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8 AUGUST, 1888.
Clues to the Identity of the Woman who was Found Foully Murdered.
As announced in our edition of Tuesday, a woman was found murdered at George yard, Whitechapel, early on that morning. The murder - for, undoubtedly, such it is - seems to be one of those mysteries by which the East end and other parts of London have been startled of late. The body of the deceased lies at the mortuary, a dismal looking old building, surrounded by equally dismal houses in a narrow court off Montague street. Several persons called this morning for the purpose of seeing if they could identify the remains of the unfortunate woman. One person named Weathers is said to have identified her as his cousin, and his story is borne out by a man named Buckle, who keeps a marine store in Thrawl street. This man stated that 14 or 15 years ago the deceased, whose maiden name was Bryan, occupied with her husband, Mr. Weathers, the premises in which he now carries on business. He knew the woman well, and says there are several marks on the features by which he has been able to identify her, though he could not swear that she is the person to whom he refers. She left her husband, who gave up business in consequence both at Thrawl street and at Bournemouth, where he had another store. He went to America, and the deceased has since been living by working for others at a business similar to that which she once carried on. She was a hard working, industrious woman, Mr. Buckle says, though latterly, he thought, given a little to drink. She seems to be about 50 years of age, and was the mother of five or six children, several of whom are at orphanage schools.
The wounds on the body are frightful. There are about eight on the chest, inflicted in almost circular form, while the probably fatal one - certainly much the largest and deepest of any - is under the heart. The wounds appear to be the result of sword or dagger thrusts, rather than that of a knife. No arrest has yet been made.