Daily News
United Kingdom
9 October 1888
THE EAST-END MURDERS.
The Central News states that the Metropolitan Police last night made an
arrest which was thought to be of importance. The arrest was made through
the instrumentality of the manager of a clothes repairing company in Gray’s
Inn-road. Last Wednesday afternoon a man called at the shop between twelve
and two o’clock in the afternoon with two garments – an overcoat and a pair
of trousers to be cleaned. They were both blood-stained. The coat was
especially smeared near one of the pockets, and there were large spots of
blood on various parts of the trousers. The manager was away at the time,
and his wife took charge of the garments. The man said he would call for
them on Friday or Saturday. The wife naturally called her husband’s
attention to the blood stains on his return, and he communicated with the
metropolitan police, who, having examined the clothes, took them to
Scotland-yard. Since then, two detectives have been secreted on the premises
awaiting the stranger’s return. Friday and Saturday passed by without his
calling, but last evening he stepped into the shop a few minutes before
closing time. Detective-sergeant George Godley and a companion seized him
without much ceremony, and he was taken straight to Leman-street
Police-station. Meanwhile the prisoner accounted for the presence of the
blood marks by the assertion that he had cut his hand. It is stated,
however, that his explanation was not altogether consistent, as in an
unguarded moment he spoke of having cut himself last Saturday, and then
suddenly recollecting himself stated that he had also cut his hand
previously. The prisoner further stated that he had had the garments by him
in his lodgings for two or three weeks, but he refused to give his address.
A later communication from the Central News says :- The man was liberated
after the police had satisfied themselves of his innocence. The apparent
inconsistency of his explanation was doubtless due to his embarrassment.
A man was yesterday taken to the Bethnal-green Police-station on a charge of
stealing an oil barrel in Baker’s-row. Some disturbance was caused by his
resistance to the police, but with assistance the officer secured him. This
incident proved sufficient to originate a rumour that the murderer had been
secured after a desperate struggle.
Hundreds of persons assembled outside the City mortuary in Golden-lane at
one o’clock yesterday to witness the removal of the body of Catherine
Eddowes to Ilford for interment. The departure of the funeral cortege was
fixed for half-past one- o’clock, and at that hour the road was practically
blocked. The coffin was of polished elm, with oak mouldings and black
furniture. It was conveyed in an open glass car, drawn by a pair of horses,
and was followed by a mourning coach, in which were John Kelly, four of the
dead woman’s sisters – Mrs. Eliza Gold, Mrs. Elizabeth Fisher, Mrs. Harriet
Jones, and Mrs. Emma Jones – with Mrs. Mary Eddowes and her two daughters,
The procession started punctually, but along Old-street and Great
Eastern-street it was only able to progress at a very slow rate in
consequence of the crowd, although the City police in the first instance,
and subsequently the metropolitan constables preserved order admirably. All
along Old-street the crowd was specially dense, and at the top of
Commercial-street and the end of Whitechapel-road knots of people had
congregated; but after leaving Great Rastern-street the hearse and coach
quickened their pace, and the spectators were soon left behind. At Ilford
Cemetery nearly 500 people had assembled to witness the interment. The
service both in the chapel and at the grave was conducted by the Rev. T.
Dunscombe, the cemetery chaplain, who made no special reference to the
murder. Elizabeth Stride was buried on Saturday in the quietest possible
manner, and at the expense of the parish.
Sir Charles Warren, the Chief Commissioner of Police, has, it is officially
stated, made arrangements for the employment of bloodhounds to track the
murderer in the event of any further crimes being perpetrated under
circumstances similar to those which have recently occurred in Whitechapel.
An instruction has been issued to the police that they are not to remove the
body of the victim, but to send notice immediately to a veterinary surgeon
in the South-West district, who holds several trained bloodhounds in
readiness to be taken to the spot where the body may be found, and to be at
once put on the scent. No details as to the plan which will be followed are
given. The plan of operations will to a great extent depend upon the
circumstances of any particular case in which the aid of the bloodhounds may
be called into requisition. A startling fact has just come to light in
reference to the recent Whitechapel murders, which goes somewhat towards
clearing up the mystery with which the crimes have been surrounded. After
killing Katherine Eddowes in Mitre-square the murderer, it is now known,
walked to Goulstone-street, where he threw away the piece of the deceased
woman’s apron, upon which he had wiped his bloody hands and knife. Within a
few feet of this spot he had written upon the wall, “The Jews shall not be
blamed for nothing.” One of the police officers gave orders for this writing
to be immediately sponged out, probably with a view of stifling the morbid
curiosity which it would certainly have aroused. But in so doing a very
important link was destroyed, for had the writing been photographed a
certain clue would have been in the hands of the authorities. The witnesses
who saw the writing, however, state that it was similar in character to the
letters signed “Jack the Ripper;” and though it would have been far better
to have clearly demonstrated this by photography, there is now every reason
to believe that the writer of the letters (fac-similes of which are now to
be seen outside every police-station) is the actual murderer. The police
consequently are very anxious that any citizen who can identify the
handwriting should without delay communicate with the authorities. The
Central News, since the original letter and postcard of “Jack the Ripper”
were published, has received from 30 to 40 communications daily signed “Jack
the Ripper,” evidently the concoctions of silly notoriety hunters. A third
communication, however, has been received from the writer of the original
“Jack the Ripper” letter and postcard, which, acting upon official advice,
it has been deemed prudent to withhold for the present. It may be stated,
however, that although the miscreant avows his intention of committing
further crimes shortly, it is only against prostitutes that his threats are
directed, his desire being to respect and protect honest women.
A correspondent, writing from Birkenhead, says: There is one point about the
Whitechapel murders which has not yet been commented upon – viz., that the
murderer must have had light of some kind by which to carry out the ghastly
mutilations and at the same time avoid stepping in the blood. At the inquest
on Annie Chapman the coroner laid stress upon the fact that the missing
organ had been removed with considerable skill and without one unnecessary
cut, and the surgical evidence in the case of the Mitre-square victim was to
the same effect. Would any surgeon living undertake to perform a like
operation in darkness, and with desperate haste?
A meeting was held last evening at the three Nuns, Aldgate, to form an East
London Trade and Labourers’ Society’s Vigilance Committee for the
apprehension of the Whitechapel murderer. Mr. John Chandler presided. It was
stated that 57 patrols had already been arranged for and that it was desired
to increase the number to 70.
Notwithstanding the apparently conclusive evidence given at the inquest by
Michael Kidney as to the identity of the Berner-street victim, many people
believe that the poor creature was really Elizabeth Watts, formerly of Bath.
It will be remembered that Mrs. Mary Malcolm, of Red Lion-square, swore
positively that the deceased was her sister, Elizabeth Watts, and that she
had last seen her on the Thursday preceding the murder. – The Central News
state that, as the result of inquiries prosecuted by them, they have
succeeded in finding Elizabeth Watts alive and well in the person of Mrs.
Stokes, the hard-working respectable wife of a brickyard labourer living at
Tottenham.
ANOTHER WOMAN’S BODY FOUND IN THE THAMES. – The body of a woman was found
floating in the Thames yesterday afternoon near Waterloo-bridge. It was
recovered by the Thames police and removed to the Lambeth mortuary, where it
awaits identification. The age of the deceased was apparently about 29.
There was nothing found upon the body to lead to identification.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
HELP FOR WHITECHAPEL.
Sir, - Will you kindly allow me in your columns to reply to many
correspondents who have desired to be informed of the best way to befriend
the poor women in Whitechapel, Spitalfields, and the neighbourhood whose
miserable condition has been brought before the public so prominently by the
late murders? I was for ten years rector of Spitalfields, and I know full
well the circumstances of these poor creatures, and have been constantly
among them by day and by night. A night refuge has been proposed, and it was
but natural it should suggest itself as a means of benefiting the class. In
my judgment it would serve no good end and I earnestly hope nothing of the
kind will be attempted. I am sure it would but aggravate the evil. It is not
the fact that many of these women are to be found in the streets at night
because doors are closed against them. Another night refuge is not required.
It would attract more of these miserable women into the neighbourhood and
increase the difficulties of the situation. But what is needed is a Home
where washing and other work could be done, and where poor women who are
really anxious to lead a better life could find employment. There are
penitentiaries and there are mission houses into which younger women can be
received. The public generally are little aware of how much good work has
been done of late among these. But for the older women, many of whom have
only taken to their miserable mode of earning a living in sheer despair, and
who would gladly renounce it, we have not the Home; and it is of the utmost
importance one should be provided. It would in its management differ from
the ordinary penitentiary. If entrusted with means to provide such a Home, I
would gladly undertake the responsibility of conducting it, in conjunction
with the clergy and others who are only too anxious to see it established.
It has oftentimes saddened my heart to be unable to assist the older women
and to save those who were hopelessly falling into a life of sin. Such a
Home would be a fitting addition to the “Court House” the Home for younger
penitents at Walthamstow, which bears the name of Mrs. Walsham How, and was
founded by her in the time of my predecessor, the present Bishop of
Wakefield. If anything is to be done it should be done at once. Two thousand
pounds would enable the experiments to be tried, and I have no doubt at all
of its being a success. Pray allow me space to say to ladies who have been
moved to devote themselves for work in these parts that I shall be delighted
to hear from such, and to advise them where their services are most
required, and how they can best give effect to their charitable intentions.
It is my bounden duty to use my position and experience to turn to the best
account the painful interest that has been excited by late events in the
East End. – I am, your obedient servant,
R.C. BEDFORD,
Bishop Suffragant for East London.
Stainforth House, Upper Clapton, E., Oct.8.
WOMAN KILLING NO MURDER.
Sir, - Will you allow me to point out to Mrs. Fenwick Miller that the
penalties inflicted on men for assaulting women depend upon the social
position of the individual man and woman? There are cases in which the
magistrate not only protects the woman, but savagely revenges her. A week or
two ago a labourer was convicted of having kissed against her will the
daughter of a major; for taking this liberty he was sentenced to six months’
imprisonment with hard labour! If the labourer had kissed a labouring woman
against her will, would he have been punished in the same way? Or if a
gentleman were to kiss a working woman against her will, would the same
sentence be passed on him? Or if a gentleman were to kiss a lady against
her will in the public street, would he be sent to prison for six months
with hard labour? There can be but one answer to these questions. Our laws
are by no means the same for the rich and the poor, as any one who reads the
daily papers can see. Mrs. F. Miller seems to think that, in the various
cases of brutal assault which she cites, the magistrate – being a man –
thought to himself “It does not matter much; the victim is only a woman.”
But it is more probable that – being a middle-class man – his thought was
“It does not matter much; she is only a working woman.” Class legislation
and class administration must always mean injustice. – Yours faithfully,
Oct. 8.
CONSTANCE HOWELL.
In connection with the East-end murders the the police yesterday affected
another arrest. Last week a man left an overcoat and a pair of trousers at a
shop in Gray’s-inn-road to be cleaned. It was noticed that both garments
were blood-stained. The police were communicated with, officers were
secreted on the premises, and on the man calling last night he was taken
into custody. At a later hour, however, he was released, the police having
satisfied themselves of his innocence. The remains of one of the murdered
women, Catherine Eddowes, were interred at Ilford yesterday.
Mr. Troutbeck opened an inquest at Westminster yesterday touching the death
of an unidentified woman, a portion of whose body was recently found in the
police offices now being erected on the Embankment. Evidence having been
given as to the discovery of the remains, Dr. Bond, who had made an
examination, expressed the opinion that the body was that of a
well-nourished, tall woman, over 24 years of age, and that death took place
six weeks or two months ago. The cuts on the body appeared to have been made
after death. The inquiry was adjourned for a fortnight.
Shelter for the Homeless.
LAST night a shelter capable of accommodating three hundred homeless waifs
was opened at 39, Mile-end-road, Whitechapel. This is an important addition
to the vast system of charitable relief for which the East-end of London is
becoming quite as remarkable as for its poverty. The philanthropic effort
is, indeed, more striking and impressive to the casual observer than the
squalor and distress for which this end of the town has hitherto been
notorious. The mission halls, the charitable funds, the refuges and soup
kitchens, the free breakfasts and cheap dinners, the coal and blanket
supplies, and so forth, are quite bewildering in their multiplicity. Those
who know something of what is going on in this way, and get their impression
of East London from casually passing through its streets, must be inclined
sometimes to doubt whether so much benevolence can possibly be needed.
Charitable schemes, however, are for the most part bound to push themselves
to the front, while the poverty and wretchedness with which they are coping
are ordinarily hidden away. Many a decent-looking little street, paved and
lighted and swept at the public expense, hides behind its window blinds an
incredible amount of destitution and misery; while as everybody knows there
is a large floating population that has nothing to do with any streets at
all – mere homeless waifs, picking up a morsel of food and getting a night’s
shelter where they can. The experience of the last winter or two has shown
that in spite of all that has been done there is the greatest need for
places into which these poor wretches may creep at night. There does,
however, seem some danger of a waste of effort from the too isolated action
of those who are engaged in this “refuge” work. In every instance with which
we are acquainted the greatest care is taken to guard against the abuse of
charity, but it is hardly possible to do so effectually without some sort of
concerted action among those engaged in relief. Whether this new refuge has
been started on an entirely isolated footing, or what means are taken
through the Charity Organisation Society or in other ways to avoid
“overlapping” and other disadvantages, we are not told, but we understand
that a Committee is being formed, and an eminent Lombard-street banker has
consented to become treasurer. Information may be obtained of Mr. S.
HAYWARD, C.E., 212, Devonshire-road, Forest-hill, S.E.
THE COURT.
BALMORAL, Oct. 8.
Divine service was performed yesterday morning at the Castle in the presence
of the Queen, the Royal Family, and the Royal Household.
The Rev. Professor Story, D.D., of the Glasgow University, one of her
Majesty’s Chaplains, officiated.
Their Royal Highnesses the Princess of Wales, Prince Albert Victor, and the
Princesses Louise, Victoria, and Maud of Wales, attended by Sir Dighton
Probyn and Miss Knollys, drove over from Abergeldie, and attended Divine
service at the Castle.
In the afternoon the Queen drove out, accompanied by her Royal Highness
Princess Beatrice, and attended by Lady Ampthill, and visited Princess
Frederica at Abergeldie Mains.
Viscount Cross, Lord Rowton, and the Rev. Dr. Story had the honour of dining
with the Queen and the Royal Family.
THAMES. – A SUPPOSED LUNATIC. – George Sullivan, 30, a man of peculiar
appearance, was charged with threatening to stab Mrs. Ellen Jansen, staying
with her mother at 42, St. George-street, E. – Prosecutrix said between 10
and 11 o’clock on Saturday night prisoner came into the house – a beerhouse
– and asked to be served. He behaved in a suspicious manner and witness
would not serve him. Prisoner was walking up and down the bar, and witness
told him not to annoy the customers. He had a long knife in his hand, and
with it made an upward motion, saying, “Look here. I’ll do this to you.”
Prisoner went out, and she followed him : but lost him. She, however, found
him again in a public-house, when he said, “You can’t lock me up, I’ve only
just come out of Colney Hatch. I was there two years.” Witness gave him into
custody. The accused frightened her very much, and she had not got over the
fright yet. – Mr. George Stacey, relieving officer, who happened to be in
court, said he knew prisoner well. He had been in all the county asylums in
Middlesex, and all the asylums in and around London. – Mr. Saunders remanded
prisoner for the prison doctor to ascertain the state of his mind.
THE WHITEHALL MYSTERY.
INQUEST.
MEDICAL EVIDENCE.
Mr. John Troutbeck yesterday afternoon opened an inquest, in the Westminster
Sessions House, on an unidentified woman, a portion of whose body was found
on the 2nd inst. in the new police offices in course of erection on the
Embankment. Inspector Marshall represented the public authorities.
Frederick Wildbore, of Clapham Junction, a carpenter, deposed – I am
employed on the new police offices. On Monday morning last at 6 o’clock I
went into a vault to find my tools, my mate having taken them down there on
the previous Saturday. I noticed what I took to be an old coat lying on the
ground in a recess. The vault was, as usual, very dark. I did not find my
tools as my mate had removed them earlier in the morning. At half-past five
on Monday evening I went to the vault once more. I noticed the object again,
and drew my mate’s attention to it. We struck a match and looked at it,
without forming any idea what it was. I did not report the matter to any
one. On the next day at about one o’clock I saw the object again, and spoke
about it to Mr. Brown, the assistant foreman. The parcel was not opened in
my presence. I had not been to the vault for eight days when I went there on
Saturday. During that period I did not hear any one refer to the presence of
the parcel. I heard of the discovery about an hour after I spoke to the
deputy foreman. I never noticed any smell in the vault. I only place my
tools there from Saturdays to Mondays. (A tracing of the architect’s plan of
the basement of the building, having been handed to witness, he indicated
the situation of the vault.) Any one unacquainted with the building would, I
think, have had a difficulty in finding his way to the vault. Questioned by
a juror the witness said : On each occasion on which I went to the vault I
struck a match.
George Budgen, of 21, Salisbury-buildings, Walworth, a bricklayer’s
labourer, said : I was in the vault on Tuesday afternoon, having been sent
down by the foreman to inspect the parcel. I found it partially wrapped up
in an old cloth. It had three or four strings round it, and I took hold of
these strings and dragged it into a lighter vault. I then cut the strings
(produced) and removed the wrappers, exposing to view part of a human body.
Mr. Cheney, foreman of the bricklayers, was with me at the time. Presently
the police arrived and took charge of the remains.
Thomas Hawkins, detective, attached to the A division, deposed : About 20
minutes past three on the 2nd inst. Mr. Brown came to the police-station,
and in consequence of a statement he made I was sent to the new police
buildings, where, lying in one of the vaults, I found a portion of a human
body. It had apparently been wrapped in a piece of dress material
(produced), which was lying beside it. I went to a vault in which I was told
that the remains had been discovered. Later on I communicated with Detective
Inspector Marshall, who came and took charge of the remains. I should think
it impossible for any one unacquainted with the building to have found his
way to the vault without artificial light. There is a trench in the vault.
Frederick Moore, 86, Great Peter-street, a porter, said : At about a quarter
to one on the 11th September I was standing outside the place where I work,
113, Grosvenor-road, when my attention was called to an object lying in the
mud of the river, underneath a sluice. With the aid of a ladder I approached
the object, and found it was a human arm, which was quite bare. A string was
tied tightly round the upper part. I fished the arm up, and put it on some
timber, and afterwards examined the mud to ascertain whether there were any
more remains about. I did not find any. The tide was going out just at the
time of the discovery.
Police-constable Jones, 127B, said – On the 11th September my attention was
called by the last witness to an arm that had been found in the mud of the
river. For a week subsequently I was engaged in examining the mud of the
river in this locality, but did not find any more remains.
Charles William Brown, of 5(6?), Hampton-terrace, Hornsey, an assistant
foreman employed on the new police offices, deposed – The works are shut off
from the surrounding streets by a hoarding about seven feet high. There are
three entrances, two in Cannon-row and one on the Embankment. There are
gates at these entrances, and the gates are as high as the hoarding. The
vaults have been completed about three months. Nobody is admitted to the
works except the workmen and people having business with the clerk of the
works. Nobody is kept at the gates, but there is a notice prohibiting
strangers from entering. On Saturdays all the gates are locked except a
small one in Cannon-row. No watchman remains at the gate, and no watchman
remains on the building during the night. The little gate is latched, and
there is a trick in opening the latch. From the time the workmen leave on
Saturdays until they come again on Mondays the works are deserted. There is
not a watchman stationed outside. The vaults are difficult of approach.
Carpenters were at work down there in the week preceding the discovery. In
order to get to the vault a previous knowledge of the building is required.
I first saw the parcel on Tuesday afternoon. I had been in the vault several
times on Monday and Tuesday, but I did not notice the parcel, as I had no
light with me. I noticed no smell. A man drew my attention to the parcel,
and I did not take much notice of it at first. Later I told Mr. Cheney and a
labourer that there was a curious parcel in the basement.
By a Juryman – Tools have been stolen during the progress of the works, but
this did not suggest the necessity of placing a lock on the little gate in
Cannon-row.
Thomas Cheney, foreman of the bricklayers, said : On Tuesday Mr. Brown told
me there was a curious parcel in the basement, and I proceeded to inspect
it. I had not previously been in the vault for three months. I have nothing
to do with the drainage.
Ernest Hedge, a general labourer, said – I was in the vault on Saturday
evening at 20 minutes to five. I went there to get a hammer. I passed the
spot which has since been pointed out to me as that on which the parcel was
found, and there was certainly nothing there then. I might have been in the
vault on the Monday, but not on the spot in question. On Tuesday I went into
the vault after the body had been found. When I left the vault on Saturday
there was a plank over the trench. Men often went into the vault for various
reasons. At twenty minutes to five I believe I was alone on the works. I was
locking up, I left everything secure. All the workmen know how to open the
little gate in Cannon-row. All that is necessary is to pull a piece of
string.
Police-constable Ralph, 634A, said – I placed the remains in a shell and saw
them conveyed to the mortuary. I also directed the arm to be brought to the
mortuary.
Mr. Thomas Bond, of 7, The Sanctuary, Westminster Abbey, deposed – On
October 2nd, shortly before four, I was called to the new police buildings,
and there shown the decomposed trunk of a woman. It was then lying in the
basement and partially unwrapped. I visited the vault where it was found,
and saw that the wall against which it had lain was stained black. I should
imagine the parcel must have been in the vault more than three days. At the
mortuary I superintended the placing of the remains in spirits. On the
following morning I made an examination, assisted by Dr. Hibberd. The sixth
cervical vertebra had been sawn through in removing the head from the trunk.
The lower limbs and pelvis had been removed, and the four lumbar vertebrae
had been sawn through by a series of long, sweeping cuts. The length of the
trunk was 17 inches, and the circumference of the chest 35 ½ inches. The
circumference of the waist was 28 ½ inches. The trunk was very much
decomposed. I examined the skin thoroughly, but did not detect any marks of
wounds. In the neighbourhood of the cut surfaces decomposition was
especially advanced. The skin was light. Both arms had been removed at the
shoulder joints by several incisions. The cuts had apparently been made
obliquely from above downwards, and then round the arms. Disarticulation had
been effected straight through the joints. Over the body were
clearly-defined marks, where the strings had been tied. The body appeared to
have been wrapped up in a very skilful manner. The neck had been divided by
several jagged incisions at the bottom of the larynx, which had been sawn
through. On opening the chest we found that the left lung was healthy, but
that the right lung was firmly adherent to the chest wall of the diaphragm,
showing that at some time the woman had suffered from severe pleurisy. The
rib cartilages were not ossified. In connection with the heart there were
indications that convinced me that the woman did not die of suffocation or
drowning. The liver was normal, and the stomach contained about an ounce of
partly digested food. Portions of the body were missing. Appearances of the
collar-bones indicated that the woman was of mature development –
undoubtedly over 24 or 25 years of age. It appeared that she was full
fleshed, well nourished, with a fair skin and dark hair. The appearances
went to prove that deceased had never borne, or at any rate had never
suckled, a child. The date of death as far as could be judged, was from six
weeks to two months before the examination. The body had not been in the
water. I examined an arm that was brought to the mortuary, and I found that
it accurately fitted the trunk.The hand was long and appeared to be very
well shaped. Apparently it was the hand of a person not used to manual
labour. All the cuts on the trunk seemed to have been made after death.
There was nothing to indicate the cause of death, though as the inside of
the heart was pale and free from clots, it probably arose from haemorrhage
or fainting. From a series of measurements we took we came to the conclusion
that the woman was about 5ft. 8in.in height.
Dr. C.A. Hibberd, of 18, Great College-street, Middlesex-lane, deposed : I
saw and examined the arm on 16th September. It measured 31 inches in length,
and the hand measured 7 ½ inches. There were no scars or marks of violence
upon it, and it had apparently been separated after death. I thought the arm
had been severed by a person who knew what he was about. It does not of
course follow that he had any dissecting-room experience, but he evidently
knew where the joints could be reached readily. The six or seven cuts round
the joint had evidently been done by a very sharp knife. I examined a piece
of newspaper (produced) which was handed to me, and I ascertained that it
was stained with blood. It was mammal blood, but I cannot say whether it was
human blood. There were no marks of rings on the fingers.
Inspector Marshall, of the Criminal Investigation Department, and attached
to the A division, deposed : At about five o’clock on the 2nd inst. I went
to the new police buildings on the Embankment and saw the woman’s trunk. In
the vault where it had been found I discovered the piece of newspaper
referred to by the last witness, a piece of string, and two pieces of some
dress material. With other officers I made a thorough search in the vaults
in the vicinity, but we found nothing more of a suspicious nature. The piece
of paper was part of an Echo, dated the 24th August last. Other pieces of
paper were handed to me, and these I found to be pieces of the Chronicle. I
cannot yet say what date the paper bore, but on examining a file, I have
ascertained that it was not a date in the present year. The dress was made
of broche satin cloth of Bradford manufacture. I have ascertained that it is
an old pattern – probably three years old. It is rather a common material,
and probably cost about sixpenny halfpenny a yard when new. There was a
flounce to the dress six inches deep. I have examined the hoarding round the
new police buildings. A person might easily scale it, but I did not discover
any indication that it had been scaled. From appearances, I should have
imagined the parcel containing the trunk must have lain many days on the
spot where it was found.
Ernest Hedge, recalled, said – I did not remove the tools of the first
witness on the Monday morning. One of the carpenter’s labourers did so. I am
positive that when I visited the vault on the Saturday the parcel was not
there. I stood with a lighted match in my hand on the very spot where it was
afterwards found.
Inspector Marshall – I ought to mention that on the preceding Friday two
gentlemen were in the vault taking measurements. I thought they would have
been here to give evidence, but they have not come.
The Coroner – We must adjourn the inquest in order to obtain the evidence of
these gentlemen. Do you think any other important evidence is likely to
transpire, inspector?
Inspector Marshall – Our investigations may lead to important evidence, but
I cannot say.
The Coroner – I will adjourn the inquest until this day fortnight, at 3
o’clock.
