Saturday 3rd Nov 1888
Good evening from Whitechapel on another cold, dark autumn night. The weekend has arrived again, when the killer always struck.
But it is nearly five weeks since the death of Catherine Eddowes in Mitre Sq, an hour after Liz Stride that same night. In an article published today entitled "An Autumn Evening in Whitechapel" the author reflects on the impact of those events. "The people of Spitalfields and Whitechapel seemed to be realizing the awful possibilities of the nature that belonged to them. Thousands of them were really shocked and sobered, by the last tragedy especially. One could see in the people's faces ... Detect in their tones and answers, an indefinable something which told plainly that they had been horrified by a revelation. Mr. George Holland in George Yard says that the sensation has affected his institution very greatly. He is under anxiety lest ladies who come to teach should be deterred by this latest addition to the evil reputation. Since these outrages the dark places have undoubtedly been a little darker and stiller, and more depressing. Some streets have presented, even to those familiar with them, quite a desolate and deserted appearance after nightfall. But the wonder has passed, the effect of the shock has visibly subsided, and people are beginning to move freely again. Oh, for a great installation of the electric light, with which, as the sun goes down, to deluge the streets and lanes. There is a waxwork show with some horrible pictorial representations of the recent murders, and all the dreadful details. Women with children in their arms are pushing their way to the front with their pennies to see the ghastly objects within. In Buck's Row nobody seems conscious of the recent tragedy, the only suggestion is a bill offering £100 for the criminal. There is a piano-organ grinding out the "Men of Harlech" over the spot where the murdered woman was found. There seems to be little apprehension of further mischief by this assassin at large. People, most of 'em, think he's gone."
A few days ago, it was revealed there had been a discovery earlier this month, previously unreported. Here's what's been found. "Plain-clothes officers have recently been watching certain houses in Kensington. A discovery was made. On 21 Oct, the policeman on duty in Harrington Gds observed something bright upon the ground in the garden of one a houses. He discovered a case containing a couple of HUGE "GHOORKA" KNIVES, which had been deposited near some shrubs. One of the knives was much stained with blood, but the other had evidently not been used. The case also had bloodstains. A Paddington doctor has expressed the opinion that THE BLOOD STAINS are a month or two months old. Whether this is in any way connected with the East-end remains to be seen, but the police are said to be following up a clue. A suspected clerical-looking gentleman, of whom strange things are said. The popular theory is that a murder was contemplated.
A suspected clerical-looking gentleman, of whom strange things are said. The popular theory is that a murder was contemplated.
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Today's issue of the Star contain an number of interesting theories an observations about the killer and his habits: "The murderer may be a seafaring man. Intervals between murders are about the time a trading boat takes for a trip. How easy for a sailor to get on board at any time during the night, and remove with a bucket of water all traces of guilt!" Another letter advances something of a conspiracy theory, suggesting that the killer is a man of importance: "How easy for a sailor to get on board at any time during the night, and remove with a bucket of water all traces of guilt! After the first 3 murders these women would have thought twice before going up a dark passage with a perfect stranger. But this man they know, they follow him willingly and unsuspectingly; possibly they are anxious even to court his good graces. If not a member of, he is at least allied to the great army of order. Some needy detective, who is domiciled in Whitechapel?" And one unnerving theory sent in: "It is the belief of "R. J. B." that the murderer goes down sewer manholes." One from comment picks up on something which may be very relevant. From Wiesbaden, Ned Hay writes:- "It is certain that there are women who escaped after being in the power of the murderer, owing to the appearance of some person. The women who have been accosted and escaped certainly ought to be able to give some clue to the murderer's identity." There were attacks upon women in Vine Street and Dorset Street in September, overshadowed by the "double event" soon after.