The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-20

London, Dec 19.-Although the StaEocS
Assixes have found George Edalji, tn
young Birmingham lawyer and son Of
clergyman guilty Of the amazing series o
t2RippeR attacks on domestic animals tina
Fsye kept all the country district OF Can
mock in . state OF terror for the last nins
mathis, the mystery as to why these hid
com and apparently purposeless crimes
were committed is as deep rs ever.
hen sentenced to seven years penal
eefyitude EdalT stoutly protested his IN
nocencs and there seem TO be many per
sons who believe him
As for the folk in the neighborhooi o!
Great Yyrley, the immediate scene of the
outraFes. they stin are living in q state OF
Since the supposed author of the crimes
was Imprisoned another animal has been
Is remembered with alarm that in letter,
supposedly emanating from the Ripper "
II was declared that he expected to turn
his attention to human beings before long.
Ten animals have been slaughtered IN
various parts OF the Cannock district-two
sheep. COW and seven horses. all but one
OF the latter valuable beasts.
All OF the animals were found dead In
their pastures in the morning, and all
seemed to have been disemboweled with
one stroke Of some sharp weapon-perhaps
One Of the horses killed. which belonged
70 farmer named Roberts. was fearfuliy
tuutllaIeQ.
The blood tracks in the mud made 1t
clear that the brute had rushed abou, in a
state OF frenzy before he died. and a
neighbor OF Roberts's, who was awake at
awful groans. followed by an unearthly
scream. which he now believes must have
been uttered by the horse.
These crimes took place about once
month. generally just after a full moon.
and as one Of them followed another the
whole district became terrified
MAEIINGS CONTINUED.
Policemen in plain clothes we're in am
bush everywhere. but the mysterious
maimings continued almost under their
noses. and as no one knew when the as
sasstn or assasstns might attack human
daily.
Almost no one dared venture OH, at
night. and Great Wyrley got TO be known
as THE Village of Fears
There was only one touch Of what would
be called comic relief
One night when the reign of terror
was at its height. the number of police
men abroad in the fields numbered over
seventy.
Suddenly there came UP one of the most
severe rain and thunder storms that have
occurred in the district in many years,
and naturally the constables made for the
doors of the nearest cottages and knocked
for admittance. but they knocked in
vain. for the timed farmer folk within
preferred to sit tight. not knowing but
The animal murderer himself might be at
their doors.
1t was in the latter part OF August that
matters al last came to a climax with the
sensational arrest of George Edalji. only
son of local clergyman Of high standing,
on the charge of having been responsible
for the deaths OF the various slaughtered
animals-
Twenty-eight years old and hitherto of
good repute, EdalJ has been carrying on
business as lawyer in Birmingham four
years. and he is the author of a book
on railway law.
He always has been looked upon as
uncommonly studious. The Reverend
ShaEwiU Edalji vicar of Great Wyrley
father OF the accused-is a Parsee but
Edaljfs mother is an Engishwoman.