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THE EAST-END MURDERS --- INQUEST ON ELIZABETH STRIDE --- OFFER OF REWARDS
The excitement on Sunday in the neighborhood of the last two of the six Whitechapel murders, which are not generally regarded as the work of one hand, had no abated yesterday. On the contrary it seemed to have increased, and the subject was the one topic of conversation and speculation in the metropolis. In the provinces, too, a great sensation has been produced, and in all the large towns the local newspapers have published copious telegrams, which have been eagerly read. The police seem to be as far from a real clue as ever, and several arrests were made during the course of yesterday, only to be followed by the unconditional release of the persons said to be suspected. Theories, of course, abound, and everybody who can twist the most ordinary occurrence so that it may appear to have the remotest connection with the crimes hastens to communicate it to a police officer. This, of course, is as it should be, even though it invariably turns out that the information is worthless. It may be observed that the officers and constables of the Metropolitan force, who have previously been studiously reticent not to say brusque, in the manner in which they met the inquiries of newspaper representatives, have during the last 24 hours shown a more communicative disposition – so far as it is prudent to say anything – presumably in obedience to orders from headquarters. They really, however, have little or nothing to tell; for the daring of the murderer is only equalled by the skill with which he has avoided leaving any traces of his crime. Dissatisfaction at the inaction of the authorities in the matter of offering a reward for information continues to be loudly expressed. One of the murders having taken place within the confines of the city of London, led Mr. Phillips, a member of the Court of Common Council, promptly to give notice that he would move the council at its next meeting to offer a reward of £250. This step, however, will be unnecessary, owing to the issue of the following notice by Colonel Sir James Fraser, the Commissioner of the City Police :-
“MURDER – £500 REWARD”
“Whereas at 1:45 a.m. on Sunday, the 30th of September last, a woman, name unknown, was found brutally murdered in Mitre-square, Aldgate, in this City, a reward of £500 will be paid by the Commissioner of Police of the City of London, to any person (other than a person belonging to a police force in the United Kingdom) who shall give such information as shall lead to the discovery and conviction of the murderer or murderers. Information to be given to the inspector of the Detective Department, 26, Old Jewry, or at any police station. – James Fraser, Colonel, Commissioner, City of London Police – office, 26, Old Jewry – Oct 1, 1888”
Outside the City steps in a similar direction have been taken by public bodies and private individuals. A meeting of the Vigilance Committee which has lately been formed in Whitechapel was held yesterday morning, and a resolution was passed calling upon the Home-office to offer a substantial Government reward. A sum of £300 has been forwarded to the same department on behalf of several readers of the Financial News with a request that it may be offered in the name of the Government. To this request the following reply has been received :-
“October 1, 1888.
My dear Sir, – I am directed by Mr. Matthews to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this date, containing a cheque for £300, which you say has been contributed on behalf of several readers of the Financial News, and which you are desirous should be offered as a reward for the discovery of the recent murders in the East-end of London. If Mr. Matthews had been of opinion that the offer of a reward in these cases would have been attended by any useful result he would himself have at once made such an offer, but he is not of that opinion. Under these circumstances, I am directed to return you the cheque (which I enclose), and to thank you and the gentlemen whose names you have forwarded for the liberality of their offer, which Mr. Matthews much regrets he is unable to accept. – I am, sir, your very obedient servant, Harry H. Marks, Esq. – E. Leigh Pemberton”
The above, with other sums – including the £100 offered by Mr. Samuel Montagu, M.P., and the £200 collected by the Vigilance Committee – make an aggregate sum of £1,200, sufficient to excite the cupidity even of an accomplice, and to sharpen the wits of the dullest detectives. It is, however, more than probable that the reward will be increased to £2,000, as the Lord Mayor has been urged to open a subscription list, and the members of the Stock Exchange seem disposed to take the matter up. Colonel Sir Alfred Kirby, the officer commanding the Tower Hamlets Battalion Royal Engineers, has offered on behalf of his officers an additional reward of £100. Sir Alfred Kirby is also willing to place the services of not more than 50 members of his corps at the disposal of the authorities, to be utilized in assisting them in any way they may consider desirable at this juncture, either for the protection of the public or finding out the criminal. Of course the volunteers will have to be made use of as citizens, and not in a quasi-military capacity. Finally, there is a talk of holding “a great indignation meeting” on the subject of the murders and the attitude of the Home-office thereto, over which Mr. S. Montagu, the member for the division, will preside.
Naturally the sightseers and curiosity-mongers crowded the neighbourhood of Berner-street and Mitre-square all day yesterday, but they got nothing for their pains, every trace of the crimes having been removed by the police. A large additional force of constabulary has been posted at both points, and in the immediate vicinities. Had this precaution not been taken in Berner-street it is probably that the crowds would have broken down the gates of the yard in which the body of the woman Stride was found. In connection with the Mitre-square murder, a startling discovery was made during the afternoon. Sergeant Dudman had his attention draw to 36, Mitre-street, a house a short distance from the spot where the murdered woman was found, and there he saw what appeared to be bloodstains upon the doorway and underneath the window, as if a person had wiped his fingers on the window-ledge, and drawn a bloodstained knife down part of the doorway. Mr. Hurtig, who lives on the premises, said he had only just before noticed the stains, and then quite by accident. Almost immediately afterwards the same police officer had his attention drawn to similar marks on the plate glass window of Mr. William Smith, at the corner of Mitre-square, but Mr. Smith scouted the idea that they could have anything to do with the murders, as the windows were covered at night by shutters. The discovery, notwithstanding, caused increased excitement for a time in the locality. The only other trace left by the murderer was a portion of an apron, which, as was mentioned yesterday, was picked up in Goldston-street, and which corresponded with a piece left on the body of the Mitre-square victim. This seemed to show that the murderer had escaped in the direction of Whitechapel.
It has been definitely ascertained that Mrs. Stride, better known as “Long Liz”, left the lodging-house at 32, Flower and Dean-street, Commercial-street, where she had been staying since the previous Tuesday, at seven o’clock on Saturday night. At the time of her departure she was quite cheerful and in good health. As to her movements quite cheerful and in good health. As to her movements after that hour nothing reliable has been obtained, nor has anyone yet been able positively to vouch that since then she has been seen alive. Her usual haunts of a night were the Commercial-road East, Stratford, and Bow, the latter especially, and it is quite possible that from her old acquaintances information may yet be forthcoming as to her later movements on that night. At the lodging-house in Flower and Dean-street, which from time to time she has made her home during the last five or six years, since the death of her husband, “Long Liz” is spoken of almost in terms of affection. The occupants described her as a good-natured, hardworking, clean woman, who only took to the streets when she was unable to obtain employment as a charwoman. It is feared, however, that some difficulty will be experienced in ascertaining the identity of the woman murdered in Mitre-square. The face is badly mutilated, and it wears an unnatural appearance. Many persons have been admitted to the mortuary in Golden-lane, and up to last night no one had recognised the dead woman as bearing the slightest resemblance to anyone with whom they were acquainted. During the afternoon a female called at the mortuary and after viewing the body said she thought it was that of her sister. The female admitted, however, that she had not seen her sister for a number of years, and altogether the recognition was of such a hesitating character that not much importance is attached to it. The inquest on this woman has, in consequence of the lack of identification, been deferred until Thursday, when Dr. Langham will open an inquiry at eleven o’clock at the mortuary.
The authorities have under consideration the practicability of shortening the time of the patrol beats, which in the metropolitan district are much too long for effective police duty. The resources of the force are, however, already taxed to their utmost, and if the beats are to be shortened the number of policemen must be considerably increased, or special constables sworn in. The latter course finds much favour, and it is certain that an official call for volunteers would be responded to with enthusiasm.
THE INQUEST
Mr. Wynne E. Baxter, coroner for South-East Middlesex, opened the inquiry yesterday morning at the Vestry-hall, St. George’s-in-the-East, on the body of Elizabeth Stride, the woman who was murdered in Berner-street, Commercial-road, on Sunday morning.
The first witness called was William West, of 40, Berner-street, Commerical-road, printer. He said – I live on the premises; it is the International Working Men’s Educational Club. There are two windows on the ground floor facing the street, and the door opens into the same street. At the side of the house there is a passage into a yard, and there are two wooden gates at the entrance to the yard; they open into the street. The first passage into the club lead into a room, and the door opens out of this passage. The gates are open at all hours of the day, but are mostly closed at night. The door is not closed till the members leave. There is no
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particular person to look after it. The room contains three doors leading into the yard. There is no other way out of the yard except through the gate. Opposite the gate there is a workshop, which belongs to a sack manufacturer. There is a stable on the left-hand side before you come to the club. One room is used as a printing-office; the men from which left, I should think, about two o’clock in the afternoon. It is Socialist club, and any working man, whatever his nationality, who professes Socialism, can be a member. I left the club for home at a quarter past twelve o’clock. In the evening there had been a discussion going on in the large room on the first floor, in which there are two windows looking into the street. About 100 persons were present on Saturday.
When did the discussion cease? – About midnight, and the bulk of the people left the premises then.
Which was did they go out? – Through the street door, which is the most convenient. Some of the members, about 30, remained behind. These latter were singing, and discussing various questions.
Were the windows open? – Partly
Where did you go when you left? – To my lodgings, 2, William-street, Cannon-street-road.
Which way did you go out of the club? – I went out of the yard passage. I noticed the gates were open, so I went that way.
Is there any light in the yard? – None whatever.
Are there any lamps in the street that light the yard? – There are lamps, but not opposite.
How is the yard lighted? – By the light of the club windows.
When you left the club did anything attract your attention? – No, sir; I noticed nothing as a looked toward the gates.
Was there anything on the ground? – I can’t say.
Might there have been? – I don’t know, it was rather dark, so there might have been.
Did you notice anyone in the yard? – No, sir.
Did you meet anybody in Berner-street? – I can’t recollect, but as I went along Fairclough-street, close by, I noticed some men and women standing together.
Did you see no one nearer? – No, sir.
Have you ever seen a man and woman in the yard? – About 12 months ago I happened to go into the yard and heard some chattering near the gate, and I at once went there and shut the gate.
Morris Eagle, 4, New-road, Commercial-road, said – I am a traveller and a member of the Socialist Club. I was at the club on Saturday night, and did not leave till after the discussion. I went through the front door on my way out at a quarter past twelve, but returned to the club about 20 to one. When I returned the front door was closed, so I went in at the back door in the yard and along the passage into the club.
Did you notice anything lying on the ground? – No, I did not notice anything as I came in.
Could anything have lain there and you not seen it? – I don’t think so.
How wide is the passage? – About 9 ft.
Can you say whether the body was lying there then? – I could not say for certain; it was very dark near the gates, and only the lights from the club shone into the yard.
If a man and woman had been there would you have seen them? – Oh, yes, I should certainly have seen them.
When did you hear of the murder? – A member named Gidlemann came up and said there was a dead woman in the yard. I went, and saw a woman lying on the ground in much blood. Her feet were about 6 ft. or 7ft. from the gate.
Was she against the club wall? – Yes, sir.
Her head towards the yard? – Yes, her feet to the gate and her head to the yard. I struck a light and saw her covered in blood. I could not look at her long, so I ran for the police. Another man went for them at the same time. We could not find one at first; but when we got to the corner of Grove street, Commerical-road, I found two constables, and I told them there was a woman murdered in Berner-street. One of them turned his light on down the yard. There were lots of people present in the yard at the time we returned. One of the constables said to his companion, “For for a doctor” and turning to me he said “Go to the police-station for the inspector”
Did anyone appear to be touching the body? – The policeman touched the body; not those standing close by. The people seemed afraid to go near it.
Can you fix the time the discovery was made? About one o’clock was the time that I first saw the body. I did not notice the time, but I have calculated it from the time I left home to return to the club.
By a Juror – On Saturday night there is a free discussion at the club, and any one can go in. There were some women there on Saturday night. They were only those we knew, no strange women. It was not a dancing night, but there may have been a little dancing among the member after the discussion.
The Coroner – If there were singing and dancing going on would you have been likely to have heard the cry of a woman in great distress – a cry of murder, for instance – from the yard? Oh, we should certainly have heard such a cry.
Lewis Deimschitz said – I live at 40, Berner-street, and am steward of the International Working Men’s Educational Club. I am married, and my wife lives there too. She assists in the management of the club. I left home about half-past eleven on Saturday morning, and returned home exactly at one o’clock on Sunday morning. I noticed the time at Harris’s tobacco shop at the corner of Commercial-road and Berner-street. It was one o’clock. I had a barrow, something like a costermonger’s, with me. I was sitting in it, and a pony was drawing it. It is a two-wheeled barrow. The pony is kept at George-yard, Cable-street. I do not keep it in the yard of the club. I was driving home to leave my goods. I drove into the yard. Both gates were wide open. It was rather dark there. I drove in as usual, and, all at once, as I came into the gate, my pony shied to the left. That caused me to turn my head down to the ground on my right to see what it was that had made him shy.
Could you see anything? – I could see that there was something unusual on the pavement. I could not see what it was. It was a dark object. There was nothing white about it. I did not get off the barrow, but I tried with my whip handle to feel what it was. I tried to lift it up, but I could not. I jumped down at once and struck a match, as it was rather windy I could not get sufficient light to see exactly what it was. I could, however, see that there was the figure of some person lying there. I could tell by the dress that it was a woman. I did not disturb it. I went into the club, and asked where my missus was. I saw her in the front room on the ground floor. There were several members in the front room, where my wife was, and I told them all, “There is a woman lying in the yard, but I could not say whether she was drunk or dead” I then took a candle and went out at once, and by the candlelight I could see that there was blood about before I reached the body. I did not touch the body, but went off at once for the police. We passed several streets without meeting a policeman, and we returned without one. All the men who were with he halloaed as loud as they could for the police, but no one came. When I returned a man that we met in Grove-street, and who came back with us, took hold of the head, and as we lifted it up I first the wound in the throat. At the very same time Eagle and the constable arrived. I noticed nothing unusual on my approach to the club, and met no one that looked at all suspicious. The doctor arrived 10 minutes after the constable arrived. The police afterwards took our names and addresses, and searched everybody.
Did you notice if her clothes were in order? – In perfect order, as far as I could see.
How as she lying? – She was lying on her side, with her face toward the wall of the club. I could not say whether the body was on its side, but her face was. As soon as the police came I ceased to take any interest in the matter. I did not notice in what position her hands were. I only noticed when the doctor came up he undid the first buttons of her dress next to the neck, and put his hands in. He then told the constable that she was quite warm yet. He told the constable to put his hand in and feel the body, and he did so. There appeared to me to have been about two quarts of blood on the ground, and it seemed to have run up the yard from her neck. The body was lying, I should say, about a foot from the club wall. The gutter of the yard passage is made of paving stones, the centre being of irregular boulders. The body was lying half on the paving stones.
Have you ever seen men and women in the yard? – Never.
Have you ever heard anyone say that they have found men and women there? – I have not.
By a Juror – Was there room for you to have passed the body with your cart? – Oh, yes. Mine is not a very wide cart; it only took up the entre of the passage. If my pony had not shied, perhaps I would not have noticed it at all. When I got down my cart passed the body. The barrow was past the body when I got down to see what it was.
Another Juror – Was any one left in charge of the body while you went for the police? – I cannot say, but there were several about when I came back. I cannot say positively, but I do not believe any one touched the body.
Detective-Inspector Reid – All the people who came into the yard were detained and searched? – Yes, and their names and addresses were taken. The first question was whether they had any knives. They were then asked to account for their presence there.
By a Juror – Would it have been possible for any one to have escaped from the yard if he had been hiding there while you went into the club to inform the members? – Yes, it would have been possible; but as soon as I informed the members every one went out, and I do not think it would have been possible for any one to get out then.
If any one had run up the yard, you would have seen him? – Yes, because it is dark just in the gateway; but further up the yard you could see anybody running or walking by the lights of the club.
Do you think any one could have come out of the gateway without you seeing them? – No, I think they could not.
Detective-Inspector Reid stated that the body had not been identified yet.
The Coroner – It has been partially identified; but it is a mistake to say that she has been identified by one of her relatives. It is known, however, where she lived.
At this stage the inquiry was adjourned till two o’clock this afternoon.
At the meeting of the Whitechapel District Board of Works last evening – Mr. Robert Gladding presiding – Mr. Catmur said he thought that the board, as the local authority, should express their horror and abhorrence of the crime which had been perpetrated in the district, and that although it was not within their province to suggest anything, it would be right that they should address the authorities really responsible. Proceeding, Mr. Catmur spoke of the evil effect which had resulted in the district in the loss of trade. Evening business had become practically extinct in many trades, women finding themselves unable to pass through the streets without an escort. Moreover, the inefficiency of the police was shown in the striking circumstance that but an hour or two later than the murders in Berner-street and Mitre-square the post-office in the immediate vicinity was broken into and property of the value of £100 taken from it. – Mr. Nicholson said that while the local authority might not be responsible for the efficiency of the police, they were responsible for the proper lighting of the district. In one instance, which he mentioned, a court had been absolutely without light for nearly a week. – Mr. Abrahams said he could not agree with the wholesale condemnation of the police, nor with any resolution which did not indicate a means of re-
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form. He could, however, vouch from his own personal experience that the effect of these murders had been most injurious to the business in Whitechapel; indeed, it was the most disastrous blow to the trade of the district that he had known in his experience of a quarter of a century. – The Rev. Daniel Greatorex said the emigrants’ houses of call were feeling the panic to such an extent that emigrants refused to locate themselves in Whitechapel, even temporarily. The new system of police, whereby constables were frequently changed from one district to another, kept the policemen ignorant of their beats. This was one great cause of police inefficiency, and the inspectors themselves testified that what he said was correct. In days gone by constables were acquainted not only with the streets in their districts but also with all the houses. – The chairman said that local bodies had no responsibility in these matters, as the management of the police had been taken away from them. – Mr. Telfer said the fact of four or five murders having taken place was no reason why there should be universal hysteria. In fact, the new method of murder suggested the reverse, the victims in every case having chosen to place themselves before their murderers. No increase of the force of the police could secure that the quiet of the nooks and crannies of a great city were protected for those who themselves south solitude. It was, however, to be hoped that these recent crimes would result in a reversion to the old system by which constables were acquainted with every corner of their beats. – Mr. G. F. Brown said that the weak park of the London police system was the want of a proper detective element in dealing with the criminal portion of the community, and there was also a large amount of disaffection running throughout the whole force. The Government itself should be appealed to in the matter rather than the Home Secretary or Chief of Police, who were themselves really only upon their trial. – Mr. Caramelli said the change in the condition of Whitechapel in recent years would suggest an entire revision of the police arrangements. Whitechapel was now a place for the residuum of the whole country had the Continent as well, but it was not so a generation ago. – After further discussion the following resolution was carried, on the motion of Mr. Catmur, seconded by Mr. Barham :- “That this board regards with horror and alarm the several atrocious murders recently perpetrated within the district of Whitechapel and its vicinity, and calls upon Sir Charles Warren so to locate and strengthen the police force in the neighborhood as to guard against any repetition of such atrocities; and that the Home Secretary be addressed in the same terms.”
The most important clue which has yet been discovered with regard to the perpetrators of the inhuman murders in Whitechapel, came to light yesterday through information given by Mr. Thomas Ryan, who has charge of the Cabmen’s Reading-room, at 43, Pickering-place, Westbourne-grove. Mr. Ryan is a teetotaller, and is the secretary of the Cabmen’s Branch of the Church of England Temperance Society. He has been stationed at Pickering-place for about six years, and is widely known throughout the metropolis and in the country as an earnest temperance advocate. Ryan says that on Sunday afternoon, while he was in his shelter, the street attendant brought a gentlemanly-looking man to him, and said, “This ‘ere gentleman wants a chop, guv’nor; can you cook one for him? He says he’s ‘most perished with cold.” The gentleman in question, Ryan says, was about 5ft. 6in. in height, and wore an Oxford cap on his head, and a light check ulster, with a tippet buttoned to his throat, which he did not loosen all the time he was in the shelter. He had a thick moustache, but no beard; was roundheaded, his eyes very restless, and clean white hands. Ryan said “Come in, I’ll cook one for you with pleasure.” This was about four o’clock in the afternoon. Several cabmen were in the shelter at the time, and they were talking of the new murders discovered that morning at Whitechapel. Ryan exclaimed, “I’d gladly do seven days and nights if I could only find the fellow who did them.” This was said directly at the stranger, who, looking into Ryan’s face, quietly said, “Do you know who committed the murders?” and then calmly went on to say. “I did them. I’ve had a lot of trouble lately. I came back from India and got into trouble at once. I lost my watch and chain and £10.” Ryan was greatly taken aback at the man’s statement, and fancied he was just recovering from a drinking bout; so he replied, “If that’s correct you must consider yourself engaged.” But he then went on to speak to him about temperance work and the evils wrought by drink. Meanwhile, the chop was cooking, the vegetables were already waiting, and the stranger began eating. During the meal the conversation was kept up with Ryan and others in the shelter, all of whom thought the man was recovering from a heavy drinking bout, and that his remarks as to his being the murderer were all nonsense. Ryan reasoned with him as to the folly of drinking, and at last he expressed his willingness to sign the pledge, a book containing pledges being shown him. This the stranger examined, and at length filled up one page, writing on the counterfoil as well as the body of the pledge. In the hand of a gentleman he wrote the following words: “J. Duncan, doctor, residence, Cabman’s Shelter, 30th Sept., 1888.” After doing this he said, “I could tell a tale if I wanted.” Ryan called his attention to the fact that he had not filled in his proper residence, and the man replied. “I have no fixed place of abode at present. I’m living anywhere.” While Duncan was eating his chop he again asked for something to drink, and water was brought him, but then he said he would have ginger beer, and when that was brought him, he filled up the glass with the liquid from a bottle he had in his pocket. “This he drank,” said Ryan, “differently to what people usually drink, he literally gulped it down.” In answer to further conversation about tectotalism, Duncan accepted an invitation to go with Ryan to church that evening, and said he would return to the shelter in an hour, but he never came back. Duncan carried a stick, and looked a sinewy fellow, just such a one as was capable of putting forth considerable energy when necessary.
In connection with the letter received on Thursday last by the Central News and published yesterday, the agency says that a postcard bearing the stamp “London, E., October 1.” was received yesterday morning, addressed to their office, the address and subject-matter being written in red, and undoubtedly by the same person from whom the former letter was received. It runs as follows :- “I was not codding, dear old Boss, when I gave you the tip. You’ll hear about Saucy Jacky’s work to-morrow. Double event this time. Number One squealed a bit; couldn’t finish straight off. Had not time to get ears for police. Thanks for keeping last letter back till I got to work again. – Jack the Ripper.” The card is smeared on both sides with blood, which has evidently been impressed thereon by the thumb or finger of the writer, the corrugated surface of the skin being plainly shown. Upon the back of the card some words are nearly obliterated by a bloody smear. It is not necessarily assumed that this has been the work of the murderer, that naturally occurs being that the whole thing is a practical joke. At the same time the writing of the previous letter immediately before the commission of the murders of Sunday was so singular a coincidence, that it does not seem unreasonable to suppose that the cool calculating villain who is responsible for the crimes has chosen to make the post a medium through which to convey to the Press his grimly diabolical humour.
OPINIONS OF EXPERTS
In the course of a conversation with a representative of the Central News yesterday, Sir James Risdon Bennett, of Cavendish-square, after reiterating the opinion he has already expressed, that the theory put forward by the Coroner at the inquest on the woman Chapman was untenable, said :- If one sane man had instructed another sane man to procure a number of specimens the modus operandi would have been very different from that which has been pursued in these cases. The murderer has run a fearful and a quite unnecessary risk. The mutilations which he committed were to a great extent wanton, and did not assist him in the accomplishment of his intention. My impression is that the miscreant is a homicidal maniac. He has a specific delusion, and that delusion is erotic. Of course, we have at this moment very little evidence indeed, in fact, I may say no evidence at all, as to the state of the man’s mind, except so far as it is suggested by the character of the injuries which he has inflicted upon his victims. I repeat that my impression is that he is suffering from an erotic delusion, but it may be that he is a religious fanatic. It is possible that he is labouring under the delusion that he has a mandate from the Almighty to purge the world of women of a certain class, and in the prosecution of his mad theory the has determined upon a crusade against the unfortunate of London, whom he seeks thus to mutilate. There are, on the other hand, a number of theories which might be speculated upon as to the particular form that his mania takes, but inasmuch as we have no knowledge of the man himself, but only of the characteristics which surround the commission of the crime wherewith to guide us, I come to the conclusion that his delusion has reference to matters of a sexual character. The two crimes which were perpetrated on Sunday morning do not lead me to modify my opinion that the assassin is a lunatic. Even if it should transpire that in the case of the Mitre-square victim any portion of the intestines is missing I should not be disposed to favour what I may call the American theory in the slightest degree. I must confess that iw as with considerable surprise that I noticed in certain newspapers a supposition to readily accept the theory which the Coroner who investigated the circumstances attending the murder of the woman Chapman first suggested. It is my opinion that if any person wanted a number of specimens, and was himself undertake to secure them rather than employ an agent. No love of gain could possibly induce a sane man to commit such atrocities as these, and besides this there is the circumstance remaining, as I have previously said, that they might all be secured at the medical institution either in England or America, that is to say if they were needed for legitimate purposes, practically without any consideration at all. It has been said, and it is a very natural observation, that if the murderer were a lunatic he could not commit these crimes and escape with impunity. That is a comment which any person not fully acquainted with the peculiarities of lunatic subjects might very well make. In my view, however, the extraordinary cunning which is evinced by the homicide is a convincing proof of his insanity. No sane man cold have escaped in just the same fashion as this man seems to have done. He must almost necessarily have betrayed himself. It is a matter of common knowledge, however, amongst mad doctors that lunatics display a wonderful intelligence – if it may be called so – in their criminal operations, and I have little doubt that if the murderer were other than a madman he would ere this have been captured by the police. I doubt, however, that the murder of these women is other than a man suffering from acute mania, and that being so, his infirmity would be obvious to almost every person with whom he came into contact. That is the say, if he were in the presence of either of us, we should probably say, “Oh, he’s a madman,” There are many instances in which the common test is for the doctor to enter into conversation with the subject, to touch upon a variety of topics, and then, as if by accident, to mention the matter in regard to which the patient has a specific delusion. Then the person’s madness is manifested, although upon every other point he converses rationally. But here the disease is acute, and I should say that those persons with whom he comes into daily contact cannot regard him as a sane person. Dr. Phillips has stated that the injuries inflicted upon these women have been apparently performed by a person possessing some anatomical knowledge. That is likely, enough, but would not a butcher by quite capable of treating the body in this way? Since I wrote my letter I have received several communications in support
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of my view. One of these from the Bishop of Bedford, who agrees with me, that the theory of the American physiologist has no claim to credit. I wish to have it understood that my only desire is to remove from the public mind the evil impression which has been made by the suggestion that a member of the medical profession is more or less responsible for these murders. I have never believed in the theory, and these two last murders confirm me in the opinion that they are the work of a man suffering from acute mania, to whom the ordinary rules of motive and procedure do not apply.
Dr. Forbes Winslow said to the representative :- I am more certain than ever that these murders are committed by a homicidal maniac, and there is no moral doubt in my mind that the assassin in each case is the same man. I have carefully read the reports in the morning papers, and they confirm me in the opinion which I had previously formed. While I am clearly of the opinion that the murderer is a homicidal maniac, I also believe him to be a monomaniac, and I see no reason why he should not, excepting at the period when the fit is upon him, exhibit a cool and rational exterior. I have here in my book – a work on psychology – a case in which a man had a lust for blood. As in this case he was generally a person of bland and pleasant exterior. In all probability the whole of the murders have been committed by the same hand; but I may point out that the imitative faculty is very strong in persons of unsound mind, and that is the reason why there has been a sort of epidemic of knives. We shall probably find that a good many knives will be displayed to people within the next few weeks. Still, all the evidence that is forthcoming up to the present moment shows clearly enough that the Whitechapel crimes have been perpetrated by the same hand. My idea is that, under the circumstances, the police ought to employ, for the protection of the neighbourhood, and with the view of selecting the criminal, a number of officers, who have been in the habit of guarding lunatics – that is to say, wardens from asylums and other persons who have had charge of the insane. These men, if properly dispersed in the neighbourhood, would assuredly note any person who was of unsound mind. I have sent a letter embodying this suggestion to Sir Charles Warren, but I have received only a formal communication acknowledging its receipt. It is not easy to prevail upon the police to accept a suggestion for outside services. This I discovered the other day when a man in emulation of the Whitechapel murder drew a knife and sharpened it in the presence of a relative of mine at Brighton, under circumstances which have been published in the newspapers. When I made a statement to the police on the occasion they thought very little of it indeed. I attach not the least importance to the American physiologist story. It is a theory which is utterly untenable, and I should think there are very few medical men who ever entertained it seriously. All that has recently happened appears to me to be strong confirmation of the views which I have previously given expression to upon this subject. The murderer is a homicidal maniac of infinite cunning, and I fear he will not be brought to justice unless he be caught while engaged in the commission of one of his awful crimes.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING POST
Sir, I was very glad to read your remarks to-day on the recent horrible tragedies in Whitechapel, and to learn that the theory, as originally started by myself, was accepted by your journal. I have been in communication with the authorities on the subject, and from time to time have expressed a strong opinion as to the murders, as I believe what has been suggested by me has been followed out to the letter. I do not know, however, whether, what I recently advised, has been accepted. This was to employ, in addition to the police, several skilled and trained asylum attendants, who knew the cunning and the ways of insane people, and, being as a rule either old soldiers or old policemen, could bring additional weight to bear in finding this dangerous lunatic now at large in London. All the crimes point to one individual. It must not be lost sight of that the imitative genius is great among persons of unsound mind. It frequently happens that after some extraordinary event which is clearly of an irrational nature many are found to attempt to outvie it. Some years ago a lunatic jumped off the Duke of York’s Column. A few days after another one did the same from the Monument, and so on. One insane person is at large flourishing a knife, many more are to be found doing the same thing; but those in whom, however, the idea has been dormant until being reminded of it. The opinion I entertain of the murders is as follows :- That the murderer is one and the same person; that he has committed the crimes suffering from homicidal monomania of a religious description, and labouring under a morbid belief that the delusion entertained by him has direct reference to the part of the bodies removed. That under the delusion, and desiring to directly influence the morality of the world, and under the delusion that he has a certain destiny to fulfil, he has chosen a certain class of society to vent his vengeance on, still acting under his morbid religious belief. “If thine eye offends thee pluck it out,” is a text of Scripture I have frequently known lunatics act strictly up to. Religious homicidal monomania is of the most obstinate description, and the person who is guilty of these crimes is such an individual, who imagines that it is his destiny to wipe a social blot from off the face of the earth. – Your, &c. – L. FORBES WINSLOW.
