Ripper Live

Here, the inquest has resumed today into what's being considered murder #3; Polly, whilst victim #4's inquest is also open. Today some new witnesses will be tesitfying their last sightings of the deceased. At the inquest, Dr. Llewellyn is recalled and says he had re-examined the body and there was no part of the viscera missing.

Emma Green, who lives next to the scene of the murder of Polly, stated that she had heard no unusual sound during the night. Thomas Ede, a signalman in the employ of the East London Railway Co, said he saw a man with a knife on the morning of the 8th. Witness: "At Forester's Arms. He seemed to have a wooden arm. He put his hand to his trouser pocket, I saw 4 inches of a knife. "The man was 5'8", about 35 yrs. Dark moustache, double-peaked cap, dark brown jacket, and a pair of clean white overalls. The man walked as though he had a stiff knee, and he had a fearful look about the eyes. He was not a muscular man. Alfred Malshaw, a night watchman in Winthorpe-street, had also heard no cries or noise. He admitted that he sometimes dozed." The watchman added, "It is thirteen long hours for 3s and find your own coke." A comment which prompted laughter from the jury. Witness Robert Paul rearranged the victimes clothes for dignity. Before he did so he detected a slight movement as of breathing.

Robert Mann, the keeper of the mortuary, said the police came to his workhouse and hence went to the mortuary at 5am. Robert Mann says after breakfast he and James Hatfield undressed the woman, the latter cutting them down the front. The Coroner notes "It appears the mortuary-keeper is subject to fits, and neither his memory nor statements are reliable." Foreman: "Had a reward been offered by the Govt after murder in George Yd, the 2 later murders would not have been perpetrated. It mattered little into whose hands the money went so long as they could find out the monster in their midst. The monster who was terrorising everybody and making people ill. There were four horrible murders remaining undiscovered."

It is not clear who the Foreman considers the fourth victim to be along with Smith, Tabram and now Nichols.

The Coroner considered that the first murder was the worst, and it had attracted the least attention. The Foreman intimated that he would be willing to give £25 himself. These poor people had souls like anybody else. "It mattered not whether the victims were rich or poor. There was no surety that a rich person would not be the next." The inquiry was then adjourned until Saturday.

There have been developments with the latest prime suspect today too. Today, a man who the police feel was the most likely man to have committed the crimes, was transferred. The Swiss madman Jacob Issenschmid has been confined to Fairfield Row Asylum. He was prone to fits and seemingly confessed. It's worth mentioning that there is a media phenomenon occurring – a particular newspaper's circulation is increasing radically.

The Star is boasting its popularity with every issue. Their daily average number of copies last week was 190,033. Over the week that's 412,000 greater than the most ever circulated by any evening paper in London. There is one reason for this. The Star's sensational coverage of the Whitchapel murders offers opinion of the police and also advances their own theories. The Star was the main proponent of the hunt for a Jew, and was more than happy when John Pizer seemed to fit the bill.His character assassination in the newspaper was particular cruel. Their attention has turned to the "pork-butcher".