen in the company of two soldiers, with whom was the deceased, has not been able to identify either of the men at the Tower as being her companion on the evening of the murder. Inspector Reid and the other officers engaged in the case have in no way relaxed their efforts to trace the criminal, and yesterday, the inspector, accompanied by "Pearly Poll", who was in the company of the murdered woman, proceeded to the Tower, where she was confronted with every non-commissioned officer and private who had leave of absence at the time of the outrage. They were paraded at the back of the Tower, unseen by the public, and "Pearly Poll" was asked, "Can you see either of the men you saw with the woman now dead?" "Pearly Poll," in no way embarrassed, placed her arms akimbo, glanced at the men with the air of an inspecting officer, and shook her head. This indication of a negative was not sufficient. "Can you identify anyone?" she was asked. "Pearly Poll" exclaimed, with a good deal of feminine emphasis "He ain't here". The woman was very decided on this point, and the men were then dismissed, while the two upon whom a faint shadow of suspicion had rested were considerably relieved at their innocence being declared. As soon as the murder was known, the suspected Corporal was interviewed by the police and questioned. He had his bayonet with him when on leave at the time of the outrage; but this he at once produced, and no trace of blood was discovered upon it. His clothing, too, was also examined, and upon it there was no incriminating bloodstain. After the parade, Adjutant Cotton, the officer in command, stated that all the men were now entirely exonerated. Indeed, the men were themselves most anxious to afford every facility to the police, and gave all the information in their power to assist the officers of justice in their investigation.