Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-18
Is THIS THE FIEND ?
STRANGE STORY from PARIS OF JACK
THE RIPpER's" csUHrBRPART.
The Assassin Of Eight Womsn-Revoiting
Crimes Committed by Re
ligious Fanatic.

wa. the statement that few days ago
murder had taken place on the same
spot under similar circumstances Whlcn
had caused great excitement among the
lower classes OF the population.
Involuntary this newspaper notice
brought my thoughts back to the time
of nv stay IN Paris years ago. AT that
time a series of most atroclous murders
had filled All Paris with horror and ndlg-
nation and spurred the Partisan ponce
On 10 feyerish activity. The fiendish
deeds had an astonishing similarity TO
the brutal murder. the account OF when
I had lust read. The horrid mutilatlon
of the body in all cases was the same. L
soon forgot that fearful coincidence ana
would not have thought Of it more had
not some time afterward, the news OF
another horrible Whitechapel murder
attracted my attention.
FEARFUL "REMINISCENCES.
Then. again. those fearful reminis-
cences came with force to my mind,
and remembered all the circumstances
as they were impressed upon it fifteen
years before. My memory did not re-
tain the name OF the murderer. who
afterward. not through the ability OF
the police, but more through an acct
dent. hal been brought to trial but |
remember that the murderer did not
nav with his life for the fendish deed,
and the possibility that the same man
had now regained his liberty shot into
my head. =, ,
Was the same man who was called
o1upctr des ames perd'ts tSaver OF
Lost Souls) then by the people still nv
ing and at liberty? The conclusion was
terribly logical that he has begun his
bloody activity now on the other aide of
the channel. so the first thing | wanted
toknow was whether this man had regain
ed his liberty. In my inquiries | found
out that his name was Nicholaus Was
slyi, and that the unfortunate had left
the Russian city of Tiraspo, in the De-
partment OF Chersan. where he had
been imprisoned up to the lst OF January
OF this year.
SAVER or lost SOULS.
This does not. however, yet prove
the identity OF the N0DreVr DIS dD'es
perdus with the voman-klller Of
Whitechapel, but it is perhaps a clue
which will awaken interest the world
over. The following facts are gathered
from diligent researches from acts Of the
Pulais de Justice in Paris and from the
private lunatic asylum in Bayoune In
the wear 1872 there wac movement In
I - 4 g nat
some sectGrians, which caused good
deal OF e1citemeut Some OF the peo-
pie who were menaced because OF their
religion fled from the country. Most OF
/ them were peasants who, without many
panes. couli take leave Of their homes,
where suffering stared them in the face
on all sides.
Nicholaus Wassilvi only left a good
home. His parents were quite wealthy.
They had had him we'll educated, and
had even sent him TO the college at
Odessa. But NichoIaus was fanatic
sectarian. aud be soon assumed tho role
Of leader among them. The chief belief
OF his sect was the renuucation OF all
e4rthly Joys in order TO secure immortal
hfe In Paradise after death. Members
Of the sect. whether male or female,
W re strictly forbidden having anything
to do with the opposite sex.
TEARS sHED BY USTORTUNATE5.
Wassilyi fed to Paris. lie was m ex-
ccllent type OF Russian. He had a
tall, elastic figure, a regular manly ply
/ siocuomy, with burning, langulshlng
ewes, and with a pale, waKen-hke com
ploxion. lie soon avoided all contact
with his countrymen. lie took up a
/ small lodging in tho Quarter Mouffe-
tard. where ali the poor and miserable
/ OF Pans i've. Hero he soon became a
/ riddle to ms neighbors. he used to
stay all day long in his room studying
come large books. AT nightfall no went
out aud wandered simleosly through
/ the streets until tne morning dswncd.
/ ne WAS often seen talking with aban-
| doned women in the street aud it soon
/ became known that he followed q secret
mission in dong 40. That is why the
voice Of the people called him Sau0eUr
/ dgs QWcs D@rdip.
FIRST he tried mild persuasion in speak
/ ing 10 the poor, fallen creatures. by
/ the light Of tho street-lanterns he lee
tured theul, telling them to return to the
path OF virtue and give up their life OF
/ shame. When mere worls had TO effect
ne went so far as TO put premiums on
virtue. and gave large sums to the CO.
/ cottes on condition that they commenced
/ a new life. Some OF the women were
really touched by his earnestness and
/ promised 10 follow his advice. He could
| often be seen on the street-corners
preaching to geudy nymphs, who bit
teriy she'd tears. But his mission did
not seem 10 be- crowned with success
lie often met girls who had taken holy
oath that they would sin no more again
/ on the street.
WHEN THE CHANGE BEGAN.
Then there was a change. He would
apuroach a woman, speak TO her IN a
kindly way, and would follow her home.
/ Then, when alone with The helpless crea-
/ ture, he would take ont butcher-knife,
/ kneel on her PROSTATE body, and force
f Ler to take a holy oath not to solicit
again. he seemed TO believe in these
forced Oaths, and always went away
seemingly happy. One evening the
/ Err0e W dcs UHes perdus, as usual,
left his home. In the Rue de hichelieu
he met n young woman. Not with that
impairment smile which leaves nobody
in douut about her vocation, but in de.
cent way she crossed his path. She had
an elfike, elegant figure and beautiful
blue eyes.
Wassilyi was armed against the glancea
of women but this girls look seemed TO
make a deep Impression on him. He
spoke TO her-she was lost one, too
but not with brutal force. With kind
sympathy he touched her so deeply that
she told him the whole story Of her life,
the story Of poor, parentless girl whom
a rough fate had torn from happiness
and spendor into a world OF misery
I and shame Wassilyi for the first