Ripper Live

8.00am

Good morning from Whitechapel on Monday 10th Sep 1888. You're here just in time for a breakthrough in the recent murder mysery. Police are looking for a suspect who always carries a knife and wears a "leather apron" - and is only known by that knickname. Right now, the unfortunately-named Sergeant William Thick is about to knock at 22 Mulberry Street. For eighteen years Sgt Thick has known John Pizer, a Polish Jew. He knows that "Leather Apron" is John Pizer's nickname. He knocks upon the door and Pizer himself answer. The Sgt says, "Just the man I want." Sgt Thick tells John Pizer that he is charged on suspicion of being connected with the recent murders.

A search is made of the house and he finds five, long-bladed knives. The police seem to have hit the jackpot. Pizer or "Leather Apron" is taken to Leman Street Police station where he will be questioned about the recent murders. At the police station, a large force is in readiness for trouble with the baying crowd, and the police have their staves drawn. Join us at 2pm this afternoon for an update on this arrest and the opening of the inquiry into the murder of Annie Chapman.

2.00pm

Good afternoon from Whitechapel 1888. You join us on a day which has seen a key development in the murder case. Despite another brutal murder on Saturday, the inquiry into the death of Polly Nichols is still ongoing. With two murders prior to Polly and her death being investigated whilst Annie is killed, there's a sense of terror building. The proximity of two murders so close they're overlapping has caused a huge shift in feeling about what's going on. There's a sense of something unfolding. Annie Millwood's attack wasn't reported. Martha Tabram's death got a little coverage. But the hideous murder of Annie Chapman on Saturday has created a state of mind in Whitechapel that events are in progress

Fear not - Police have made an arrest. As you may recall from Friday's paper, a man called "Leather Apron" was wanted. After numerous enquiries and descriptions from prostitudes, one violent, unpleasant man is mentioned over and over again. A thick-set fellow of 5ft 4", with a moustache, and close-clipped black hair. All the local woman fear this anonymous man. However, Sgt William Thick knew that "Leather Apron" was really John Pizer, a Polish Jew living at Mulberry Street. At 8am Sgt Thick arrested Pizer and took him to Leman St Police station for questioning where riot police escorted him in. Interviewed for hours, Pizer has told the police that he was unaware he's known as Leather Apron. He accepts he used to wear one. Pizer tells police that on the night Polly Nichols was killed, he was at Crossman's Lodging house in Holloway Road. He even spoke to a Policeman on the night of Polly's death, before going to watch the dock fire. He was back at the lodging house an hour before Polly was killed and sat in the kitchen smoking. It would be easy enough to corrborate what appeared to be a very strong alibi. It seems Leather Apron isn't the killer. The police are somewhat crestfallen that their prime suspect may be exonerated but he will remain in custody for now.

Ten minutes' walk from the police station where the prime suspect is being questions is the Working Lads' Institute. It is here that Mr. Wynne Baxter opened an inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Annie Chapman on Saturday. It is quite something that this inquiry is now open whilst that of Polly Nichols is ongoing and will resume in seven days. During the afternoon the inquest will hear from poor John Davies, who awoke, made a cup of tea and the found the corpse. Amelia Palmer who identified the body last spoke to Annie towards the end of last week and she'll give evidence. Two men from the lodging house where she was staying will also give their statments. The inquest will continue on Wednesday. That's all from Whitechapel 1888 for now. At 7pm tonight though we'll have a read of some important news coverage from today.

7.00pm

Welcome! Monday 10th September 1888. We're in Whitechapel but don't worry - we're just reading the extraordinary press coverage. The Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, like many other papers, is reporting the case. This story carries quite a thoughtful profile of the murderer's characteristics and holds little hope for the police.

"It is hardly surprisingly that terror, approaching to panic, should prevail in the East End of London. Murders of a peculiarly revolting and barbarous character, alike in their ghastly details, should have been committed. The worst feature is that no important arrest has as yet been made, nor to the police profess to have any theories. The idea of such a murderer being at large, if only for a few days, is sufficient to excuse the panic which exists. In the present case, the murders were apparently objectless. The wretched victims could hardly have inspired jealousy. The murderer is has committed his crimes merely for the sake of committing them, and is filled with a lust for blood. A homicical maniac, endowed with ferocity and cunning, is still at large and it is impossible to say whom he may attack next. In Whitechapel, the population is not only very dense but extremely fluctuating. The murderer has a considerable knowledge of the locality and even if arrested, it may be difficult to prove his guilt. He works by himself, without accomplices and without confidants and it is this which adds to the difficulties in detection. Experience shows that maniacs are frequently capable of great self-restraint as well as of dogged determination. A man successful in committing four murders must be possessed of even more than the ordinary amount of cunning. The number of murders lately may be down to stress and pressure of modern life, or morbid craving for excitement and horrors. It is possible that the murderer may have persuaded himself that he was benefiting society by removing unfortunate creatures. Years ago a series of murders was commited in an Italian city. The victims mostly children. The police were baffled. It was the work of an eloquent and earnest priest, who believed he was doing God service and ensuring their eternal welfare."

The crimes resonate around the entire country. Here's a passage from the Glasgow Herald today on the possible suspect. "Whitechapel has created for its own satisfaction a mysterious being who is supposed to be a Polish Jew. His hideous features have been the terror of men and women for months. Police have not found him in the flesh." But in fact a later edition today reveals that in face they have now caught this very man. It's reported as follows:

"The man known as 'Leather Apron' has been apprehended and taken to Leman-St police station." The opinion of the police is pretty poor and the Gloucester Citizen today makes the following comment in its coverage: "The police and our detective system unquestionably does not compare favourably with those of the continent. Now is the time for the department to save itself from the charge of incompitency by getting to the bottom of the mystery. The ghoul roaming over the East End must be brought to justice before residents can feel safe from his horrible surprises."