1 October 1888
MYSTERIOUS CRIMES AT WHITECHAPEL
The Unknown Assassin Again at Work--A Panic in the District--A Man Arrested on Suspicion
LONDON, September 30--This morning the whole city was again startled be 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 true. The two victims, as in the former cases, were dissolute women of the poorest class. That the motive of the murderer was not robbery is shown by the fact that no attempt to despoil the bodies. The first murder occurred in a narrow court off Berners street at an early hour this morning, beneath the window of a foreigners Socialist club . A concert was in progress and many members of the club present, but no sound was heard from the victim. The same process was followed as in the other cases. The woman had be seized by the throat and her cries choked, and the myrderer with one sweeping cut had severed her throat from ear to eat. A club man on entering the court stumbled over the body, which was lying only two yards fro the street. A stream of warm blood was flowing from the body into the gutter. The myderer had evidently been disturbed before hd had time to mutilate his victim.
was committed from 3 to 4 hours later in Mitre square, five minutes walk from the scene of the first crime. Policemen patrol the square every ten minutes. The bofy of the unfortunate woman had been disembowelled, the throat cut nd the nose severed. The heard and longs had been thrown aside and the entrails were twisted into the gaping wound around the neck. The incision shows a rough dexterity. Thework of dissection was evidently done with uthe 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 thoroughfaree. 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 conneciton with the Whitechapel murders, are parallysed by these latest crimes. As soon as the news was received at police headquarters as messenger was despatched for Sir Charles Warren, chief commissioner of police. He was called out of bed, and at once visited
The inhabitants of Whitechapel are dismayed. The vigilance committees, which were formed after the first crimes were committed, had relapsed 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. 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 herself to authorize the offering of a reward. 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 both murders. The Berners street victim hadevidently been dragged back by a handkerchief worn around the throat. The inquest will be held at 11 o'clock on Monday morning. Four doctors will be on the jury. The inquest in the Mitre square murder will probably be held on Tuesday. Late to-night a tall man, wearing an American hat, was arrested on suspicion of being the Whitechapel murderer. He gave his name and address as Albert Chambers of Union street, Borough. He was unable to give a satisfactory account of himself during the previous night.