Two Women Fall Victims to the Mad Doctor's Monomaniacal Researches
London, Sept. 30.
This evening the whole city was again startled by the news that two more murders had been added to the list of mysterious crimes that have recently been committed in Whitechapel. At an early hour it was known that another woman had been murdered, and a report was also current that there was still another victim. This report proved to be true. The two victims, as in the former cases, were dissolute womwn of the poorest class. That the motive of the murderer was not robbery is shown by the fact that no attempt was made to despoil the bodies.
The first murder occurred in a narrow court off Berners street, at an early hour this morning, beneath the windows of a foreigners' socialist club. A concert was in progress and many members of the club were present, but no sound was heard from the victim. The same process had been followed as in the other cases. The woman had been seized by the throat and her cries choked, while the murderer, with one sweeping cut, severed her throat from ear to ear. A club man, on entering the court, stumbled over the body, which was lying only two yards from the street. A stream of blood was flowing from the body. The murderer had evidently been disturbed before he had time to mutilate his victim.
The second murder was committed three-quarters of an hour later, in Mitre Square, five minutes' walk from the scene of the first murder. Policemen patrol the square every ten minutes. The body of the unfortunate woman had been disembowelled, the throat cut and the nose severed. The heart and lungs had been thrown aside and the entrails were twisted into a gaping wound around the neck.
The incisions show a rough dexterity. The work of dissecting was evidently done with the utmost haste. Pending the report of the doctors, it is not known whether or not a portion of the viscera was taken away. The doctors after a hasty examination of the body said they thought it must have taken about five minutes to complete the work of the murderer, who then had plenty of time to escape the patrol.
Mitre square, the scene of the second murder, is a thoroughfare. Many people pass through the square, early on Sunday morning, on their way to prepare for market, in the notorious Petticoat Lane. The publicity of the place adds to the daringness of the crime. The police, who have been severely criticized in connection with the Whitechapel murders, are paralyzed by these latest crimes. As soon as the news was received at police headquarters, a messenger was despatched for Sir Charles Warren, chief commissioner of police. He was called out of bed and at once visited the scene of the murders.
The inhabitants of Whitechapel are dismayed. The vigilance committees, which were formed after the first crimes were committed, had relaxed their efforts to capture the murderer. At several meetings held in Whitechapel to-night it was resolved to resume the work of patrolling the streets in the district in which the murders have occurred.
Dr. Blackwell, who was called to view the remains of the Berners street victim, gave it as his opinion that the same man, evidently a maniac, had committed the murders. The Berners Street victim had evidently been dragged back by a handkerchief, worn around the throat. The inquest will be held Monday morning. Four doctors will be on the jury. The inquest on the Mitre Square victim will probably be held on Tuesday.
The Berners street victim was Elizabeth Stride, a native of Stockholm, who resided in a common lodging house. The name of the other victim is not known.
In consequence of the refusal of Home Secretary Matthews to offer a reward for the arrest of the Whitechapel murderer, the people of the East End on Saturday petitioned the Queen to authorize the offering of a reward.
The Daily Telegraph says: "If the Home Secretary fails to wake up and do his duty, Lord Salisbury will have to dismiss a minister who has not good sense enough to resign."
