A middle-aged woman, who has not yet been identified, was found dead early yesterday morning, with terrible stab wounds in the breast and abdomen, on the stairs of the model dwelling, No. 37, George-yard-buildings, Whitechapel. She had evidently been murdered.
At about ten minutes to five o'clock yesterday morning John Reeves, who lives at 37, George-yard-buildings, Whitechapel, was coming downstairs to go to work when he discovered the body of a woman lying in a pool of blood on the first-floor landing. Reeves called in Constable Barrett, 26 H, who was on the beat in the vicinity of George-yard, and Dr. Keeling, of Brick-lane, was communicated with and promptly arrived. He immediately made an examination of the woman, and pronounced life extinct, giving it as his opinion that she had been brutally murdered, there being knife-wounds on her breast, stomach, and abdomen. The body, which was that of a woman apparently about 5ft. 3in. in height, complexion and hair dark, wore a dark green skirt, a brown petticoat, a long black jacket, and a black-bonnet. The woman is unknown to any of the occupants of the tenements on the landing on which the deceased was found, and no disturbance of any kind was heard during the night. The body was removed to the Whitechapel mortuary, and Inspector Elliston, of the Commercial-street police-station, placed the case in the hands of Inspector Reid, of the Criminal Investigation Department.
The superintendent of the buildings-a block of model dwellings-Mr. Francis Hewitt, has made the following statement-"When I was called this morning, shortly before five o'clock, I saw the poor woman lying on the stone staircase, with blood flowing from a great wound over her heart. There were many other stab wounds of a frightful character on her. Up till half-past three this morning some of the occupants here passed up the staircase, and therefore the murder must have taken place after that, for the deceased was not there then. It is my belief that the poor creature crept up the staircase, that she was accompanied by a man, that a quarrel took place, and that he then stabbed her. Although the deceased is not known by name, her face is familiar. She is undoubtedly an abandoned female."
INDISPOSITION OF PRINCE ALBERT VICTOR.-Prince Albert Victor, who was to have visited the Yorkshire Agricultural Society's Show at Huddersfield yesterday, telegraphed expressing his regret that he was unable to come, as he was confined to his room with a bad foot. A further telegram stated that it was unlikely the Prince would be able to leave his room this week. His Royal Highness, who is stationed with his regiment, the 10th Hussars, at the York Cavalry Barracks, is suffering from a swollen foot, but he expects to resume his military duties in a day or two.
