It is stated to-night that the police conducting the inquiries into the Whitechapel murder believe that they have a clue to the perpetrators of the crime, and that certain persons are being kept under surveillance. No arrest is, however, expected to be made until after the adjourned coroner's inquiry, when important evidence pointing to the murderer or murderers may be given, unless the suspected persons attempt to leave the district.
(LATER) Up to midnight no arrests have been made in connection with the Whitechapel murder. The police refuse to say whether there are any grounds for the statement that important evidence has been obtained, but do not absolutely contradict it.
We are in a position to furnish the following additional particulars respecting the state of affairs at Scotland Yard. Friction between the Home Secretary and Sir Charles Warren commenced about the time of the Trafalgar Square disturbances, the immediate cause being that Mr. Matthews showed favour to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan District against whom the Chief Commissioner had brought charges of disregarding police regulations and giving orders to superintendents without consulting his official superiors. Sir Charles Warren protested against the course pursued by the Secretary of State, and finally threatened to resign, a threat which was repeated later on. It became necessary at length to bring the matter under the notice of the Cabinet, and Mr. W.H.Smith and Mr. Goschen were deputed by their colleagues to bring about a settlement of the points in dispute. Early in May Mr. Smith, Mr. Goschen, Mr. Matthews and Sir Charles Warren met in Downing street, and as a result of a conference which lasted nearly all afternoon the Chief Commissioner was adjudged to have made his case. The disputes between Sir Charles Warren and Mr. Monro arose out of representations made by the latter respecting the numerical weakness of the staff of the Criminal Investigation Department, coupled with a request for the appointment of an assistant chief constable and a few additional subordinate officers. Sir Charles Warren was not at first inclined to accede to Mr. Monro's request, but ultimately taking late account the fact that Chief Constable Williamson was at the moment absent through illness he agreed to the appointment of an assistant chief constable. A gentleman of large experience was recommended for the post with the acquiescence of the Chief Commisssioner, and the recommendation was formally made to the Secretary of State; but before the appointment had been actually made Sir Charles Warren withdrew his recommendation on the ground that circumstances had come to his knowledge which made it undesireable that the gentleman in question should be appointed. The appointment was never made and the question of creating the new post remains in abeyance. This did not improve the releations between Sir Charles Warren and Mr. Monro. Matters reached a crisis early in July when the Chief Commissioner and Mr. Monro went to the Home Office and had a lengthy interview with the Secretary of State, at which it was decided that Mr. Monro should immediately take a leave of absense with a view to his subsequent resignation. Nothing of an authoritative character has yet transpired as to the intentions of the Government in regard to Sir Charles Warren, and the officials at the Home Office and at Scotland Yard are cautioned against giving any information to the press.
Sir Charles Warren, who has been taking a very quiet holiday in the South of France returns to Scotland Yard within the next few days.
