Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-11-21
THE wE1TEcHAPEL MYSTERY.


the popular outcry that drove Sir Charles
Warren to resign the headship of the
London police, because of the non-discov-
cry Of the Whitechapel murderer. 1t was
set up against him that he introduced too
much Of military system into the Police
Department and Thus withdrew the officers
from the people. But Just what this has
to do with the atrocious murders in the
Whitechapel district all London is now
asking itself.
Nearly half year ago the murder of
the fallen women began, and ever since the
best detective talent in England has been
applied to a solution of the mystery, with
out reaching any definite conclusion. The
large rewards offered for the discovery of
the murderer seem to have had no effect.
The officers could not redouble their vigi-
lance, for they were as quick to the neces-
sity Of unearthing the criminal as was pos
sible. General Warren says he has re-
ceived in the half year l, 400 letters on the
subject, the most Of which contained val
liable suggestions, and upon all which the
detectives and the police acted without
gaining any ground. The Chief has de-
voted his time and skill to the matter to
the neglect Of almost all other business,
leaving the discharge of the latter to sub
ordinates; he consulted German, French
and American detectives; he worked out
the theories of the press, the ministry, and
of his own officers, but all without gain:
the murders are as much mystery to day
as ever. Yet General Warren was COM
PEELED to resign for not doing more, for not
doing that, indeed, which battles the de-
tective skill of the world.
1t is popularity of the English system
that demands sacrifice for official failure
no matter how sound the explanation in
response to the charge may be. 1t is true
that the murders are of character
that would seem must leave clues to the
identity of the perpetrator. He kills in
the most brutal manner He does not seek
his victims in dark corners. nor wayIav
them in the labyrinth of narrow. crooked
and interminably interlacing streets, alleys
and courts of Whitechapel. On the con-
trary, he goes into their houses, and with the
lights burning and with no apparent care as
tosecrecy taken, kills the women and caryes
up their bodies. His work is SO bloody
that he must be covered with the crimson
evidences of the brutal dissection, yet he
leaves no stained clothing behind him to
point in his direction no man is found
upon the streets with blood-stained hands
or garments.
Whence comes and whittier goes this
strange being who appears to have settled
upon the determination of the loose women
of Whitechapel? How is it that with such
awful work in hand he completely battles
the police of the greatest city of the world
and the detectives of four nations? Here
is detachment of 1000 men watching
small district of large city, searching all
its houses, night and day, stopping all per-
sons upon the streets every few feet and
examining their clothing, and yet in the
midst of ali this vigilance the assassin
walks through the highways of White
chapel, selects his victim, kills her, carves
her body in pieces, smears the walls and
furniture of her rooms with her blood. dis
sects the remains in a manner that must
take hours to accomplish, cleans and takes
his weapons away with him, and walks out
again and through the streets without de-
lection or leaving any clue to his identity.
In its anger over its apparent helplessness
to discover the fend, the city visits its rage
upon General Warren, and compels him to
resign at the very time of all Others when
no change should be made. London. in
short has done a foolish thing-condemned
worthy man as ineficient-and now its
press is busy explaining and apologizing
for the action, for London is ashamed of
its haste.
IT is now full time for the gentlemen 70