Inspector Byrnes Sure That He Has Got the Man
WHO COMMITTED THE AWFUL CRIME
New York, April 30.
Inspector Byrnes this afternoon substantiated the story given out this morning as to the identity of the Ripper. The inspector does not say positively that Frenchy No. 1 is the murderer, but he gave a strong chain of circumstantial evidence that leaves no doubt but that he has the man who committed the atrocious crime. He discovered, he said, that Frenchy was with the woman Shakespeare in Wednesday night and slept with her in the East River house. During the following day he was in her company nearly all day. On Thursday night about midnight Shakespeare left the bar room where she and Frenchy were drinking, and a little later she was seen to go upstairs with a strange man. Soon afterward Frenchy asked for a room and was assigned to one directly opposite that occupied by Shakespeare.
When Frenchy was arrested he had on no underclothing. He wore a coarse shirt, a pair of dirty trousers and a pair of filthy socks. Blood was discovered on the shirt. On the floor of the hallway between the room occupied by the Brown woman and Frenchy, several spots of blood were discovered. On the inside of the door of Frenchy's room were blood stains. The blanket in the room had clots of blood upon it, as if a person had wiped his hands upon it.
The inspector says Frenchy No. 2 was arrested early Sunday morning, but it was discovered that he had spent the night nearly five miles distant.
Later this afternoon a mysterious prisoner was brought before District Attorney Nicoll. He was removed to police headquarters. This man in all particulars answers to the description of the man who rented the rooms at the east River hotel with the Brown woman. It was afterward ascertained that his name was Joseph Franks and that he is an Arabian.
