The inquest on the body of Annie Chapman was resumed this afternoon by Mr. Wynne Baxter. The court was again crowded.
Inspector Joseph Chandler, H Division, said he received information of the murder shortly after 6 o'clock on Saturday morning. He described the discovery of the body, and said on examining the yard he found a course piece of muslin and a small tooth comb, a pocket hair comb in a leather case, and an envelope with embossed seal "Sussex Regiment," and an Inland postal stamp dated 23rd August. Near the water tap was a leather apron which was afterwards show to the police surgeon. There was also in the yard a nail box and a piece of steel, which, together with the leather apron, had been identified by Mrs Richardson, the occupier of the house. There was no evidence of a man having got over the railings which divided the yards. The Inspector then went on to describe the woman's clothing. John Richardson, who gave evidence yesterday, was seen by the witness about seven o'clock. Richardson said that he had been on the premises at an earlier hour that morning, and he was sure the woman was not there then.
In reply to the foreman of the jury,
Inspector Chandler said he had not been able to find the pensioner named Stanley.
Foreman - It is really very important. He has been with the woman week after week, and staying with her night after night.
Inspector Chandler - The parties at the lodging-house were requested to communicate to the police if the man came there. Nobody knows where he is.
Coroner - The pensioner knows his own business, but I should have thought he would come forward himself.
The Foreman asked why the Government did not offer a reward for the apprehension of the guilty party.
The Coroner said he believed the money was spent in a different way, but still with the same object in view.
Dr George Phillips, 2 Spital square, divisional police surgeon, said he examined the body of the deceased in the yard, 29 Hanbury street, when it was discovered on Saturday morning. He went to make post mortem on the afternoon of the same day. He was surprised to find the by had been stripped and probably partially washed. Examination was very difficult in consequence. He described the injuries which were of a frightful character. He said it seed as if an attempt had been made to separated the bones of the neck. Death resulted from the loss of blood from the neck. The injuries must have been inflicted with a long sharp knife with a thin blade. A slaughter man's knife well ground down would inflict similar injuries. Knives used in the leather trade would not be long enough. There were indications of anatomical knowledge, but it appeared that the work had been done in great haste. Witness said he was positive the deceased entered the yard alive. She had been dead about two hours. No trace of blood was found on the apron discovered in the yard.
After further evidence the inquest was adjourned until Wednesday next.
The Central News says - No fresh facts of importance have transpired to-day in connection with the Whitechapel murder beyond the evidence given at the inquest to-day. Dr Phillips' positive opinion that the woman had been dead quite two hours when he saw the body at half past six throws serious doubt upon the accuracy of at least two important witnesses and considerably adds to the prevailing confusion. There have been no other arrests, but some important information respecting the two lunatics under surveillance has been obtained. The man arrested at Holloway has for some reason been removed to the asylum at Bow. His own friends give him an indifferent character. He has been missing from home for nearly two months, and it is known that he has been in the habit of carrying several large butchers knives about his person. Inquiries are now being made with a view to tracing his movements during the past two months. Pigott, the man arrested at Gravesend, is still under strict surveillance.
Mrs Potter, of Spencer Buildings, Westminster, appeared at Westminster Police Court this afternoon stating that she had reason to fear that the arm found in the river off Grosvenor-road belonged to her daughter Emma, aged seventeen, of rather weak intellect, who had been missing from home since Saturday morning. She states her daughter had given trouble by going in the streets at night. She had seen Dr Neville, divisional surgeon, who remarked that the particulars she gave him would in every way correspond with the arm which had been found. Mr D'Eynecourt said he could only refer the applicant to the Press and police.
The police have not yet captured the Whitechapel murderer. All their scouring through the East End has failed to give them any clue whatever as to the whereabouts of this fiend. This humiliating failure has heightened the dissatisfaction and indignation which have existed for the past few days throughout London in connection with these terrible crimes. It is now certain that the last murder was committed close to six o'clock in the morning, when there must have been broad daylight. Obviously, from the nature of the murder, the murderer must have been stained all over with blood. He could not have walked very far without being noticed. Nobody, however, seems to have noticed him, and therefore the conjecture is that his lodgings was close at hand. This is an important fact, but so far the police have not been able to make any use of it.
