The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-09-12
Concerning the Last Murder in
Whitechapel.
THE DEED WAS DONE SATURDAY.
The Story of Man Who Told the Whole
Affair to The N. Y. Herald Before
The Discovery Tuesday.
Especial to the HERA1D-Examiner Dispatch. !

idllOu were TepOrIeu 10 De, anu indeed
proved, more horrible than any one of the
eight cases preceding it. A quick and close
review of the facts by the police depart
ment led to the conclusion late yesterday
afternoon that the remains found did not
represent Jack the Ripper's handiwork and
this may or may not be true.
There is a very extraordinary feature,
however, in this case, which has been
lacking in all others; that it is extraordi-
nary no one will doubt who reads brief
story Of last Saturday, as detailed below
If the woman found in the archway was
the victim of Jack the Ripper, it is posi-
lively sure either that the murderer was
seen by many people, or that another man
who knew of the murder and all its circum-
stances, so long ago as last Saturday night,
is abroad and can be found if the police are
clever enough On the other hand, last
Saturday nights event indicates to some
extent that the body found yesterday, be it
that of a murdered woman or a body from
the dlssecting room, was in the hands of
more than one man who knew all about it.
because on last Saturday night a man be-
trayed the whole affair. The circumstances
are as follows and will be verified in every
particular by an affidavit should the police
department desire.
Last Sunday morning at five minutes
to l o'clock a young man called at the
Herald office and reported that there was
another Jack the Ripper murder. He was
sent up to the editorial rooms and inter
viewed by the night editor. He said that
mutilated body had been found in Back
church lane in Whitechapel He said it
had been found by policeman at II 30
o'clock.
A map of London was Immediately
studied by two reporters in order to locate
Backchurch lane, while another cross
questioned the man. He said it had been
told to him by an acquaintance of his, a
police inspector, whom he had met in
Whitechapel, High street He said that
there was no doubt about it and that he had
hurried to the Herald Office understanding
that he would be rewarded for the news.
He said that his name was John Cleary and
that he lived at No. 26 White Horse yard,
Drury lane. He was asked to write his
name and address and did so, the writing
being preserved. His information was ex-
plicit and seemingly authentic, and
two reporters were detailed TO take the
man with them and 90 and get the story.
The two reporters went out and one of
them stopped on the landing of the stairway
in going down and asked the man some
more questions. Under this examination
he varied slightly, saying that the man who
had told him was not police Inspector
but an ex-member of the police force This
statement has, perhaps, some significance
to all who have been following the murders
closely. He then went down to the street
with the reporters. They called hanson
aud told the man to get in with them but
he first hesitated and then refused. His
excuse was that it was too far from his
home. They urged him to go, but he was
firm. One of them proposed to. take him
back up stairs, in order to have him near
at hand if necessary, but the necessity OF
an immediate departure compelled them to
start and leave the man TO go his own way.
He was assured that if the news proved
authentic he would be handsomely re-
warded, and he went away apparently
contented with the arrangement.
The reporters drove rapidly to Back
church lane and found it without difficulty
They made thorough search of the neigh
borhood. They went down as far as the
archway where the body was discovered
yesterday morning, but found all quiet, and
did not discover trace of any murder.
They met police inspector and constable.
They questioned that body and told them
the report they had heard, and these two
officers can confirm this inquire. They had
heard nothing, however. The reporters
again went over the ground, but found
nothing. They then returned and reported
the facts. 1t is certainty that on Sunday
morning a murdered and mutilated body
was reported as having been found in
Backchurch lane. and that exactly such q
body was found there yesterday morning.
The matter was passed oyeras uniInportant
on Sunday and Monday, but the moment the
body was found yesterday, the events Of
Sunday morning looked up with significance
rather colossal, and hunt began for John
Cleary, of No. 20 White Horse yard, Drury
lane. John Cleary, however, was not
known at No. 26 or anywhere else in White
Horse yard, Drury lane.
The house is four story one. The
street floor is vacant, the first and second
floors are occupied by families and the top
floor by a widow with two children. The
widow was confident that no young man by
the name of John Cleary either lived in the
house or had ever lived there. The people
in every house in White Yard were ques
toned under circumstances which disposed
them to tell all they knew, but nobody had
ever heard the name of John Cleary and
everybody said that no man of that name
could have lived there without their know
ing it, which was true.
1t became evident therefore that the man
had given a false address and in all prob
ability false name, as such a precautiOn
in the matter of residence would scarcely
have been taken and precaution as to the
name neglected. Cleary's description, how
ever, had been carefully taken. He looked
twenty eight years of age; he was short,
his height being about five feet four
inches; he was of medium build and
weighed about one hundred and forty
pounds; he was light complexioned, had
small fair mustache and blue eyes On
his left cheek was an inflamed spot
which looked as if boil had
lately been there and was healing.
He wore a dark coat and waistcoat; his
shirt was not seen, the space at the throat
being covered by dirty white handker-
chief tied about his neck His trousers
were of dark velveteen, so soiled at the
knees as to indicate that he BACKED shoes;
his hat was a round black stiff felt, and he
walked with a shuttle and shake in the
usual fashion of developing citizens of
Whitechapel, whom in all respects he re-
sembled. 1t is almost certain that there
was an intention on the part of the party or
parties who had the body in keeping to
place it where it was found in Backchurch
lane last Saturday night. If coincident be
of value it might be noted that that this
was not an ordinary street murder.
1t is beyond doubt that "Cleary" got
wind of the scheme if he was not one OF
the principals. That the original intention
was not carried out would indicate that he
was an outsider acquainted with the pro-
iect who hoped to profit by it. There is no
reason to doubt that the body was not
found by the police until yesterday morn
ing, and that it was placed there a short
time before seems reasonably sure: New
ertheless John Clearly" whoever he may