The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-01-11 00:00:00

THZ WHITECHAPEL TRAGEDY.

OLD MRS. LANE'S OBSERVATIONS ON HER
DAUGHTER'S UNTIMELY END.
A London correspondent writes :—" Last week the
whole of the Lane family invited the witness Stokes to a
supper at their house, for the purpose of presenting him
with a magnificent memorial, subscribed to by the whole
of the members of the family, so a mark of their apprecia-
tion, and thanks for his conduct which led to the discovery
of the late terrible tragedy. Old Mrs. Lane, the aged
mother of the unfortunate murdered girl, was, at her
express wish, brought from her bed, to which she has so
long been confined in affliction and grief, so that she
might present the memorial to Stokes with her own
hands. The memorial, which was splendidly engrossed
and illuminated on vellum, and mounted in a massive
richly gilt frame, sets forth in old English letters the
thanks the family felt to Alfred Philip Stokes, of 31,
Baker's Row, Whitechapel, for his energy and courageous
conduct in following up the murderer of their unfortunate
relative. It concludes with their good wishes for his
welfare, with the expression of a hope that in the end he
will not suffer any loss, and that the humble but sincere
memorial will for ever be handed down as a heir-loom to
his children and his children's children as an incentive to
them also to pursue the path of manliness, justice, and
integrity. Then follow the names of all the family,
including the children and the children-in-law. The
family being • very large one, the scene was very touch-
ing and impressive, owing to the age and extreme
infirmity of the bereaved mother, and great sympathy
was felt for her owing to the knowledge of the fact that
she had often expressed sad fears for her daughter's
safety, and had had presentiments of her untimely end.
So great was her anxiety for her daughter's return, that it
Is stated she for a long time insisted on having a door left
open at night-time and a light burning, whilst she lay
wakeful on her bed, hoping against hope for her child s
had ill felt delude( at her
return. Mrs. Lane, in presenting the memorial. said she,
they Lunen her lose on
with all the family, had for a long time mourned the
aulacilteloynee,nadndwltitewrklyhth.eeyver.
earth, she hoped that her misfortunes were all passed over,
and she was borne 4P with the hone that she would meet
her in another and a better land. None but herself knew
how good her child was in her early day, tili she left home
and got entrammelled in the temptations of the world.
She Was always a dear child to her, awl her memory
would never be erased from her mind. Still, it was not
all sorrow, for it was a great consolation to her to see so
many of her children round her married and comfortable,
and she could only now have wished that Ilarriet was
with them too. The dreadful suspense, however, was
now all over. Bitter as it hail been, her prayers that she
might know what had become of her daughter had been
answered, and that knowledge even was better than the
dreadful suspense. Her heart-felt gratitode to Mr.
therefore, was very great. She herself felt that she
would not like to pass away from this world without
expressing to him u her warmest thanks for following the
remains of her poor unfortunate murdered child and thus
bringing the murder to light. (The poor old lady at this
point was so overcome with grief that she could scarcely
speak.] In continuing, she said in effect that she hoped
the world would not judge her child too harshly ; but that
all young people would take warning from her lite, and
when similarly tempted with the allurements of the world,
that they would never leave the love Of a mother's home
for the passing and (adios glitter of the bad and worthless.
Then, turning to Stokes, she said that she hoped he would
accept the hittuble memorial, and esteem It not so much
for it• intrinsic worth but because it expressed the
admiration and gratitude of the whole of the bereaved
family (for his courageous conduct, and also their thanks
for the unflinching manner he had acted to the end. Mr.
Stokes, in reply, said he hardly knew how to thank them
sufficiently. He should always Prise the memorial, and
hand it down to his children, with the strict injunction
that it should never go out of the family. He had had to
stand against a good deal of intimidation and persuasion
on the part of those who from some feeling or other
would, if possible, have prevented him from giving the
whole of his evidence. Ile, of course, could say a good
deal about the pressure that had been attempted in order
to prevent his evidence, but the law of libel prevented
him from saying • good deal that might be said, and which
perhaps the public ought to know. The whole of the
members having joined ill the tribute of respect, the
meeting soon after broke up.

A Msnoxesr Pascrics.—For the sake of extra profit
some unprincipled tradesmen. When asked for Excitirr's
PARIS BLUR IN SQUARES, substitute inferior kinds in the
same form. The Paris Blue. "As USED IN riic PRINCE
or WALES LAUNDRU," IA DOW so universally esteemed
for its splendid quality —above all other lanes—that it is
important to observe it is only genuine when sold in
squares, wrapped up in pink paper bearing I. Reckitt and
Bons' name and trade mark. Refuse all Blue which Is
not $o wrapped.

WHOLICSA L SPIRIT TRADE.—
CASH DUYERA OF LONDON GIN
Spirits and Cordials, can obtain close prices by saWreasing Mr
AMU BUM/01011, Cale-street Distillery,
Chelsea, LONDON. Established 1820.