GEORGE RICHARD HENDERSON, of rather singular appearance, was charged before Mr. Vaughan with being a suspicious person loitering about the streets. Police-constable 411 E said that about 3 30 a.m. there was considerable excitement in Covent-garden-market, where it was rumoured that Jack the Ripper was going about threatening people. He saw the prisoner wandering about aimlessly. He carried a black bag, and his actions were very strange. Several persons appeared to be alarmed, and witness took the prisoner to the station. There he was searched, and as 54 pawntickets were found in his possession, and he could give no proper account of himself, he was detained. Among other things found on him was a rough draft of a letter which had appeared in print suggesting to the Home Secretary that those who were harbouring the Whitechapel murderer felt that they were equally guilty with him as accomplices after the act and could not come forward and give him up, no matter for what reward, until a free pardon was offered to them. Witnesses were called for the prisoner, who explained that he was a respectable man, and Mr. Vaughan discharged him, at the same time advising him not to go about the streets in a similar way again.
