Mondau 22nd Oct 1888
Good evening from Whitechapel on Monday 22nd October 1888. 22 days after the last murder, it's still front page news. "As week after week goes by without a repetition, it is necessary to modify our theories of the man who committed them. As week after week goes by without a repetition, it is necessary to modify our theories of the man who committed them. If he is a homicidal maniac, he's not one in the ordinary sense. He waits til the coast is clear, til public interest slackens. If he is a homicidal maniac, he's not one in the ordinary sense. He waits til the coast is clear, til public interest slackens. He rejects no precaution to ensure his safety. This is conduct usually described as sane. His ironness of nerve is unnatural. He rejects no precaution to ensure his safety. This is conduct usually described as sane. His ironness of nerve is unnatural. His coolness bespeaks that subtler kind of criminal insanity which apes sanity in all it' outer aspects. It enables him to go about his daily business with a Jekyll-like indifference to his recreations in Hanbury St and Mitre Sq. Nor is it reasonable to suppose that we shall ever catch him unless he commits a fresh crime. The precautions, such as bloodhounds and house-to-house searches were taken weeks too late, but may have frightened the man. He may stay his hand. In which case, again, it will be clear that we have no maniac, in the vulgar sense, to deal with."
The Star reports a fascinating interview. Not directly related to the Whitechapel Murders but casts doubt on Police integrity. J. Wilkinson's card says: "Early Riser Caller." In his words, "I call people as wants to get up of a morning." Wilkinson complains: "The police, they're on the job too, don't you see? And they want to do all the calls and take the money." But the police aren't allowed to. He replies, "All I knows is that they do it, and when they see me, they shout and whistle.Police cry names at me, call me a **** and a ****, and all that sort of thing, inciting me to commit a breach of the peace. 223H is the worst'un. He's all'us at it in Commercial St. Told the inspector but they take no notice. 'Where's your witness?' I seen 'em knocking people up and going round makin' a regular collection on Saturdays. I've been in the business 14 years. Charges 6d a week. 60 calls for a pound. Begin about one, but ain't much to do til after 3. Market men, then firemen, bakers."
In today's 5th edition, The Star can't help itself when a murder as far away as south Wales can be linked to the recent murders. "A murder resembling those at Whitechapel was committed near Swansea yesterday. The victim, a girl of four years of age. She was decoyed into a wood by a youth of 16, who then cut her throat and ripped her bowels open. The murderer is in custody." And a curious sighting has been reported too of a suspicious man in Lea. The report says: "A lad observed a strange man by the factory, stooping over the river bank washing a knife. He noticed blood upon it. The moment he was observed, he threw the knife away, and made his escape. The weapon was a foot long, very sharp, with a hook."
That's all for tonight from a dark and foggy London.