Manchester Guardian
18 October 1888
"THE WHITECHAPEL MURDERS"
Much importance is attached by the police to an arrest made
at King-street police station on Tuesday morning. It appears
that the man entered the station about nine o'clock and
complained of having lost a black bag. While the officers
were taking note of the case he commenced to talk about the
women murdered in Whitechapel, and offered to cut of the
sergeant's head, and spoke in a rambling nonsensical manner.
When asked what his business was, he said he studied some
years for the medical profession, but gave it up for
engineering. He added that he had been staying for some
nights in coffee-houses. His talk became of such a rambling
character that Dr. Bond, the divisional surgeon, was sent
for, and pronounced him to be a very dangerous lunatic. The
man is described as answered the description of the person
seen with women at the East End on different occasions. He
was dressed in a serge suit with a hard felt hat, and is of
very strong build. Although he gave his age as 67, he looked
much younger. Before his removal to Bow-street photographs
of him were taken. He was also asked to write his name, &c.,
and it is stated that the writing is somewhat similar to that
of letters received by the police and others.
At the Thames Police Court yesterday morning the divisional
surgeon of police and the relieving officer asked the
magistrates to sign the necessary papers for the removal to
an asylum of a woman whose mind appeared to have been
affected by the recent murders. The doctor's certificate
stated that the woman, whose name is Sarah Goody, aged 40, a
nee Hewoman, living at Wild-street, Stepney, had told him
(the doctor) that she was followed about by a man, who
watched her movements, and who intended to do her harm. She
was in such a terrified condition that she could neither eat
nor sleep. The lunatic attendant stated that the woman
declared that she was followed about by murderers, who
intended catching her. On one occasion she asked her
landlady to see if there was any writing on the shutters.
Mr. Lushington signed the necessary papers.
Sir Charles Warren wishes to say that the marked desire
evinced by the Whitechapel district to aid the police in the
pursuit of the author of the recent crimes has enabled him to
direct that, subject to the consent of the occupiers, a
thorough house-to-house search should be made within a
defined area. With few exceptions inhabitants of all classes
and creeds have freely fallen in with the proposal, and have
materially assisted the officers engaged in carrying it out.
Sir Charles Warren feels that some acknowledgment is due on
all sides of the cordial co-operation of the inhabitants, and
he is much gratified that the police officers have carried
out so delicate a duty with the marked goodwill of all those
with whom they have come in contact.
The Echo says there are indications in official
circles that at no period during the search for the miscreant
has there been so much chance of an arrest as at the present
moment. From more than one source the police authorities
have received information tending to show that the criminal
is a foreigner, who was known as having lived within a
radius of a few hundred yards from the scene of the Berner-
street tragedy. The very place where he lodges is asserted
to be within official cognisance. If the man be the real
culprit, he lived some time ago with a woman, by whom he has
been accused. Her statements are, it is stated, now being
inquired into. In the meantime the suspected assassin is
"shadowed." Incriminating evidence of a certain character
has already been obtained, and, should implicit credence be
placed in the woman already referred to, whose name will not
transpire under any circumstances until after his guilt is
prima facie established, a confession of the crimes
may be looked for at any moment. The accused is himself
aware, it is believed, of the suspicions entertained against
him.