New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-02
THE WHITECH4PEL MURDERS.

The Whitecbapel series of murders is with
out a parallel in atrOcty and bloOdthlrstlneSs.
Within a few weeks six women of the lowest
class nave been buchered in the streets Of
London between midnight ard dawn. The
method Of slaughter in every instance has been
the same the victims throat has been cut and
her body horribly mutilated; and the muir
derer, having done his work, nCiselesSiy and
by stealth has escaped observation. A seventh
murder of similar nature has been committed
near Newcastle, in the north of England. This
may have been a crime of imitation the pub
shed details Of the earlier atrocities having
stimulated morbid thirst for blood in some
half-crazed end a. distance from London.
The other six crimes are Enthusiastically the
work of one man. 1t may be surmised that
the first murder was not deliberately planned,
but was the result OF sudden outbreak Of
passion or frenzy. The facility with which the
police were banled probably tempted the muir
derer to repeat the crime in lodging house.
The third and fourth murders followed after
shorter intervals, one in blind alley and the
other in back yard. While the vampire 5
appetite for blood has increased with every
fresh butchery success in accomplishing his
fendsh purposes with deXterity and dispatch
and in Guiding pursuit and suspicion has en-
bodened him. The murders on Sunday morn
ing were committed in the open streets, only
n few minutes walk from great thoroughfarc.
The medical testimony indicates
certain degree of crude dexterity in dis
sections, the long knife with which the
throat is cut being apparently the only instru-
ment used The murderer may have had
surgical experience and medical education ;
but his work is done with such roughncSs and
haste as to leave no traces of professional skill
and TO suggest only the ravages of a beast OF
prey. He must be powerful man, physically
for the victim is helpless in his clutches, and
no outcries are ever heard He must also be
familiar with every alley and corner Of the
Wh,echapel district in order to escape so easily
with garments that must be spattcrcd with
blood. From the narrOwness OF the circle III
which his operations are conducted it may be
surmised that he lives IN The heart of that sec
ton. Whether sane or insane, he has sufficient
cunning to disarm suspicion when he meets his
victims, and to dispatch and mangle them SO
quickly as to render escape practicable 1t Is
probable that he derives keen satisfaction from
his success in battling the vigilance OF the pc
lice and in creating panic in the East End OF
London. The double crime on Sunday morn
ing may have been planned as master-stroko
of murderous enterprise in view Of the futile
close of the inquest and The helplessneSS Of the
police. Then again, the second murder may
have followed the first in consequence OF inter
rupton of the hideous process of dissection
The murderer may have considered the first
crime unsatisfactory, since he lacked time tc
complete the work of mutilaton His thirst
for blood may have impelled him to hunt down
a second victim before daylight, and to be more
thorough.
1t is simply amazing that so atrocious q
series of butcherics has escaped the observation
of the London police. The radius from tho
centre of the Whitechapel district where the
six mangled bodies have been found can be
measured in Broadway from Chambers t.
Canal st. 1t ought not to be impossible tC
have this district adequately patrolled at night
and thoroughly searched by day. II anything
can be more astonishing than the ineiiciency
Of the police in allowing two murders to take
place in a single night within a distance Of five
or six blocks, it Is the pusilanimous defence.
offered for the force by some of the London
Journals Here is The Spectator" for example
protesting that neither the Home Secretary. Sill
Charles Warren nor the detectives are rcspons-
ible for the failure to discover this criminal
since no conceivable number or organization
of the police-not even 10000 enrolled mcr
can enable them to protect every wrctched
outcaSt of London, and to prevent species oI
homicide that is AZ rare as an earthquake OF
a meteorite. There may be limits 10 the pos
sibilities OF police precautions and vigilance
but surely it is practicable to protect IN area
of London that is less than a mile in diameter
and to prevent the recurrence of such shocking
crimes A dispatch announces that several ar
rests have been made at last, but there is nc