The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-08

LONDON, Aug. =. ISpociall-NIuch
excitement was accustomed in the White
chapel district this morning when the
rumor was rapidly passed from mouth
TO mouth that the dreaded Jack the
Ripper had again appeared and COM
United onn Of the butcheries that have
MADE his name n household word in
this most unfavorable portion of Lon
don.
AT an early hour this morning as one
Oh the denizens of White Chapel, an old
woman named Woolfe, was passing
through one of the numerous dark al
ieys' with which the region abounds.
she was set upon by an unknown man
armed with a sharp knife.
The place where the assault was mazda
was dark and dismal one, aud as tho
hour was early the usual providers had
sought refuge in the doorways or undcr
the arches, where they lay in drunken
stupors. AS rows are at nirht almost
hourly occurrences in White Chapel, no
attention was paid, if, indeed, any noise
was heard, to what was, of course, taken
for one of tho usual drunken scutfles.
But for the old woman it was scutile
for life. From what can be learned of
the circumstances surrounding the at
tack, 1t appears that a man, whom the
people of Whitcchapel are firmly CON
vinced was the famous Ripper" used
his knife with fiendish fcroclty. He
grasped the woman by the head, and,
drawing her backward, with ono hand
across her mouth silenced the cries she
would naturally have tried to make.
while with the other hand he drew n
kcen-bladcd knife across her tightly
drawn throat, nhicting terrible
wound. Then using the knife as a dag
ger. he plunged it into her body again
and again.
There is a deep wound on the womau's
arm which it is believed was received
while She was attempting to ward off
tho ferocious blows aimed at her BODY.
When released from the grasp Of her as
sailant the woman dropped to the ground
with the blood flowing from her wounds.
Shortly afterwards she was discovered
by Il passing policeman. She was un-
conscious and I'm dying condition. She
is 20 years old. The police are as usual
hunting for some clue that will lead to
the identification of the murderer, as in
all the other White Chapel crimes tho
assassin has disappeared, leaving no
trace save his mutilated victim.
The woman was taken to the hospitaI
and after Il time recovered sufficiently
TO tell of tho attack made upon her.
She Is German. and, u:lke the other
women murdered aud matilated in
White Chapel, she was not in the
company OF the man who attacked her,
but was passing along the street, when,
without warning, the assassin spranc
upon her. She saw the glitter of the
appraised steel blade, but WAS unable to
escape from the grasp of her assailant
She raised her arm TO defend her throat
from sweeping blow aimed at 1t. 1t
was through this movement that tho
wound in her arm was received When
her assailant released her from his
grasp she fell upon the door step.
Despite her serrible injuries she still
retained possession of her senses and
though the wound in her throat was
pieoding protusely she was able TO
artlculate the weapon not having
reached the wind pipe Several persons
passed while She was lying on the door
steps and though they cndcavored to
ascertain what the trouble was. she
could not speak English sufficiently we'll
enough to make them understand that
an attempt had beer made to murder
her.
1t is understood that the police found
a razor covered with blood near the
scene of the crime. The wound in the
womans throat could have been caused
by razor. as could also the deep cut in
her arm, but from the nature of the
other wounds it is believed that they
were caused by either knife or dagger,
as they appear to be stab wounds, and
not such as would be made with a razor.
One man has been taken into custody
on suspicion of being the assassin, but
the evidence against him is very weak.
NO Importance is attached to the arrest.
n Bank Receiver Appointed.