I have heard a curious history of the quarrel which preceded Mr. Monro's resignation at Scotland Yard. The account that has reached me shows that Sir Charles Warren has since his appointment as Chief Commissioner been in the midst of very uncongenial surroundings. It also shows that he is a man of strong purpose, and that he is determined to stand no nonsense from aspiring subordinates. His first quarrel was with Mr. Jenkinson, C B. Mr. Jenkinson, it will be remembered, was some years ago the head of the Criminal Department in Dublin Castle, in which capacity he achieved considerable notoriety. Since his transfer from Dublin he has been attached to the Home Office, acting as a sort of agent for the Home Secretary. Up to the beginning of this year Mr. Jenkinson was in the habit almost daily of running across from the Home Office to Scotland Yard, and of going into the Chief Commissioner's room unannounced. Sir Charles Warren looked at him in the light of an intruder, but for a considerable time submitted ot his unwelcome visits without protest. At length he took steps to keep Mr. Jenkinson out. He gave orders to the constable on duty one day to tell Mr. Jenkinson that in future he should wait until the Chief Commissioner was ready to receive him. When Mr. Jenkinson next appeared he attempted to enter Sir Chas Warren's room as usual, but the constable stopped him. He remonstrated, saying he came from the Home Secretary, and that he must see the Chief Constable at once. The constable firmly but gently refused him admittance. He then threatened to make instant complaint to the Home Secretary. Sir Charles sent out word that he would see him in an hour, and that he could wait in the anteroom in the meantime. That was the last visit Mr. Jenkinson paid to Scotland Yard. Sir Charles Warren's next brush was with the Receiver, Mr. Penyfeather. Mr. Penyfeather, it appears, was n the habit of opening some of the official letters addressed to the Chief Commissioner. One day he was rather startled to get a peremptory order from the Chief Commissioner that he was to open these letters no more, that all letters addressed to the Chief Commissioner were to be opened by the Chief Commissioner, and that he (Sir Charles) as the Chief Commissioner. Sir Charles next had to encounter Mr. Monro. Mr. Monro, as I said some days ago, wanted to do as he liked in the Detective Department - in fact to have it as a sort of political machine almost independent of Scotland Yard. Latterly he wished to increase the number of men under his control. Considering the way in which most of these men are employed - hunting public men about London instead of attending to crime - this was of course a highly absurd demand, and Sir Charles Warren thought so, though, perhaps, not for the reason I have given. At all events, he put his foot down, and refused to approve of Mr. Monro's suggestion, whereupon Mr. Monro resigned. At present the public sympathy seems to be rather against Sir Charles Warren, but this is mainly on account of the Trafalgar-square business. The narrative I now make public shows that Sir Charles deserved more public support than he is receiving.
The body of the woman murdered in Whitechapel was last night identified as Mary Anne Nicholls, recently an inmate of Lambeth Workhouse. No person has yet been apprehended for the crime.
Up to one o'clock this afternoon the police had made no arrest in connection with the Whitechapel murder, but they believe they have an important clue. The latest investigations point to the probability of the murder having been committed some distance from the spot where the body was found, possibly in a house in the locality.
An inquest was opened by Mr. Wynne Baxter this afternoon on the woman, identified as Mary Ann Nicholas. Edward Walker Mordwell, St Albany road, Camberwell, formerly a smith, identified the body as that of his daughter. She was 42 years old, and married William Nicholas, a painter, twenty-two years ago. They had been separated seven or eight years. The husband was still living. Witness proceeded to say that up to the year '86' deceased lived with him then left. She was not a sober woman. He believed she went to live with another man named Drew in Walworth soon after separating from her husband. Witness could not throw any light on the case.
The Coroner adjourned the inquiry until Monday.
Late on Saturday night the body of the deceased was positively identified by her eldest son, a machinist. Subsequently the body was also identified by her husband, W Nicolls, a machinist employed by a firm of Fleet-street printers. The latter was greatly affected. Up to midnight no arrest had been made, but the police believed they had a clue.
