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Ogden Standard
Utah, USA
25 October 1888

Whitechapel Murders

But all other items sink into oblivion when compared with the panic which at present is spreading over the entire nation in relation to the mysterious murders at Whitechapel. In London the feeling is at fever heat. Throughout Scotland it may be seen that the superstitions of the forefathers are not yet forgotten. On dark nights, women - and sometimes men - prefer the center of the streets and avoid with the greatest precaution all dark and lonesome passages for fear of "Auld Sammy", as they aver none but the "Devil" could commit such atrocities and escape "the London police" without leaving a track or any clue whatever. On a recent visit to Ireland we found the inhabitants of the "Emerald Isle" imbued with the same feeling and wishing for the days of St. Patrick in order that they might be preserved from the invasions of "Auld Nick", who seems to have gone abroad in the land. Many pious people express their opinion that the perpetrators must be possessed by a legion from the infernal regions. Daily papers are devoting almost their entire space to theorizing upon the matter, and planning ways of capture. The cries of the newsboys upon the streets are deafening, for as each hourly edition appears they run back and forth with great posters announcing new arrests. It is absolutely dangerous for a stranger to appear in the cities, as they are immediately overhauled. Every house in the vicinity of the scene of these crimes has been ransacked from cellar to garrett. All tenants and lodgers have been supplied with blank forms to be filled out, giving the description of any strange person lurking about.

Although many arrests have been made all have been released, and up to this writing no clue has been obtained. It appears evident that one party is responsible for the eight deaths which have occurred, as all have alike been mutilated under similar circumstances and all belong to one class of unfortunate women. The details are too terrible for publication.

The series of murders are as follows: One, a woman whose identity was never discovered, was found murdered and body mutilated in or contiguous to the district of Whitechapel; two, April 3rd, murder of a woman in George's yard, near the same place; three, August 7th, a woman, named Martha Turner, aged 35, was found dead with 39 bayonet or dagger wounds on the body; four, Aug. 31st, a woman was found dead in Whitechapel, the body cut and mutilated; five, Sept. 8th, Annie Chapman was murder and mutilated in Hamburgh (sic) street; six, Sept. 30th, a woman, unidentified, in Miter (sic) square; seven, on the same date, Elisa Stride, in Bernes (sic) Street; and, eight, on Oct. 2nd, mutilated body of a woman found at Pimlico.

From the fact that all the above have been committed in London and at or near the district of Whitechapel and in so short a time, it has caused a terrible sensation.

The murderer being still at large with no clue to his identity, causes the populace to stand with bated breath wondering who will be the next victim and where the crime will occur.


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