New York Times
October 2, 1888
LONDON'S AWFUL MYSTERY
"The Whitechapel Murderer Still Untracked"
from our own correspondent
London, Oct. 1.-- Excitement over the Whitechapel murders has steadily
increased during the day, the evening papers devoting all available space to
the gory details. As in the preceding cases, however, the murderer continues
unknown and unsuspected. The Berner-street victim has been identified as
Elizabeth Stride alias "Long Liz," a widow. The other is still unknown, but
is believed to be a streetwalker known as "May." Her face is so badly cut
that it is difficult to recognize her.
The Coroner has begun an inquest on the first woman. As before, in all
these horrible crimes, the duty of investigation seems to devolve on the
Coroner, and the detectives sit at the inquest listening to the sworn
testimony to find out who did it. The whole police management of the cases,
as indeed the system under which they work, is idiotic in the extreme.
Indignation meetings were held in several places in Whitechapel to-day to
denounce Sir Charles Warren and Home Secretary Mathews. The Daily Telegraph
this morning called loudly for Mathews's dismissal, since he had not sense
enough to resign. A petition to the Queen is in preparation, asking her to
offer a reward, Mathews having stupidly refused.
The Lord Mayor promptly offered £500 reward this morning, the second
murder having been committed within the precincts of the city. This, with
other private rewards, makes a total of £1,200.
There are any amount of theories published, some scientific, others
ingenious, and others stupid. There are plenty of clues also, but they are
slight, and show no signs of developing the murderer. The only trace
considered of any value is the story of a watchboy who saw a man and woman
leave Aldgate station, going towards Mitre-square. The man returned shortly
afterward alone. The police have a good decription of him.
The daring character of the murders is evident from the fact that two
people at least saw a man and the woman together in the Berner-street
gateway, and one saw him throw her down. He went away and left her there, but
it was half an hour before it was known that she had been murdered. In the
second case a policeman swears that he was not absent over 15 minutes from
Mitre-square, and must have been watched by both man and woman as he went
through, they following.
The police confess to-night that they have no clues. A number of men
have been arrested; but all were released. There is every prospect at present
that these murders, like their predecessors, will pass undetected.
It is very probable that Mansfield's season would have been even more
successful had he opened in "A Parisian Romance," which was presented for the
first time in English in London this evening. The house was crowded, among
the audience being Minister Phelps, Lady Hardy, Mrs. Cavendish Bentick, Gov.
Weller, Dr. Morell Mackenzie, Oscar Wilde, Max O'Rell, and most of the
managers and authors in the higher Bohemia of London. The play went very
well, Mansfield making a decided artisitic impression as Baron Chevrial. Mrs.
Sheridan as the Baroness also gained marked recognition, while W.H. Sullivan
as Henri and D.H. Harkins as Dr. Chesnel increased their previous
popularity. Judging from its reception, the play will handsomely complete the
season. E.D. Price, Mr. Mansfield's manager, leaves on the Adriatic Wednesday
for a flying trip to New-York.
