Pall Mall Gazette
18 September 1888
THE WHITECHAPEL MURDERS
It has transpired that on the day of the Hanbury street murder a man went into a lavatory at the City newsrooms, Ludgate circus, and there changed his clothes hurriedly, departing and leaving behind a pair of trousers, a shirt, and socks. Nobody connected with the establishment saw him, and when the clothes were found they were thrown into the dust box, and being placed therein in the street were carted away by the scavengers. They do not appear to have attracted special attention at the time, but on the following Tuesday a police officer visited the place and made inquiries of the proprietor. The matter is being followed up by the police.
Edward Quinn, a labourer, was brought up at Woolwich police court on the charge of being drunk, and complained that he had been taken into custody on the charge of being connected with the Whitechapel murder. He was remanded to this day on his own recognizances in £5.
THE MURDER OF MRS NICHOLLS IN BUCK'S-ROW
NO LIGHT ON THE MYSTERY
My Wynne Baxter, the coroner for South-east Middlesex, resumed yesterday the inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Mary Ann Nicholls, aged forty-two, who was found lying dead in Buck's-row, Whitechapel, on the morning of Friday, the 31st August, with her body dreadfully mutilated. Dr Llewellyn stated that he found an old scar across the forehead. The ears had been pierced, but rings had not been worn in them for some time, as the holes were nearly closed. Thomas Eade, a signalman, stated that on Saturday, September 8, he was going down the Cambridge-road, towards the Whitechapel-road, when he saw a man attracted his attention, as he was holding his arm stiffly. As he moved his arm witness saw the blade of a knife sticking out of his trousers pocket. Witness told some men of what he had seen, and then followed the man for some distance intending to give him into custody, but he lost sight of him. He looked like a mechanic, and was about 5 ft. 8 in. in height, and thirty-five years of age. He wore a dark brown jacket, a pair of white overalls, and a double peaked cap. He had dark whickers and moustachios. Walter Purkiss stated that he lived opposite the spot where the body was found. Neither he nor his wife heard any noise during the night. Alfred Mulshaw, the night watchman to the board of works for the Whitechapel district, stated that he was on duty in Winthorpe-street all night of the 30th ult. till six o'clock next morning. He was watching some sewerage works that were going on there. He heard no cries for help that night. The slaughter-house was about fifty yards off. Police-constable John Thain, 96 J, deposed that he was on duty in Brady-street on the morning of the murder. He passed the corner of Buck's-row every thirty minutes during the night, but heard no disturbance. He noticed when the body was removed that the dress was soaked with blood. There was much blood against the gate, and some was running down the pavement. He found no instrument of any description. Robert Paul, a carman, said that he was passing along Buck's-row at a quarter to four on the morning in question, when a man stopped him and showed him the body of a woman lying in a gateway. Her clothes were disarranged, and she appeared to be dead. Witness felt her hands and arms; they were quite cold. Inspector Spratling said he had been making inquiries into this matter. He had not been to every house in Buck's-row, but if anything had come to light down there he would have heard of it. He had seen all the watchmen in the neighbourhood, and they neither saw nor heard anything. The Board school ground had been searched, but nothing likely to throw any light on the matter was discovered. The inquiry was again adjourned. The foreman of the jury said that if a substantial reward had been offered in the first case he believed that the last two murders would never have been perpetrated. If the matter was put before the Home Secretary and a large reward offered, he would willingly give £25.
