Daily News
20 November 1888
THE SPITALFIELDS MURDER.
The funeral of Marie Jeanette Kelly, the victim of the eighth and latest Whitechapel murder, took place yesterday at Leytonstone Cemetery in the presence of a large number of people. The coffin, which was of elm and oak, with metal fittings, was placed on an open hearse drawn by two horses, and was followed by two mourning carriages, containing the man Joseph Barnet, who lived with the deceased, and several of the deceased woman's associates who gave evidence at the inquest. The coffin bore the following inscription: "Marie Jeanette Kelly, died November 9, 1888, aged 25 years," and on it were placed two crowns and a cross, made of heartsease and white flowers. The whole of the funeral expenses are defrayed by Mr. H. Wilton, who for fifty years has acted as clerk to St. Leonard's Shoreditch, in the mortuary of which church the body has been lying. At half-past twelve, as the coffin was borne from the mortuary, the bell of the church was tolled, and the people outside, who now numbered several thousands, manifested the utmost sympathy, the crowd, for an East-end one, being extremely orderly. Vehicles of various descriptions took oppositions outside the church railings, and traffic was completely blocked until the hearse moved off. The funeral procession, which left Shoreditch Church at a quarter to one, made but slow progress through the crowds of people and vehicles. All along the route through Whitechapel and Cambridge Heath signs of sympathy were to be seen on every hand. The cortège reached St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Leyton, a few minutes before two o'clock. It was met by the Rev. Father Colomban, O.S.F., who led the way, preceded by two acolytes and a cross-bearer, to the north-east corner of the burial ground, where the interment took place. There was only a small attendance in the cemetery. No arrests of importance were made by the police yesterday in connection with the recent outrages.
THE "JACK THE RIPPER" SCARE.
At Marlborough-street Police-court yesterday William Avenall, 26, chimney sweep, Adam and Eve-court, Oxford-street, and Frederick W. Moore, 28, carver and gilder, Carlisle-street, Soho, were charged on remand with behaving in a disorderly manner and assaulting Henry Edward Leeke, an oil and colour man, of Gilbert-street. The evidence previously given was to the effect that on the evening of the 10th inst., shortly before eight o'clock, the prosecutor, who is a man of small stature, went into a public-house in the neighbourhood of Berners-street, Oxford-street, when some one in the bar suggested that he was "Jack the Ripper." On leaving the House the two prisoners seized hold of him, and Avenall, who said he was a detective, behaved very violently towards him. They dragged him along the street, pretending they were going to take him to the station. Mr. Arthur Newton, solicitor, who appeared for the defence, said the explanation of the affair was that the prisoners really believed that the prosecutor was the real Jack the Ripper, and that they were therefore justified in taking the accused to the station. His clients were hard-working, respectable men, and were willing to make compensation as far as their means would allow.-The magistrate said he thought as far as the assault was concerned it was one that might be settled by a civil action if the prosecutor desired such a course to be taken.-The prosecutor intimated that he would prefer the magistrate to deal with the case.-The magistrate said that if people took upon themselves the responsibility of making practical jokes they must put up with the consequences. In the present excited state of public feeling it was a highly dangerous thing to drag a man about the streets saying that he was the Whitechapel murderer, and such conduct might actually lead to loss of life.-Mr. Newton said the prisoners were willing to give the prosecutor a sovereign each.-In answer to the magistrate the constable who arrested the prisoner said when Avenall was taken into custody he did not say that he was a detective of the police force. He merely said he was a private detective.-Mr. Hannay said as regarded the charge of personating a detective the evidence was somewhat conflicting, and he would therefore dismiss it. With respect to the assault he must, however, inflict the full penalty as, although the prisoners did not actually beat the prosecutor, they so frightened him as to cause him to become ill and to get into a state of nervous depression. There was no reasonable ground for the accused acting as they had, and they would each have to pay a fine of 5l. with the alternative of one months' imprisonment. Half the fine-5l.-would be given to the prosecutor by way of compensation.
At Marylebone Police Court, James Bunyan, 45, of Kensal-road, was charged with being drunk and disorderly, also with assaulting Gersie Somo, of The Avenue, Harlesden.-On Saturday night the prosecutor was passing along the Harrow-road, and near a man selling books in the street he saw the prisoner. The latter was shouting and that caused prosecutor to notice him.-Mr. Somo walked on towards his home, and directly afterwards found the prisoner following him, so to avoid him he crossed the road. The prisoner shouted out several times, "I'll have you," and the crowd which followed called out, "He's Jack the Ripper." The prisoner got the prosecutor against the wall and shouted out, "Now I've got you," and a struggle ensued during which the prosecutor's coat was torn. Mr. Somo tried to run away and prisoner followed him saying, "I'll have you."-Constable 186 X said he heard the crowd shout out "Jack the Ripper," and as he could not get a satisfactory explanation from the prisoner he took him into custody. The prisoner had been drinking.-Mr. de Rutzen remarked that the horrible tragedies in Whitechapel seemed to have an extraordinary effect on people the worse for drink. There were so many instances of this kind that it was scarcely safe to go about the streets. He sentenced the prisoner to fourteen days' imprisonment, and refused an application to impose a fine. At the same Court Henry Humphrey, 36, a professional billiard player, was charged with behaving in a disorderly manner and using threatening language towards Ann Vaughan of Malvern-road, Kilburn. The prosecutrix, a young woman, said she was standing at the junction of Cambridge and Malvern roads about 20 minutes after nine o'clock on Sunday night waiting for a female cousin to arrive. The prisoner came up to her and said "Good evening, Miss," but she took no notice of him and walked towards her cousin, who was approaching her. The prisoner followed and said something about their being nice young women and other foolish talk. The prisoner then uplifted his arm, and from up his sleeve produced a long dagger with a very sharp curved point, and drawing her attention to it, said, "This will do for you." She and her cousin screamed at the top of their voices, and the prisoner told them not to do that. He went away, and they went to a policeman and gave information of what had happened.-Police-constable 382 X arrested the prisoner in the Chippenham public-house, and when told the charge he said it was only a stupid joke. The prisoner was in drink, but knew what he was about. He had been into a shop and sharpened the knife on the counter.-Mr. de Rutzen said this sort of thing must be stopped. He remanded him for a week, and at present refused bail.
SIR C. WARREN AND MR. MATTHEWS.
Mr. MATTHEWS, questioned by Mr. PICKERSGILL, as to a statement by Sir Charles Warren that an entirely different impression of his conduct would have been conveyed to the public mind if the whole of the correspondence between himself and the Home Office had been published, replied that he had already read to the House the correspondence in which Sir C. Warren declined to accept the instructions of the Secretary of State, and that was the correspondence to which he had referred.
Cases in which men had been mistaken for "Jack the Ripper," or had pretended to be that person, came before the magistrates at Marlborough-street and Marylebone yesterday. In one instance a fine of 5l. with the alternative of a month's imprisonment was imposed, and in another a sentence of fourteen days' imprisonment was passed.
THE SUICIDE OF A POLICEMAN IN HYDE PARK.-Last evening Mr. Troutbeck, the coroner for Westminster, held an inquiry at the St. George's Hospital into the circumstances attending the death of Richard Brown, aged 36 years, until recently a constable in the Metropolitan police, stationed in the E division at Hunter-street, who committed suicide by shooting himself with a revolver in Hyde-park on the 16th inst.-Mr. L.S. Torre, of 3, Percy-square, King's cross, said he had known the deceased about ten years, and last saw him alive on Tuesday, the 13th, when he was at witness's house. He then seemed rather despondent, but complained of no trouble. He did say he had resigned his situation in the police force, and added that he was going either to Mexico or to Africa. He was a sober, steady-man, and said he had saved about 130l. With the exception of witness, who was his second uncle, he had no relations. Witness complained that because one of his cards was found upon the deceased it had been reported that he (witness) had committed suicide. The coroner said no doubt the press would rectify the error. Inspector Austin Askew, of Hunter-street Police-station, said that the deceased was guilty of a slight breach of discipline, and with others appeared before the Assistant-Commissioner, who allowed him to resign in order that he might preserve his testimonial, and he left the service last Tuesday. He joined the police on August 16, 1886, and was a steady, respectable man, and did his duty well. In answer to a juryman Inspector Askew said the deceased ought to have gone on parade for night duty at a quarter to ten, and he neglected to do so. William Richards, a pawnbroker's assistant, of 34, High Holborn, deposed that Brown came there and purchased the revolver on Thursday, saying he was going to shoot a match with a fellow constable. It was a pin-fire, with 6 chambers. He loaded the weapon outside the shop. Mr. F.W. Parker, house-surgeon, stated that the unfortunate man died three hours after his admission, the bullet having entered his mouth and penetrated his brain. The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during temporary insanity."
THE WHITECHAPEL INSTITUTE.-In the foremost rank of agencies which aim at the social improvement of boys should be placed the Working Lads' Institute at Whitechapel. Since its foundation eight years ago the scheme of its promoters has been gradually enlarged until at the present time an important social, industrial, and educational work is carried on in the handsome building which faces the London Hospital. This was opened in 1885 by the Princess of Wales, and here the members are provided after their day's work is over with the comforts of a home and the means of indulging in healthy recreation. The building is open from six to ten, and the arrangements include a large reading room, a reference library of 2,000 books, two gymnasia, a refreshment room, a parlour, and several bedrooms where the members can be accommodated for the modest sum of two shillings a week. The influence which such an agency can exercise upon the moral development of those who are subjected to the many temptations of a great city is obvious. At the annual meeting last night the Lord Mayor, accompanied by the Lady Mayoress and the Sheriffs, attended in state, and distributed the prizes to the boys. Before the ceremony a report of the work done with read by Mr. Henry Hill, the founder and secretary, who pointed out that there was still a deficit of some 5,000l. upon the building fund. The report was an encouraging one, and clearly showed that the lads themselves take a strong interest in the success of the institute. The Lord Mayor, in the course of his address, expressed an opinion that such agencies as that at Whitechapel were doing an incalculable amount of good now that the old system of apprenticeships was abolished.
A THAMES MYSTERY.
Mr. Baxter resumed an inquiry yesterday, at the Vestry Hall, High-street, Shadwell, into the circumstances attending the death of Florence Annie Hancock, aged 26, lately residing in Pulross-street, Brixton, whose body was found in the Thames, off Wapping, on the 9th inst.-George Hancock, a carpenter, on a photograph of the deceased being handed to him, identified it as that of his wife, who left him two years ago. He had not seen her since she left him.-Alice Land stated that she was a servant in the employ of the deceased. On Oct 22 deceased left the house, saying she was going to meet a friend at Liverpool-street. She never returned. The friend referred to used to call at the house once a week, generally on the Wednesday evening. He called last on the Thursday before deceased was missing, and again last Monday. Witness did not become alarmed when her mistress did not return, as she thought she had perhaps gone away for a holiday. When Mr. Pain called last Monday he asked for "Florie." When told that she was missing he said: I shall be at Liverpool Station on Wednesday; meet me there and tell me all about it." Witness met him and told him that the deceased had been found drowned in the river. He seemed much upset.-Beatrice Williams, a widow, said she identified the photographs as those of a friend of hers. On Monday, October 22nd, witness met her at Charing-cross, and had a drink with her in the Northumberland. They were there at 25 minutes to twelve, when witness left to catch her train. The deceased was then in the company of a strange gentleman. She had had a little drink but knew what she was doing. She was a girl of a most lively disposition, and would not be likely to commit suicide. When witness left her she had a small gold chain, which was attached to her brooch round her neck. Early in the evening deceased had told witness that she had seen her friend, who allowed her 5l. a week, and that she had had a few words with him, but she said "I received my money just the same." Deceased had some money, and asked witness to go home with her, but she refused. The chain produced was not the one deceased had round her neck when witness left her. The gentleman deceased was with was a tall, fair man with heavy moustache.-Mr. J. Pain deposed that he knew the deceased. He had not made her any allowance. He had known her for three years, and last saw her alive on the 22nd of October, at Broad-street Station. There was no disagreement between them; in fact, witness told her he might see her on the Wednesday following. Deceased used to meet him at different times. It was incorrect to say that he allowed her 5l. a week. The last time he saw her she was in her usual spirits. He had not complained of her conduct with other men, although he had seen her with one or two. He gave her no money on that occasion. On the 22nd she left him at 20 minutes past five o'clock, and he did not see her alive again. He had no reason to believe she would commit suicide. On the Wednesday following his parting with the deceased he left London for the Lake District, and afterwards went to the Isle of Man and Ireland, and only returned on the 7th inst. On one or two occasions the deceased had said she wished she were dead.-Mr. M'Coy, divisional surgeon, who made a post-mortem examination of the body, said that there were no marks of external violence. The body had been in the water fully a fortnight, and perhaps more. The organs generally were healthy. She was not enceinte. The cause of death was asphyxia from drowning.-Inspector Francis, of the Thames Police, stated that every inquiry had been made in the hope of discovering how the woman came into the water, but without result. No one saw her after Beatrice Williams left her on Monday, Oct. 22.-The jury returned a verdict that the deceased was found drowned, but how she came into the water there was not sufficient evidence to show.
