“JACK THE RIPPER.”

Temuka Leader, Issue 1898, 30 May 1889, Page 4

“JACK THE RIPPER.”

Melbouene, May 22. A. sensational report was circulated in Melbourne yesterday that the notorious “Jack the Ripper,” the ■Whitechapel murderer, was the latest distinguished visitor to this colony. The origin of the rumor appears to have been that Inspector Kennedy, of the Criminal Investigation Department, received a letter, evidently written by some uncommonly vulgar and ignorant larrikin of Melbourne, signed “'Jack the Ripper,” announcing the presence of the latter in this community, and his intention to make a raid upon the unfortunates of the city at an early date. The wretched communication had no pretension to point or wit, and was, on the face of it, a miserable hoax. Inspector Kennedy treated the letter as undeserving of notice, and did not consider it even necessary to cause it to behead to the police on parade. One of the evening paperes yesterday gave currency to the incident in form which was calculated to excite the imaginations'of females of a certain temperament and cast of mind, and the result was that at least one woman, a couple of hours after reading this report, felt so: convinced that she had bad a visit from the Whitechapel murderer that she forthwith communicated:; with the .police at Russell street barracks. This woman, a Mrs Costello, living in Cardigan street, Carlton, near Victoria street, stated that yesterday afternoon a tall dark raau, a foreigner, wearing a long overcoat, called at her house and asked for lodgings. She showed him a room whore there were three beds, but he stated that ho required a room to himself, where he could keep valuable tools safe. He enquired where the back entrance to Ho premises was, and mentioned that his work kept him out till 3 a.m and 4 a m , and he should like to tie able to get to hia room quietly. Mrs Costello thereupon asked him what business could- keep him but at night working with tools, and quickly followed up this question by demanding if he was “ Jaclr the Ripper,” The man replied with a sardonic laugh and went his way. Subsequently Mrs Costello got two men who lodged in her house to go to the police and relate the particulars of what she regarded as a suspicious visit from a mysterious visitor. The police attach the same amount of importance to Mrs Costello’s disclosure as Inspector Kennedy does to that of “ Jack the Ripper ” himself.