THE LORD MAYOR AND THE PRESS. - The Lord Mayor asks us to state that he is not responsible for the ridiculous statements attributed to him in the foreign press, and now reproduced in England, in regard to the character of the population and the detection of crime in the metropolis, and that he utterly disclaims having made such statements or entertaining any such absurd and contemptible opinions.
The main portion of this issue's report from "AN EXTRAORDINARY PARCEL…" to "…has naturally been much upset." is reproduced in "News from Whitechapel" pages 185 - 188. Immediately following on from that, the next portion of this issue's report from "The force of police, dressed in private clothes…" to "…no difficulty in obtaining information." is reproduced in "News from Whitechapel" pages 127 & 188. Immediately following on from that, the Telegraph reported:
The following memorial, signed by upwards of 200 traders of Whitechapel, has been sent to the Home Secretary through Mr. S. Montagu, M.P.: "We, the undersigned traders in Whitechapel, respectfully submit for your consideration the position in which we are placed in consequence of the recent murders in our district and its vicinity. For some years past we have been painfully aware that the protection afforded by the police has not kept pace with the increase of population in Whitechapel. Acts of violence and of robbery have been committed in this neighbourhood almost with impunity, owing to the existing police regulations, and the insufficiency of the number of officers. The universal feeling prevalent in our midst is that the Government no longer ensures the security of life and property in the East of London, and that in consequence respectable people fear to go out shopping, thus depriving us of our means of livelihood. We confidently appeal to your sense of justice, and ask that the police in this district may be largely increased, in order to remove the feeling of insecurity which is destroying the trade of Whitechapel."
It is stated that the City police are making inquiries with respect to a man, supposed to be an American, who was arrested in Bermondsey yesterday morning. The man is stated to have been seen under suspicious circumstances in the neighbourhood of Whitechapel.
No further remains were yesterday discovered as a result of the search which has been ordered to be made at the new Police Buildings, Whitehall. The employment of bloodhounds has not as yet led to any result. As far as is possible, an examination will be made of the earthen floor in every part of the vaults. The adjacent well has been pumped out, but nothing has been discovered therein. Yesterday morning Dr. Bond, in conjunction with Dr. Hibberd, made a further examination, at the mortuary, Millbank-street, of the leg and foot found on Wednesday. The examination lasted for some time, but no marks which might lead to identification were discernible. The foot and leg are well moulded. There is no doubt that these remains belong to the trunk and arm previously found, although, of course, it is impossible to fit them to the trunk, the upper portion of the leg not having been discovered.
SIR - As the owner of the largest kennel of bloodhounds at present in existence, and taking a deep interest in the breeding and training of the animals, I can speak with some authority on the subject of utilising them for the purpose of tracing criminals. On the 4th of this month I received a communication from the Government on the subject, which resulted in an interview, at which I expressed my opinion in favour of a practical trial, and took two couples of my hounds to London for the purpose of testing them in the streets. I have since noticed a report of some trials having taken place in the parks, which I do not consider of much practical utility, since all breeders know that bloodhounds will follow a trail on grass or across country with a very little training.
What is wanted are hounds that will stick to the scent of the right man over paved streets. A writer in the Field suggests that raw meat or blood should be used as a method of training, but I consider this a doubtful plan, as in time of need the hound is not wanted to find the carcass of a sheep or bullock, and neither does he follow a scent for what he may get to eat at the end of it. He can be trained to follow the trail of a man from the man's own scent, as I am convinced, from several careful experiments, that each individual possesses a distinct scent to the bloodhound. This could be proved easily enough by starting a bicycle rider, who should first just pass his hand over the tyre of his wheel, which would be sufficient to carry the scent to the ground, after which he might be crossed and re-crossed by others, before laying the hounds on. Properly-trained hounds would then follow him to the end without swerving from the course.
I consider that bitches are better for town work than dogs, as they are more constant on the trail, and are not likely to raise their heads in passing other dogs. The most successful mode of training will be to find a few complaisant surgeons in constant surgical practice at the hospitals, on to whom the hounds might at first be laid immediately on leaving the hospital, the time being by degrees extended. This would be quite sufficient training, although it might be supplemented by practice in the streets either at night or in the early hours of the morning.
I am in favour of offering prizes to the owner of the hounds who may be declared the winners at competent trials. The police would soon find the usefulness of their new assistants, and, once let a capture be made by this means, and murders and burglaries would quickly become rarer. I have made a careful study of hounds generally, and I am satisfied that the bloodhound has the keenest power of scent of any breed, and is easily trained to hunt man without any artificial trails whatever. He is affectionate and intelligent, and is the best dog to keep as a companion, apart from his usefulness; and as a deterrent to crime his value is incalculable. I feel confident that if the police were to adopt his use, and keep him at the various metropolitan stations, good results would speedily follow.
Ten well-trained bloodhounds would be of more use than a hundred constables in ferreting out criminals who have left no trace beyond the fact of their presence behind them. I consider that the police have done all that they possibly could to discover the perpetrator of the Whitechapel murders, but they lack one important factor - namely, the power of scent, which the bloodhound possesses to perfection.
There is an idea - arising more from the name, I fancy, than anything - that the bloodhound is a savage animal, whereas he is one of the most docile of canine creatures.
I feel positive that, if I had been on the scene of the Mitre-square tragedy, even several hours after the occurrence, with a few of my hounds, that the man would have been captured, as after such mutilation the scent would have been sufficient to keep them on the track for miles. I consider that bloodhounds should be used by the police for the purpose of tracing criminals, and the training of them for this purpose should be under the direction of a careful man who understands hound-work generally.
The hounds should be kept at work daily until they are brought to a high state of perfection. This would be rapidly achieved, owing to their innate fondness for hunting.
I believe that the knowledge that bloodhounds are being kept on the spot has acted as a deterrent to the Whitechapel murderer. If not, and he meditates further atrocities, he will certainly have an opportunity of learning something about them that he did not know before. - I am, Sir, yours obediently,
FIRE IN WHITECHAPEL. - A fire, attended with some exciting incidents, broke out at ten o'clock last night at 25, Commercial-street, Whitechapel, a five-floored warehouse, tenanted by Messrs. Koenigsberg and Sons, furriers and manufacturers. Some 200 workpeople, male and female, were employed in the building at the time, and a scene of the greatest confusion took place as they rushed down the main staircase. When the fire escape came up it rescued several people, but one man, named Simon Polaket, aged thirty, jumped from the first floor, and sustained considerable injury. With this exception, however, so far as could be ascertained, the whole of the workpeople escaped safely. Eleven steamers, as well as standpipes, were set at work, and although a spread of the conflagration was threatened, the fire was fairly in hand by midnight. The three upper floors of the place had then been gutted, the roof destroyed, and the rest of the building greatly damaged, while adjoining properties had sustained serious injury.
SHELTERS FOR THE HOMELESS. - Writing from 212, Devonshire-road, Forest-hill, Mr. Samuel Hayward, C.E., says: "Since Monday week we have sheltered and fed upwards of 1,500 men, women, and children. Many we have helped to a better state who were fast drifting to chronic pauperism and crime for the want of a friend or the feeling that they had none. Our guiding principle is to help all we shelter out of pauperism and worse."
LYCEUM THEATRE. - Sole Lessee, Mr. Henry Irving. - TO-NIGHT, PRINCE CARL, commencing at 8.45.
LYCEUM. - BENEFIT PERFORMANCE in AID of the BISHOP of BEDFORD'S HOME and REFUGE FUND for the POOR of the EAST-END of LONDON, THIS EVENING (Friday).
LYCEUM. - PRINCE KARL. - Mr. RICHARD MANSFILED in his original character of PRINCE KARL. Preceded at 7.45, by ALWAYS INTENDED. - THIS EVENING (Friday).
LYCEUM THEATRE. - TO-NIGHT, - BENEFIT PERFORMANCE, in AID of the BISHOP of BEDFORD'S HOME and REFUGE FUND for the POOR of the EAST-END of LONDON, under the patronage of H.R.H. Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, H.R.H. Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck, the Right Hon., the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, the United States Minister and Mrs. Phelps, his Grace the Duke of Westminster and the Duchess of Westminster, General Sir Richard Taylor, K.C.B., and Lady Jane Taylor, Sir Philip Cunliffe Owen, K.C.B., Sir Augustus Adderley, K.C.M.G., and Lady Adderley, Sir Ambrose Shea, K.C.M.G., and Lady Shea, Dowager Lady Freske, Lady Dorothy Nevill, the Countess de Labaume, Sir Charles Mills, K.C.M.G., Mrs. Bright, of Colwall, the Rev. Walter Clark, B.D., Walter H. Pollock, Esq., Joseph Knight, Esq., Gilbert Dalzeil, Esq., Joseph Hatton, Esq., Mr. Morell Mackenzie, Henry Labouchere, Esq., M.P., Edmund Yates, Esq., Clement Scott, Esq., Thomas Catlin, Esq., Carl von Buck, Esq., Savile Clarke, Esq. On this occasion will be performed PRINCE KARL, a comedy in four acts, by Archibald C. Gunter (author of "Mr. Barnes of New York" and "Mr. Potter of Texas"), in which Mr. Richard Mansfield will appear in his original character of Prince Karl. Commencing at 8.45. Preceded by ALWAYS INTENDED. - Seats can be secured at the box-office (Mr. J. Hurst), open daily from ten till five.
LYCEUM. - DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE, TO-MORROW (Saturday) EVENING, at nine. Preceded by ALWAYS INTENDED.
LYCEUM. - Mr. RICHARD MANSFIELD in his great representation of Dr. JEKYLL and Mr. HYDE, TO-MORROW (Saturday) EVENING. - To prevent disappointment, seats should be at once secured at the Box-office (Mr. J. Hurst), open from ten to five.
Mr. Lusk, a prominent member of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee, lately received by post a small parcel containing a portion of human remains, which are supposed to have belonged to the body of the woman who was murdered and mutilated in Mitre-square. Accompanying the parcel was a shocking letter, professing to be dated from "Hell," and signed "Catch me when you can." The parcel and letter have been placed in the hands of the police.
