Daily Chronicle (U.K.)
Saturday, 29 December 1888

THE POPLAR MURDER.

On inquiry at the East-end police-station last night our representative was informed that despite the most strenuous exertions on the part of the police nothing in the shape of a clue to the identity of the murderer of the woman Mylett or Davies had been obtained. The detectives had been engaged throughout the day in Spitalfields with the view of discovering the persons with whom the deceased associated just prior to her death. The statements which have been furnished to the police are not regarded as of the slightest value, and have given them no assistance in their investigations. An order has been issued to the various stations to the effect that persons making statements should be required to append their names and addresses, and that statements so made should be forwarded, marked "of pressing importance," to the head divisional station at Bow. Owing to the extraordinary circumstances attending the death of the unfortunate woman various conflicting theories are held by those who have had the case in hand. Dr. Brownfield, the divisional surgeon of police, however, has not the slightest reason, it is said, to alter the opinion he expressed at the inquest - namely, that the deceased was foully murdered. The medical men who have been concerned in the inquiry are of opinion not only that the deceased was murdered, but that the deed was the work of a skilful hand. A second examination of the body was made, subsequent to the inquest, and on the skin of the neck being removed a quantity of congealed blood was found, which proved that considerable pressure must have been applied from without. It is understood that sensational medical evidence may be expected when the coroner's inquiry is resumed on Wednesday next.

Mr. Charles Ptolomey, whose name was mentioned in our columns yesterday as having seen two seamen accost the woman near where she was discovered dead, has received a visit from some officers of Scotland-yard. Mr. Ptolomey, who is a night attendant at the Poplar Union, made the following statement to a reporter yesterday: - "Last night some detectives from Scoiland-yard came to see me about this mysterious affair. They asked me if I could identify the sailors? I told them I could pick the men out of a thousand. How I came to notice them was in this way: It was about five minutes to eight o'clock on Wednesday night, when I was going to my work. Upon going up England-row (nearly opposite Clarke's-yard) I noticed two sailors. The shorter one was speaking to the deceased, and the tall one was walking up and down. So strange did it seem that I stopped and 'took account' of them. Then I heard the woman say several times 'No! no! no!' and the short sailor spoke in a low tone. The tall one was about 5 ft. 11 in. He looked like a Yankee. The shorter one was about S ft. 7 in. It struck me that they were there for no good purpose, and that was the reason I took so much notice of their movements. I shall always remember their faces, and could, as I say, pick them out of a thousand. I have been to the mortuary, and seen the deceased. She is the same woman, and she was sober when I saw her with the sailors."