London, July 20.
The man whom the police have in custody on suspicion that he is the perpetrator of the Whitechapel horrors was arrested before daylight, a policeman's attention having been drawn to him through his drunken talk, which appeared to indicate that he had some knowledge of the last Whitechapel murder not possessed by the public or the police. He was allowed sufficient time to sober off, after which he was closely questioned by the police, but his answers did not confirm the suspicion that he might be the murderer. The first impulse of the officers was to release him as a besotted crank, believing that he purposely got himself arrested for the sake of the notoriety the suspicion of being the dreaded Ripper would bring him. They were, however, so greatly impressed with the accurate knowledge the prisoner showed of all the details of time, place and circumstances of the entire series of Whitechapel atrocities that they hesitated and sought counsel of their superiors at the Central station. From here orders were promptly sent to hold the prisoner at all hazards until the truth or falsity of his story could be positively determined, and he is now detained at the Leman street station strongly guarded. The police manifest unusual reticence, fearing that any disclosure might excite the denizens of Whitechapel to mob violence.