San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-04-24
A WINDY STORY
OF THE wHITB-OHAPBL MURDER.
Ali the Way From California by As
soclated Press.

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, April 24.-
DIR. Howard, a London physician
Of considerable prominence, was a
guest Of VIM. Greer Harrison at
the Bohemian club recently. The
Englishman told a singular story
to his host, and vouched for its
correctness in every particular. It
related the mystery OF Jack the
Ripper" which the physician de-
clared was no longer a mystery to
scientific men in London,nor to the
detectives of Scotland Yard. He
said the assassin was medical
man of high standing and extern
sive practice. He was married to a
beautiful and amiable woman and
had family. Shortly before begin
ming the Whitechapel murders he
developeda peculiar mania for I'M
natural pleasure in causing pain.
His wife grew so alarmed that she
became afraid Of him and locked
herself and children up when
she saw the mood come over him.
Then the White Chapel murders
filled London with horror. Suspi-
cions Of the wife were aroused, and,
as one assassination succeeded an
other,she noted with heart breaking
dread that at periods when these
murders were supposed to have
been committed, her husband was
invariably absent from home. At
last the suspense and fear of
the wretched wife became I'M
bearable and she went to her
husbands medical friends, stat
ed the case and asked their
advice and assistance. They
called the Scotland Yards force to
assist them, and by adding one
fact to another the chain of evil
dence pointing to the doctor as the
! author of the murders became
complete. Several physicians visit
ed the murderer and told him that
he himself was the man who had
| done these fearful acts. He declared
the impossibility of the accusation,
but confessed that of late years,
there were gaps OF twenty
four hours Of which he posi-
lively had no recollection. He
said he had awakened in his rooms
as if from stupor, and found blood
| upon his boots and stains OF blood
| upon his hands. He had also
scratches upon his face and his am
putating knives had shown signs
OF use, though he could not recall
having assisted at any operation.
These doctors then assured him
there could be no doubt Of his
identity with the White Chapel as
sassin. They made an extensive
search of the house, led by the
accused, and found ample proof Of
the murders, and the unhappy
man whose mind at that moment
was in its normally clear condi-
ton, begged to be removed from
the world as guilty and danger
Gus monster. The necessary papers
were made out and the irrespon-
sible murderer committed to the
insane asylum. In month or so
he lost all semblance of sanity and
is now the most intractable and
dangerous mailman confined in the
institution.
Greer Harrison, the manager Of
the Thames and Mersey Marine
Insurance company, playwright
and clubman, was seen today re.
garding the dispatch connecting a
prominent London physician,
whose name is given, with the
slack the Ripper" murders several
years ago. Harrison stated the dis
patch is entirely correct in every
particular, so far as the matter
reaching him through Doctor How
ard, a we'll known London physi-
clan, who passed through San
Francisco on a tour OF the world
several months ago, and while he
was here he, (Harrison), met How
ard at the Bohemian club and the
latter told him the remarkable
story and vouched for its authen.
finitU