The search in the vaults of the new offices on the Victoria Embankment for more remains connected with the headless and limbless trunk found there 16 days since, has not yet added any more to the knowledge of the police. The search the other night was conducted with one of the bloodhounds, owned by Mr. Sewell, and tried the other day in the park before Sir Charles Warren. There were only police-officers present, and the owner of the dog. The scene is described as a very weird one, for the only illumination of the dismal place was by candles, and the dog did not seem in the best form, this possibly arising from the strange surroundings. However, the officers, notwithstanding the lack of immediate success, will persevere in the search for further remains, both on this spot and elsewhere.
Mr. Bond has given his opinion that the leg just found belonged to the body and the arm already discovered, as it matches them. The period fixed for its having been underground, some six weeks, corresponds to the condition of the arm of the body. The suggestion has been raised that the leg has been buried since the discovery of the body; but as the place has been under constant police guard this is impossible. Moreover, it was seen that the earth was in the same condition as it was when the body was found 16 days ago, and the opinion is confirmed that the body itself must have lain there more than the days declared by the men. It is to be remembered that even when it was discovered it was not by the smell, for that was altogether unnoticed, and it is easy to account for the non-observance of any smell by the workmen when it is brought to mind that in such places deserted and starved animals frequently crawl to die, and, moreover, in the excavations of old foundations like those about Westminster there are frequently cesspools, which are all taken as a matter of course. A board leaning across the angle in the wall in which the body was found would have effectually concealed the parcel altogether, and it would not now have been brought to light but for the fact that some lost clothes were thought to have been discovered by an accidental survey of the dark recess. Thus the men may have given honest testimony, to the best of their belief, in saying that the parcel was not there on the last Friday and Saturday in September, the fact being that they had not observed it, and anyone who has seen the place can bear testimony that it would be easy to overlook anything so hidden in that darkest recess of a dark vault.
The police are still continuing their search for all particulars of missing young women from places at home or abroad, who answer the supposed description of the deceased person - namely, about 5ft. 8in., plump, not used to manual labour, well formed, with fair skin and somewhat dark hair, and who had suffered from pleurisy. It is regarded as important that this description should be before the public.
At the Guildhall before Mr. Alderman Renals, Benjamin Graham, 42, described as a glass blower, of 14 Fletcher's row, Clerkenwell, was charged on his own confession with having committed the Whitechapel murders. Detective Constable Rackley deposed that on Wednesday afternoon he was at Snow hill Police station, when the prisoner was brought in by a man who made a statement to the effect that the accused had told him that he was the assassin who was wanted for the recent atrocities in the East end. The witness asked the prisoner if he had anything to say. He replied, "I did kill the woman in Whitechapel and I shall have to suffer for it with a bit of rope." The accused was under the influence of drink. He was seen by a doctor, and then removed to the City of London Infirmary, at Bow. Detective Sergeant Bownes asked for a remand in order that the antecedents of the accused might be inquired into. The Alderman consented, and the prisoner was remanded.
