LONDON, Oct. 6.--Nothing that the newspapers can present to their readers receives any attention except the Whitechapel murders. Important political utterances which ordinarily would provoke general discussion are unread, and continental affairs of vital interest to England are thrust aside as of no consequence whatever. The police have adopted the theory that the letter and the postal card signed "Jack the Ripper" sent to The Central News, a week ago Thursday, emanated from the actual murderer. Facsimiles of the letter and card are posted in every police station and upon every dead wall, accompanied by a paragraph begging any person recognizing the writing to communicate with Gen. Sir Charles Warren, chief commissioner of the Metropolitan police. The Central News received another communication from "Jack the Ripper," yesterday afternoon, announcing his intention to commit more murders to-night, and upon the strength of this the police have ordered every man on duty and are assisted by hundreds of amateur detectives. The reign of terror which has prevailed in the Whitechapel district during the past week still continues and the arrival of daylight to-morrow will be hailed with joy by thousands of the denizens of that locality.
The sentimental objection to the use of bloodhounds in pursuing criminals has been broken down entirely by the immunity of the murderer. Had Sir Charles Warren six months since ordered bloodhounds he would have lost his place, it being thought that he had already lost his head. But now the public demand enables the police to employ dogs. Nothing more is known of the murderer. His identity is as much hidden as though he possessed the invisible cap of Perseus. Nothing being known enables much to be guessed. Yesterday the theory was that he is a Malay. The coroner's theory, that the murders are due to the offer of an American of rewards for certain organs, has been given up, and the mystery is left more mysterious than ever.
