The latest East End murder has aroused the greatest excitement in London, not only among the populace, but in the ranks of the police. Several persons have been arrested and released, and there is apparently little prospect of the discovery of the murderer.
A proclamation has been issued by the authorities offering a pardon to any accomplice who will give information that will lead to the conviction of the miscreant who has committed the crime. An extraordinary scene was witnessed at ten o'clock on Monday night in Commercial-street, not far from the scene of the murder. A man with a blackened face, who styled himself "Jack the Ripper," was arrested. There was a cry of "Lynch him," and the man was beaten with sticks. He would have been seriously injured had not the police protected him. He refused to give his name, but asserted that he was a medical man. He was afterwards discharged. - On Monday night the police arrested in a casual ward, near Holborn, a man named Thomas Murphy, who had a knife of formidable proportions in his possession.
The coroner's inquest into the murder of Marie Jeanette Kelly at Whitechapel was held by Dr. MacDonald on Monday at Shoreditch Town Hall. After the jury had visited the mortuary and seen the body, James Barnet [Joseph Barnett], fish porter, 26, said deceased lived with him about one year and eight months. He was positive as to the woman being Marie Kelly. He separated from her on the 30th October on account of her harbouring another woman. He last saw her alive about half-past seven on Thursday night. Deceased told him she was born in Limerick, and taken to Wales when very young. Her father was an ironworker in Wales. She had married a collier named Davis, who was killed in an explosion. After leaving Cardiff, she went to London, and lived in a West End house of ill-fame, but witness first met her in Commercial-street, Whitechapel. Thomas Bowyer, 37, Dorset-street, servant to Mr. M'Carthy, landlord of the deceased's room, deposed to seeing the body through a window when he went to collect rent. John M'Carthy, grocer and lodging house keeper, gave corroborative evidence. Elizabeth Prater, living in the room over the deceased, stated that some time on Thursday night she heard a single scream of "murder". That was not an uncommon incident. Another woman in the court also heard the scream. Dr. Phillips, divisional police surgeon, deposed to seeing the mutilated corpse on a bed. Death was due to the severance of the right carotid artery. The remainder of the medical evidence was postponed. Inspector Abberline described his entrance into the deceased's room. Some articles of women's clothing had evidently been burnt. The jury returned a verdict of "Wilful murder against some person unknown."
Sir Charles Warren tendered the resignation of his appointment as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police on Thursday last. The relations between Sir Charles Warren and the Home Office have for some time been strained. The action of the department in reference to the resignation of Mr. Monro caused the first serious difference of opinion. Sir Charles took exception to certain of the methods of the Assistant Commissioner, and he intimated to Mr. Matthews that either he or Mr. Monro must resign. A few days afterwards Mr. Monro's resignation was announced. Sir Charles complains that Mr. Monro's resignation was accepted without consultation with him, and that since Mr. Monro's transference to the Home Office matters have become worse. Although Mr. Monro has been no longer in evidence at Whitehall-place he has, Sir Charles states, to all intents and purposes, retained the control of the Criminal Investigation Department.
No clue has been obtained of the murderer. The Baroness Burdett-Coutts has offered £1 per week, or its equivalent, to any person, including the police, giving evidence leading to the conviction of the murderer.
Two men were each sentenced at Clerkenwell Police Court on Tuesday, to fourteen days' hard labour for personating "Jack the Ripper".
