John Leary
Police Constable Thomas Barrett was on routine patrol duty in George Yard on the night Martha Tabram was murdered, 7 August 1888, when at 2am he saw and spoke to a soldier. The Constable asked the soldier why he was loitering around, to which the soldier replied, that he was waiting for his mate who had gone with a girl. As Martha Tabram was estimated to have been murdered at about 2.30am the identification of the soldier became vitally important. An identification parade was held and Constable Barrett was told to be careful as to his actions as many eyes were watching him, and a great deal depended on him picking out the right man, and no other. Barrett walked along the line and picked out a soldier, who gave his name as John Leary. The soldier was able to provide the police with a satisfactory account of his movements on the night of the murder. It transpired that he had been in the company of Private Law, who corroborated Leary's statement. Constable Barrett described the soldier he saw that night as 22 to 26 years of age, about 5ft 9"tall, with dark hair and a small brown moustache turned up at the ends.
