DR. FRANCIS TUMBLETY THOUGHT TO BE CONCERNED IN THE WHITECHAPEL MURDERS.
Dr. Francis Tumblety, who, according to a cable dispatch, was arrested in London on suspicion of being concerned in the Whitechapel murders and held on another charge for trial under the special law passed after the "Modern Babylon" exposures, is known in nearly every large city in this country. He has lived in Boston, New York, San Francisco, and in this city at different times during the last twenty-five years. During the war he was arrested here, either in mistake for Dr. Blackburn or on the charge of being his accomplice. Dr. Blackburn, it will be recalled, was accused of attempting to spread yellow fever in the north by the introduction of infected rags. Dr. Tumblety always charged that while he was imprisoned in Washington Secretary Stanton confiscated a lot of his securities and did not return them when he was set free. He was in Washington last about a year ago. He is about fifty-five years old, tall and rather heavy, and looks as if he painted his cheeks and dyed his hair, heavy mustache and side whiskers. He is well off and peculiar, and is the inventor of a preparation for the cure of pimples.
Dr. Tumblety always attracted attention in the street. Some years ago he used to go about wearing jack boots, accompanied by a large greyhound and followed by a man servant, who also rode after his master when he took exercise on horseback.
The doctor used to tell a queer story about himself, as if he believed it. He said he was once dead, and proceeded to explain by stating that when riding near Pittsburg one day he was thrown from his horse and carried home for dead. He claimed that he then lay dead for three days, and was only brought to life by the undertaker, who found him too long for his coffin, attempting to saw off his leg.
A gold medal the doctor is proud of was given to him by admirers when he left Canada. He is said not to have practiced for several years, and has been a familiar figure for several seasons at the White Sulphur Springs, which he visited for some rheumatic affection. To those who know him the doctor has always been a good deal of a puzzle. He always appeared to be well supplied with money, but the police were unable to discover the source of his secret revenue.
