It is stated that the blood stained newspapers which were found in Bailey's yard, close to Hanbury street, and upon which it is conjectured the Spitalfields murderer wiped his hands after committing his crime, have been subjected to analysis, and the stains certified to be those of human blood. The police who made the search state distinctly that the paper was not there when they made the search on Saturday, and though they have been closely cross examined, on this point they adhere to their statement. It is not clear, moreover, that the murderer could have thrown the newspaper to the spot where they were found from the back yard in Hanbury street; but if he threw the papers, which were rolled up into a round mass, over the wall, they might easily have been blown or kicked into the corner in which they were found.
A Scotland yard detective has arrived at Maidstone and interviewed the commander of the Sussex Regiment with a view to identifying the writing on the envelope found on the murdered woman.
The funeral of Annie Chapman took place yesterday morning. Shortly after seven o'clock a hearse drew up outside the mortuary in Montague street, and the body was quickly removed. At nine o'clock a start was made for Manor Park Cemetery, the place selected by the friends of the deceased for the interment, but no coaches followed, as it was desired that public attention should not be attracted. Mr. Smith and the other relatives met the body at the cemetery, and the service was duly performed in the ordinary manner. The remains of the deceased woman were enclosed in a black covered elm coffin, which bore the words "Annie Chapman. Died September 8, 1888. Aged 48 years."
The police were yesterday in communication with the pensioner who was said to have been seen in the company of the murdered woman Chapman. He has voluntarily explained his connections with the deceased and his antecedents. His statements are, it is understood, entirely satisfactory and he will be produced as a witness when the inquest is resumed.
A man was arrested in Whitechapel last night on a charge of threatening to stab people, in the neighbourhood of the Tower. A roughly sharpened knife was found upon him. He is a short, stout man, with a sandy beard and wears a dark cap.
Dr. Sedgwick Saunders, the Medical Office of Health for the City of London, has reported to the Commission of Sewers on the sanitary condition of the City during their recent vacation, from July 21 to Sept. 8. He states that the health of the City has been exceptionally good, in spite of the unseasonable weather. The average weekly death rate - 8.84 per 1,000 per annum - was the lowest that had been recorded since 1882 during the corresponding period of the year. The highest was 13.43 in 1882, the lowest was 10.76 in 1883, which the average from 1882 to 1887 was 12.32. The total number of deaths registered during the seven weeks was 61, namely, 35 males and 26 females; and of these only four occurred from preventable diseases. In the same period there were 115 births - viz., 62 males and 53 females. The birth rate was 16.60 per 1,000 per annum. The usual sanitary precautions observed during the summer had been carried out; 786 houses had been inspected, of which twenty five required sanitary improvement in various particulars. At the markets and slaughter houses 23 tons 16 cwt of meat had been seized as unfit for human consumption and destroyed. In July, out of a total delivery of 19,957 tons of meat at the Central Markets, 12 tons were condemned, and in August 16 tons out of 19,591 tons. Eleven cases of scarlet fever had been treated. Considerable nuisance had been occasioned by the tenants of four shops in Leadenhall Market keeping dogs and other animals for sale night and day, including Sundays, on the premises, which were badly ventilated and in a foul condition. He recommended that notices should be served for the immediate removal of the animals, and, failing that, legal proceedings should be taken. At the mortuary 115 articles of clothing has been disinfected, 15 bodies received, and 11 inquests (including three fire inquests) held.
It is stated that the pensioner who has been referred to in connection with the woman Annie Chapman, murdered in Whitechapel, will be produced as a witness on the resumption of the Coroner's inquiry. A man was arrested in Whitechapel last night on a charge of threatening to stab people in the neighbourhood of the Tower.
At the Southwark Police court yesterday, Benjamin Quinnell, a labourer, was charged on remand with having stabbed Mary Watts, in the New Cut. A woman who was said to have witnessed the occurrence had not been found, and did not come forward. Mr. Shiel said would grant a warrant for her arrest, as there must be no failure of justice in this serious case. He added that the prosecutrix must be looked after, so that she might be free from molestation. The prisoner was remanded for a week, and bail was refused.
Sir,
There can be no doubt that it vegetarianism ever become universal throughout the country one happy result will be the abolition of the private slaughter houses that meet one at every turn in London. In many of the poorer districts one has to be cautious in the selection of a short cut to any particular place of destination, otherwise one or more of these hateful places must be passed, perhaps just when sheep or oxen are being driven in, much against their will, to be slaughtered. It is not a pleasant sight to meet sheep, often lame owing to long journeys from their breezy hills, while they are being driven along the streets to those darksome dens - sometimes, it may be, the abodes of horrid cruelty. It is very improbable that vegetarianism will ever be universally adopted unless man revert to his primitive condition described by Darwin; but surely it is not impossible, without inflicting injustice on the butchers, to suppress private slaughter houses. In a matter of such extreme importance to the dwellers in the poorer districts the money needed for the erection of public slaughter houses remote from the busy centres of large towns and especially in London, would be well spent. The knowledge that animals used as food were invariably killed in the most humane manner by an experienced slaughterman could not fail to add to the comfort of those who will continue to eat beef and mutton to the end of their lives. The fact that many slaughter houses are contiguous to selling houses is little short of a scandal. It needs no very vivid imagination to realise the demoralising effect on the young who live near such places. When London is properly governed the present disagreeable state of affairs must assuredly cease.
Yours, &c.,
D. Robertson.
At Westminster Police Court yesterday Inspector Webber, A Division, attended before the magistrate and stated that the police on Thursday night found and took home the girl Emma Potter, reported missing by her mother, who had expressed the fear that the girl's disappearance might be associated with the discovery of a mutilated limb at Pimlico.
