Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-18
CAUGHT "JACK THE sLAsHER."
A N ysterious Fiend Who Has Been Initial
ing "The Ripper Of London.


Jack the slasher," that mysterious individ
ual who since December 20 last has amused
himself by cutting the threats Of drunken mer
in New York with q razor, and has been thu
terror Of night travellers in the fourth ward
was captured at an early hour yesterday morn
ing in that city red handed. He inveigled hi
victim, q drunken man. to an unfrequentec
street. and then. catching the man around the
neck with one hand, with the other he drew 8
keen razor across his throat He then siunl
away but an officer who had boon watching him
for some time and who had been unable &c
come up in time to save the drunken man from
injury gave pursuit and with the aid OF other
officers soon captured the slasher.
| Inspector Byrnes has no doubt that he has
the RICH. man, at whose door also is laid the
death of John Carson. the Baltimore ex-lawyer,
and the dangerous wounding OF nvo other nien.
The prisoners name is Henry G.. Dowd. He is
well connected SO far az his family is concerned,
but his habits have long made him = social out
cast and for two years at least lie has had no
| otbe homo than the cheap lodging houses on
| the Bowery afford He 10 about forty-three
| years old and il believed to be insane.
| Dowds seventh victim Is man named VIM.
Miller forty-tive years old, of No. 43S West Sd
street. who was walking along James street in
a drunken condition. His throat was badly
cut and he was taken to the hospita'.
| Dowd was arraigned yesterday in police
! court and was from there remanded to the care
/ of Inspector Byrnes.
Inspector Byrnes guve the following list Of
victims OF the man who had been dubbed by
the police Jack the Slasher." because of
the peculiar methods pursued by tho criminal:
john +. Helm Of No. 3lS East 18th street, cut by
some person unknown the night of Deem
Der 70 last. lThis was the first case.J Louis
Lawson OF No. Albany street, throat cut on
january .. John Clark of Elizabeth, n. j..
throat cut on January 0. George Williams of
Brooklyn, throat slashed on january IL. Ed
ward Christensen, y Swede throat sashed on
January H. John Carson, throat cut from ear
TO ear, found dead, january Is.
THE sLAsnEk's TRACK.
All these crimes happening in the same
locality, with the victims all being cut in the
same place. led the police to believe that
ono man, evidently insane, was their author,
and they accordingly looked Whereabouts 20 run
down the midnight assassin. Two score OF
detectives. under the personal supervision Of
inspector Byrnes, were.placed about the in
Tested district with orders to keep strict watch
and 20 follow any and all suspected persons.
Shortly after O'Clock yesterday morning
one OF these officers, Detective Master son. was
standing ON the corner of New Chambers and
Roosevelt streets, when he saw a strange man np-
Proach him from the opposite side OF the street.
The stranger had handkerchief tied around
his head, which partially concealed his features.
The man came close to the officer, peercd NJ the
iatters face. evidently to ascertain if he was
drunk, ana then walked away. The ohlcer FOL
io"eu III respectful distance. Inc man
haunted an inc lonely thoroughtares. ana when
d DEBATED traveller approached scanned MN
closely. he finally stood i'll a dark doorway at
the corner of Roosevelt and Oak streets, while
the officer concealed himself little surther
uo"h Tue srett. soon man, VINO. from ms
s'h8herihS conIitloil," was evidently intoxicated,
came alohS. lne stranger IN the doorway I'M
meItatGiF Joined the drunken II. and. after
moments conversation, the Two walked on
together. with the ofhcer, as before, following
some distance behind The stranger led the
ineprlateu man through several streets ana
nnaily into James, which appeared to be de-
sefteu.
III 'front.' OF this street the PAIR stopped and
the oihcer darted into doorway. He WAS not a
moment too soon, for the stranger gave furtive
Chances up anu down the street, ami then. think
Ing lie was alone with his victim, put ono arm
around the drunken man s neck and with the
other he drew razor across his throat. The
drunken man dropped to the sidewalk without
struggle, while the assassin darted away.
AFTER THE ASSASSIN.
The officer by this time was in close pursuit
IA . Eol H. ruao, OH,
~ 0 A'Ao O'' oii'o
were sionaieu Oh the way, anu All TOOK par IN the
pursuit, with the result that at the corner of
James and New Chambers streets they captured
| their man. The man struggled some, but a
| tap from an officers long night stick put an
end to his resistance. When caught the pris-
oner lad one hand III his oyercoat pocket, and
IN this hand he held razor covered with blood.
The prisoner was taken to the Oak street
| police station, which Inspector Byres had made
his headquarters during the night In the
meantime an ambulance had been called and
| the wouhaed man was transferred to the hos
pital. lie had an ugly wound In his throut and
was In seInlconscious condition, but lac man.
aged TO give his name and address AT the sta
| ton the prisoner was closely questioned by the
inspector. lie told very little and this little
was conflictlng. lie at frst admitted the cut
ung which lie SAID he did In seii-defenSe, but
| afterward he contradicted this and SAID he knew
nothing OF the affair and that he did not 90 the
cutting. lie was then locked up Tor the night.
| Af'er MS preliminary examination III the
ponce court Dowd, the name gwen by the
s!asher, was takent the Bellevue Hospital, where
Ciafx, the man VINO was cut on january - Is
being treated for the Injuries inflicted by the
slasher. Clark positively Identified Dowd as
the man who had assaulted HIM The prisoner
was then conveyed to police headquarters.
where lie made confession OF his crimes or
some OF them. He said that the impulse to kill
| under some circumstances was uncomfortable.
| He said that he wanted TO Kali all the Dutch
| Inen. for whom he was seeking all the time.
| The reason for this was that a German had
| once ravlshsd his mother at her home IN Brook
| Ign. The face Of the rav;sher had haunted him,
and when he saw man who looked like the
| one he Was pursuing he tried to kill him.
1 nv Al Carson. a nj a Ter