Irish Times
Dublin, Ireland
Wednesday, 14 November 1888

The business of Parliament for so far is going forward satisfactorily, and without any sign of the confusion and excitement which some people predicted as the characteristic feature of the autumn Session. Mr GLADSTONE, however, reappeared in his place yesterday, and this may be the token of greater Opposition stir immediately. Mr GOSCHEN was the first to make a communication of any moment, and it was to the effect that the assertion of the Daily News, that he had determined to abandon the wheel and van tax, is absolutely groundless. Mr MATTHEWS next read the correspondence between Sir CHARLES WARREN and himself, which led to the resignation of the COMMISSIONER. Sir CHARLES WARREN wrote an article on his department in Murray's Magazine, and this unquestionably was a course that he should not have taken. The rule which precludes officials from publishing in this way must apply, of course - to be an effectual check at all upon a palpable mischief - to persons in the highest places as well as to lower grades. Sir CHARLES WARREN replied not wisely, and in a high-mettled manner sent in his resignation. The occasion was one which hardly called for such a step, and the impression upon the public will be that Sir CHARLES WARREN should be classed amongst those sensitive and impracticable persons who are specially ill-fitted to bear subordinate official responsibility. On the other hand, it is due to him to keep in mind that there had been before this incident of the magazine article unpleasantness and differences that made everything difficult. Still Sir CHARLES WARREN is a gallant officer, and laboured hard and conscientiously in his police post. He did so during a popular party crisis which probably demanded more the particular qualities that he possessed than those others which such a terror as that of Whitechapel requires. To think hardly of him, or deny his claims upon the Government and public, would be distinctly unjust. He was a right man only in the wrong place. It is to be hoped Mr MATTHEWS will be able to supply a better. The task of selecting a successor for Sir C. WARREN is one of grave obligation. It appears to be the general feeling that an official of abundant departmental experience is the only proper head for the police in the circumstances that exist, one who should combine with this expert knowledge the firmness of character and all-round competency that will make him equally subtle to track the criminal and prompt to enforce public order.

LONDON, TUESDAY

We are enabled to state that since the termination of the inquest on Mary Janet Kelly, an important link in the chain of evidence has been discovered which is likely to afford a clue to the murderer, and may, at least, avail to prevent a repetition of the crime. The name of the informant is at present kept secret, but his veracity is unquestioned, and he was personally acquainted with the deceased. It is conclusively proved that Kelly having spent the greater part of Friday evening in the Britannia Publichouse, at the corner of Dorset street, returned home about midnight with a strange an whose company she had previously been keeping. Although no evidence was produced at the inquest as to her having left her room after 1 o'clock, at which time she was heard singing, the police have obtained statements from several persons who reside in Miller's court, that she was out of her house and in Dorset street between 2 and 3 o'clock, and it appears almost certain that her life was taken about the last-named hour. The witness in question states that he saw and spoke to the murdered woman about 2 o'clock, she being then in company with a strange man. Being struck with the man's respectable appearance he determined to watch the couple, and saw them enter Miller's court. A few minutes afterwards he went to the court, but seeing no one about he left the place. For reasons which cannot now be stated he did not put himself in communication with the police on hearing of the murder, but he has now furnished the police with particulars which may prove to be of essential service in the discovery the culprit, and of securing his conviction if apprehended. He took elaborate notes of the man's appearance, which, even though he has probably disguised himself, attracted the notice of the persons who sine have given him, unwillingly, shelter. The information describes the man as about 35 years of age, five feet six inches high, pale complexion, dark hair, dark curly moustache, wearing a dark long overcoat, trimmed on collar and cuffs with astrachan, and dark short coat beneath, high waistcoat, check trousers, white collar, with horseshoe pin, hard felt hat, buttoned boots, with gaiters and light buttons. H e also displayed from his waistcoat a gold chain.

Many statements have been made to the police which on inquiry proved of no value, and letters and telegrams purporting to be from Jack the Ripper arrive by every post. One was as follows:-

DEAR BOSS - Just a line to let you know that I got over the job all right. I shall do another job in about two or three hundred yards of same spot in about two or three days. Yours. "J.R."

Little importance is attached to these documents.