The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-18
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
A POLICEMAN CATCHES Elm GUT
TING a MANS THROAT.

he Comic sses His Identity end the
Murder of Lawyer Carson-Later on
He Repudiates the Latter Admission.
He Proves to be an Englishman of
Good Family.
NEW YORK Jan. I7.-"Jack the Slasher ~
the mysterious Individual who since Dec.
90 has roamed about the lower section Of
the city at night cutting the throats Of
drunken men with his ready razor, has been
captured. The prisoner is Henry G. Dowd,
an Englishman born In Liverpool, and who
came to this country whom a boy. Dowd
was arrested between 2 and o'clock this
morning. He has been confronted by John
Clark Of Elizabeth, N. j., whose throat was
cut on Jan. 9 and positively identified
by him as his assaiIant. Dowd then con-
fessed, admitting also sthat he murdered
John Carson, the Baltimore lawyer who was
found on the street last Thursday with his
throat cut from ear to ear. Then he re-
tracted this and doggedly refused to talk.
The prisoner is now In q cell at police head
quarters.
WATCH OF THE OFFICERS.
The attention of the police was called to
the operations of the slasher when John
Heflin had his throat cut on Dec 90. Thea
followed the cases Of Louis Lawson. John
Clark Of Elizabeth, n. j., George Williams
and Edward Christianson, Swede. All Of
these were under like circumstances. Then
came the Carson murder. Inspector Byrnes
was thoroughly aroused. Twenty OF his
most experienced detectives and twenty
more regular policemen in citiz ems dress
have kept sharp watch In the downtown
section Of the city, where the slasher's
operations were confined.
THE CUT-THRoAT SPOTTED.
Policeman Mastsrson was standing in
plain clothing on the corner Of New Cham
bers and Roosevelt streets shortly after 3
O'Clock when he saw a strange man ep-
proach him from the opposite side of the
street. The man had q handkerchief tied
around his head, partially concealing his
features. He came CLOSE 10 the policeman.
peered into his face, evidently to ascertain
whether he was intoxicated, and walked
away. The policeman followed
unseen. The man walked up one street and
down another. When the man stopped the
policeman halted. In a few minutes the
policeman saw a drunken man approaching.
The man he was watching saw the drunken
man at the same time. and walked toward
him. The pair exchanged few words and
moved of together, followed by the police
man.
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
Near James street the policeman saw the
stranger raise his arm, grab the drunken
man by the neck and in a moment after saw
the drunken man sink TO the sidewalk with
out a word. The stranger darted away
with the policeman in hot pursuit. The
latter was joined by other officers and the
fellow run down. He at first showed fight,
but tap on the head with club subdued
him. In the mans hand was razor COW
cred with blood.
DOWD OF A GOOD FAMILY.
The prisoner comes of good family. His
mothers sister married Samuel N. Hoyt, a
brother of the late Jesse Hoyt q million
aire, whose will was stubbornly contested
by his daughter, Mary Irene Hoyt. About
fifteen years ago Dowd was placed in the
Flatbush Asylum for the Insane, but he es-
capped. Perhaps the strongest piece of evi-
dence against the slasher connecting him
with Carson's murder is the razor. The
coroner testified that Carson was murdered
with ragged-edged knife or
razor. Dowd's razor was found to be
"nicked" here and there along the edges.
But there is still another remarkable piece
of evidence against Dowd. When his coat
and vest were removed blood stains were
found on bis shirt These stains were not
new and fresh and could not have been
blood from his victim this morning.