"JACK THE RIPPER."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 128, 8 September 1910, Page 7

"JACK THE RIPPER."

DID HE GO TO AUSTRALIA? A COLONIAL CLUE. London, July 29. Twenty years after the terrible ''Jack the Ripper" murders, the identity of the criminal still remains a matter of controversy. Dr. Forbes Wiimslow, a mental specialist, brought the matter before a London police magistrate this week, producing a letter from a woman in Australia, who said she had been engaged to be married to '"'Jack the Ripper." Dr. Winslow wanted to know if anything could be done for William Grant, an Irish medical student who served seven years on a charge of wounding a woman in Whiteehapel in 1885, and who is now in Marylebone workhouse. Statements had been made, and letters published in the press to the effect that Grant was "Jack the Ripper," and be-1 lieving this accusation to be unfounded Dr. Winslow took up his case. ] A few days ago, so the doctor told the magistrate, he received a letter from Australia, from a lady, who said the object she had in writing was to free the poor Irish (medical student who was accused of these murders. There was not the least doubt as to the authenticity of the letter. The writer said she was engaged to be married to a man who left England in 1889, the last year in which the murders were committed, and went to Australia. From circumstances which came to her knowledge, and from a confession made, she came to the conclusion that this man was none other than the original "Jack the Ripper," whose last murder was committed'in 1889. In her letter she described the way in which the murders were committed, and the habits of the man—-going to St. Paul's Cathedral—he was a religious maniac—and' carrying a 'knife with him. She gave him up to the police in Australia a« "Tack the Ripper." Thev investigated what h:H taken place in 1890, (but made no eiw'res as to his previous history, and ho wns discharged. 'Mr. Mn.rsham (the magistrate): Was he before a magistrate? Dr. Winslow: That I don't know. Here is a cony of the ladv's letter. She happened tn see an account in one, of the papers that this Irish medical student was ".Tack the Ripper." and she wrote in order to prevent reflections being cast on the vv-oti" individual, and asked me if I ifoi'W take "p hi* case, as she was convince!' that ".Tack the Ripper" was the man who wpnt to Melbourne, and was at present in South Africa, and whose pame T hnve. I managed to unearth Grant at Marvlebtone workhouse, and his .{credentials .are correct: but, notwithstanding that. tVee jotters appear. Mv application i« whether something cannot he done to stop this sort of thimr from going on. ] The Magistrate: He might take proceedings against those who publish these letters, and you might, lav what > information you have before the'police. Dr. Winslow: I have and' they have not taken any steps at present. In the meantime, I feel very much for this man, who has fallen upon very bad times. The Magistrate.: Tt is actionable, no doubt. I think that is what he will have to do. Dr. Winslow: I feel sure if the police will co-operate with me I am more likely to catch "Jack the Ripper" than they are Crippen. The Magistrate: I cannot do anvthing in «the matter here, i If this man has been inihred he ought to have redress, •but I think it will have to be by. action.