New-York tribune., 1891-04-25
THE wHITECHAPEL MURDERS.
STORY OF THE CRIMES THAT MORTIFIED
LONDON AND BAFFLED THE POLICE.

STORY OF THE CRIMES THAT HoRR1F1ED
LONDON AND BAFFLED THE POLICE.
Shortly after the whitechape medico-maniac had
accomplished the thirteenth In his series OF muua
tons Inspector Byrnes referring to the SUBJECT eN
pressed the opinion that it would be Impossible ior
any one to commit such series Of crimes In this Guy
and escape detection. Now that such crime mas
actually been committed here, it remains TO be seen
how far the Inspectors positive expression OF con-
Adence in his detective force will be verified inc
police of London long ago gave up as hopeless al
efforts TO detect and capture Jack the RIPPER "heh
ever any fresh specimen of his handiwork was orouho
TO light they made the usual desultory inquiries
and then With a resigned sigh let the matter drop
The murderer IS too evidently madrnan, with all
madman,s cunning, supesh adroitness and fer
tility OF resource. In trying to find him or his mi-
tator as the may be, in this country, captain
Mclaughlin and the experienced detectives associated
with him are likely to have Of the most trying
experiences Of their lives.
The history of the reign of horror in London began
three wears and seven months ago, when, on dark
night in October 1887 the terribly acerated body OF
a woman was found lying in the passageway Of mar
row alley in the immediate neighborhood OF BISHOPS
gate-st East. The victim in that first case was
woman who had coached almost the last stage OF deera
dation No one of her associates knew her real name
and she had not friend in the world. Her body was
hurried underground, and the case was forgotten
within week.
Probably 1t would have been forgotten forever but
for Martha Turner, who, ten months later, on August
T. 1888 was found lying on the firsthoor landing OF
the George Yard Buildings, common lodginghouse
on the east side of Commercalst, Sptalelds George
Yard buildings Is usually filled with collection OF
the lowest vagrantS to be found in all London. The
woman had been murdered within two feet of a dozen
sleeDers Yet so quickly and silently had the murder
been accomplished that not sound had been heard.
Certain striking points Of similarity between the
first second of the murders now attracted the at
tention of the London police AS to one fact the
medical testimony was clear. In both cases the mur
derer had seized the victim from behind and cut her
throat with long, heavy stab from razor or sharp
knife the body covered with sabs the ntestines
had been laid bare with deep Jagged cut. and the
vscera bad been cut away and removed with perfect
surgical skill. Three weeks later Mary Ann Nichols
forty 1.-TWO years old, found lying In doorway in
Bucks Row, Whitechapel, with the characteristic
gaping throat wound and the mutlation Of the body
Here too was the astounding Circumstance that the
muator had carried the body nearly the distance Of
a block from the spot where the deed had been COM
mtted.
There were eight days OF panic and turbulent camor
on the part Of the public eight days Of blind STUN
bling the part of the police, and then Annie
Chapman lay bathed in blood In the rear
yard of No. 90 Hanbury-st, short thorough
fare running parallel with wMtechapel Road.
Now it was evident that the 1end madman had be-
gun to feel his power. This murder had been COM
| mited in the sunlight OF an autumn morning and in
spirit of irony, the murderer had chalked Immediately
over the head of the corpse the words Fifteen before
1 surrender" Here, too, the police were aided by
minute description Of the man in whose company An
ME Chapman had been Just before her DEATH but
after two weeks search they were no nearer dis
cOvery OF the murderer than they had been at starting
The description given of Annie Chapmans murderer
tailed in all respects with that given of the man who
Yesterday morning mutllated Shakespeare" in the
Fourth Ward lOdging-house.
On September 3d. 1883, the sleepy inhabitants of the
quiet little town of Gatesheadon-Tyne became sud
denly aware that the murderer had changed
the scene of his operations. In a doorway lay
another friendleSs creature whose body bore
/ the imprint of his handiworl. Elizabeth Stride,
better known as "Happy, Lip Annie Annie. found II,S
merely cut throat, fear of discovery having forced
her destroyer to spare her body the touch OF be T
corpse a laborer going to his early morning work
nearly fell over the body of EzaDeth Beddowes, tne
Odgate. In this case however, the murderer had had
time to finish his work
the badly dccomposed and acInted body OF woman woman
from heap Of rubbish on the site Of Colonel Mapies9%ns %
medical experts able TO say positively that TINS
victim had actually been fourth on the G list dhere
the morning Of Friday Novemberp ., Lizzie Fisher alias
collier was found in her room in Mer's Court
Dorsetst, spltalfelds, with the parts Of her body
strewn about the floor. -,
q few months rest Then, June 4, 1889, Elizabeth
Jacksons body covered with the marks OF the knlie
/ was fonnd i'm the Thames. On July II Alice MckenNc
wss found dead In Castle Alley Whltechapc and her
body bore every evidence Of his peculiar expertneSs
! In the use of the knife. On December %, 15eO
Maud Metts b6:y hacked to pieces was found IN
given over 10 sailors and their families. In this in
Stance however the woman had been first Stranded;
other abandoned women have been discovered III VA
rous parts London, and in each case the police have
heen able more less directly 10 trace the bold hand
/ OF the Ripper They succeeded In doing nothing
/ else however, and 1t seems possible that the
| murderer has crossed the Atlantic.