But all other items sink into oblivion when compared with the panic which at present is
spreading over the entire nation in relation to the mysterious murders at Whitechapel. In
London the feeling is at fever heat. Throughout Scotland it may be seen that the
superstitions of the forefathers are not yet forgotten. On dark nights, women - and
sometimes men - prefer the center of the streets and avoid with the greatest precaution
all dark and lonesome passages for fear of "Auld Sammy", as they aver none but the "Devil"
could commit such atrocities and escape "the London police" without leaving a track or any
clue whatever. On a recent visit to Ireland we found the inhabitants of the "Emerald Isle"
imbued with the same feeling and wishing for the days of St. Patrick in order that they
might be preserved from the invasions of "Auld Nick", who seems to have gone abroad in the
land. Many pious people express their opinion that the perpetrators must be possessed by a
legion from the infernal regions. Daily papers are devoting almost their entire space to
theorizing upon the matter, and planning ways of capture. The cries of the newsboys upon
the streets are deafening, for as each hourly edition appears they run back and forth with
great posters announcing new arrests. It is absolutely dangerous for a stranger to appear
in the cities, as they are immediately overhauled. Every house in the vicinity of the
scene of these crimes has been ransacked from cellar to garrett. All tenants and lodgers
have been supplied with blank forms to be filled out, giving the description of any
strange person lurking about.
Although many arrests have been made all have been released, and up to this writing no
clue has been obtained. It appears evident that one party is responsible for the eight
deaths which have occurred, as all have alike been mutilated under similar circumstances
and all belong to one class of unfortunate women. The details are too terrible for
publication.
The series of murders are as follows: One, a woman whose identity was never discovered,
was found murdered and body mutilated in or contiguous to the district of Whitechapel;
two, April 3rd, murder of a woman in George's yard, near the same place; three, August
7th, a woman, named Martha Turner, aged 35, was found dead with 39 bayonet or dagger
wounds on the body; four, Aug. 31st, a woman was found dead in Whitechapel, the body cut
and mutilated; five, Sept. 8th, Annie Chapman was murder and mutilated in Hamburgh (sic)
street; six, Sept. 30th, a woman, unidentified, in Miter (sic) square; seven, on the same
date, Elisa Stride, in Bernes (sic) Street; and, eight, on Oct. 2nd, mutilated body of a
woman found at Pimlico.
From the fact that all the above have been committed in London and at or near the district
of Whitechapel and in so short a time, it has caused a terrible sensation.
The murderer being still at large with no clue to his identity, causes the populace to
stand with bated breath wondering who will be the next victim and where the crime will
occur.
