The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-04-25
AFTER MANY LONG DAYS
Identity of Jack the Ripper Said to Be
Established
A London Physician Accused of Atrocious
Crimes-Statement Made by London
Physician of Prominence

SAN FRANCISCO, April 24.-Dr. G..
Howard. London physician of consid-
cradle note was the guest of William
Greer Harrison at the Bohemian club re-
Gently. The Engllshman told singular
story to his host and vouched for its cor
rectness in every particular. 1t related to
the mystery of Jack the Ripper, which
the physician declared was no longer a
mystery among the scientific men OF Lon
don or the detectives of Scotland Yard.
He said this assassin was medical man
of high standing and practice. He was
married to beautiful and amiable wife
and had family. Shortly before the
beginning of the Whitechapel murders he
developed a peculiar and, to his wife. an
inexplcable mania-an unnatural pleas
ure in causing pain. She grew so alarmed
that she became afraid of him and locked
herself and children up when she saw
the mood coming over him. When he
recovered from the paroXysms and she
spoke to him about it he laughed at her
fears. Then the Whitechapel murders
filled London with horror The suspicion
of the wife was aroused and as one assas-
sination succeeded the other she noted
with heartbreaking dread that at the per-
iods when these murders we're supposed
to have been committed her husba nd
was invariably absent from home. At
last the suspense and fear of the wife he
came upbearable and she went to a few
of her husbands medical friends. stated
the case and asked their advice and as
sstance. They called the Scotland Yard
force to assist them, and by adding one
fact to another the chain of evidence
pointing to the doctor as the author of
the murders became complete. The ply
sicians visited the murderer and told
him they wished to consult him about a
in detail. and asked him what should be
done under the circumstances. He re-
piled that while the unmistakable insan-
ity of the person who could commit THESE
crimes would save him from the halter.
he should certainly be confined in an i'll
sane asylum. Then they told him tina
he himself was the maniac who had donet
possibility of the accusation, but con-
fessed that of late years there were gaps
in the hours of which he had no positive
recollection. He said he had awakened
in his rooms as from a stupor. and found
mud upon his boots and stains of blood
upon his hands. He had also scratches
upon his face, and his amputating knives
had shown signs IF use, though he could
not recall having assisted at any opera.
ton. The doctors then assured him that
there could be no doubt of his identity
with the Whitechapel assassin. They
made an exhaustive search of the house.
led by the accused. found ample proofs OF
murder. and the unhappy man whose
mind at that moment was in its normal
condition, begged to be removed from the
world as guilty and dangerous monster.
The necessary papers were made out and
the irresponsible murderer was commit
ted to an insane asylum. In month OF
so he lost all semblance of sanity and is
now the most intractable and dangerous
mailman confined in that institution.