Dr. Tumblety, alias Blackburn, the person who was arrested in London a week ago as "Jack the Ripper," was a well known character in Brooklyn many years ago. Early in the sixties he used to ride down Fulton street dressed in a hunting coat covered with gold braid and followed by several valuable hunting dogs. The boys used to guy him and called him "Humpty Dumpty," which name seemed to please him. He opened an office in Washington street, near Fulton street, and carried on business as a herb doctor, and it is said made plenty of money. At this time he boarded with a Mrs. Foster, at No. 95 Fulton street.
Dr. Blackburn, as he was then known, had several preparations for beautifying the skin, and fashionable ladies were in constant attendance at his office. Detective Cornelius Mahoney, of the Brooklyn Central Office, in conversation with me yesterday, said that he remembered the "Doctor" very well.
"In fact," said the detective, "every one who lived in Brooklyn in 1861 must remember the peculiarly dressed man who used to scatter money for the boys to pick up. It was an advertising scheme. During the war I saw him on Pennsylvania avenue, Washington, where he was the observed of all observers. Later in the war I saw him in Virginia. He was well mounted and was dressed in the same peculiar style as when I had last seen him in Brooklyn. Since the war I have seen him several times in Brooklyn, but he was not quite so brilliantly and fashionably dressed as before. I was not at all surprised at hearing of his arrest, as he was a very singular individual. His real name, I believe, is Blackburn and not Tumblety."
