Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1890-10-18 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

THE JACK THE RIPPER SCAM.  A STRANGE STORY. Mr. Albert Ilackert, the chairman of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee (the members of which aye totally unknown), has sent the following story to the Press for publication: "In connection with the late Whitechapel murders, the most remarkable and sensational statement was made to me this morning at my place. At 11 o'clock this morning a very respectable middle-aged woman called at my house and wished to see me. She was asked in, and then made the following statement to me, which she declared was all quite true. About two years ago, she said, she was living in the model dwelling close by here, and had a bedroom to let furnished. A young man called and engaged the room. After living for some time with her he stated that he had been to  sea, and that at the present time he was receiving El per week from his father, and was also receiving an allowance from his brother, who was a doctor, and that he did not work himself. She also noticed that he had plenty of clothes, including hunting breeches, revolvers, guns, and many other articles which an ordinary working-man could not have. He had the door key, and could go out and in at all hours of the night, and used generally to get up about 5 p.m. but she could net say what time he arrived home at night. On several occasions she noticed that his towels were very bloodstained, for which he accounted by saying that he was fond of painting, and had wiped his brush on them. She also stated that she knew that he had sent the liver, because one afternoon she happened to go to his room and saw him have several pieces of liver on a newspaper, which lie stated he had got from a New Zealand boat, as lie knew a friend who was on board a frozen mutton boat. She saw him pack it in the box and address it to the chairman of the then Vigilance Committee. He also put some pieces into different envelopes, which he intended sending to the Central News and the Press Association, and the police, but he forgot them, and she threw them into the dust-bin. She noticed also that he had several brass wedding rings on the mantelshelf, and on one or two occasions he brought home a white apron blood-stained, and gave them to her, which she has at the present time. fie always seemed to have plenty of money, and on the morning of the last murder (the Castlealley) he left, and has never returned. He left a pair of silent slices, several bags, s‘hich she says are blood-stained, and a long overcoat, which is also blood-stained. I asked her if she had been to the police, and she said she had not, as she was afraid of getting into trouble for not having given information before. She said she could hold the secret no longer, and she feels convinced that the man she had lodging with her was the real Jack the Ripper and Whitechapel murderer. I feel sure that she was in earnest about this statement, and she appeared very nervous, and did not wish her name to be published. I have no doubt that the police will make inquiries into this statement at once, and I directed her to go to Leman-street and give all particulars."