MR. PACKER ATTACKED!!

Poor Mr. Matthew Packer - no wonder he was reluctant to say anything more about the fact that he saw Jack the Ripper; since it landed him in hospital!!

THE WHITECHAPEL DISCOVERY.

IS THERE A MURDER GANG?
THE ATTACK ON MR. PACKER.

Is there a secret murderous gang with headquarters in the East-end or in some other part of London? This question is now exercising the minds of the authorities at Scotland-yard, as the police are almost satisfied that the latest crime was known to more than one man. Inspector Tonbridge and Inspector Swanson are pursuing their investigations, but at present it is stated there is but the smallest possible clue. The issue, however, has been somewhat narrowed. If the murder was the work of one man, his abode, the police assert, must be close to Pinchin-street; if the deed was not committed in Whitechapel, then the trunk could not have been conveyed so great a distance unless the miscreant had a vehicle at his disposal, and the most exhaustive inquiries at cab-yards, of carmen, and at places where barrows are lent on hire, have produced an absolutely negative result.

MR. PACKER KNOCKED DOWN.

That more than one person knew of the crime is considered probable from a significant circumstance, thought little of at the time, in connection with Mr. Packer, whose declaration that he could identify the author of the Berner-street murder, excited some amount of interest. Shortly after the commission of the murder preceding the Pinchin-street discovery, Packer again expressed an opinion that the criminal did not live "very far from Batty-street," which is within three minutes' walk of the railway arch. Not long after that Packer averred that, while he was standing near his doorstep, two men rushed upon him and knocked him down, with the remark, "Know where Jack the Ripper lives, do you?" The unfortunate man was as a result admitted to the London Hospital, where he was detained for three weeks. An Echo reporter has since seen Packer. He declares that this story is quite true, and that he was seriously injured by the attack. "But I don't wish to say any more," said he. "I've had quite enough of this Whitechapel business already - too much for me." The police have not yet discovered the head or legs of the deceased woman.

Source: The Echo, Friday September 13, 1889, Page 2

The Lloyd's Weekly London Newspaper published the same story just two days later:

ANOTHER MURDER IN WHITECHAPEL.

A MUTILATED BODY FOUND.
SEARCH FOR A MAN CLEARY.

At 25 minutes past five o'clock on Tuesday morning Police-constable Pennett, 239 H, was passing on his beat by a railway arch in Pinchin-street, St. George's, when he noticed something in the arch. The place in question is used as a receptacle for stones belonging to the District Board of Works, and in front of it is a hoarding. Part of this, however, had been broken down, and the officer, getting through it, was horrified to find the trunk of a woman in a condition which showed it had been hacked about in a most brutal manner. The head had been entirely severed from the body, while both legs were also missing. In accordance with instructions that had been given to all the police in the district, the constable did not move, but sent a casual passer-by for assistance. In a few seconds two other constables came up, and on being made acquainted with the discovery started for King David-lane Police-station, when further assistance was sent to Pinchin-street, and the news telegraphed to the heads of police and to the whole of the stations within the Metropolitan district. In order to save as much time as possible an order has for some time past been in force that whenever a murder is discovered in the East-end the telegraphic code should simply be "Another Whitechapel." Consequently, as soon as these two words were telegraphed over the district every outlet in the immediate neighbourhood was blocked. Superintendent T. Arnold and Detective-inspector Reid, H division, were soon on the spot giving directions for the place to be searched, while the Thames police, under Detective-inspector Regan, were busily engaged in searching the vessels in the river and docks, notably the cattle boats. Three men were found lying under the arch. They stated that when they entered the arch after midnight they saw nothing of the body and heard no alarming or suspicious sounds during the night. These men were detained and afterwards conveyed to the Leman-street police-station, until proper inquiries could be made concerning them. However, inquiries proved the truth of their statements, and they were released.
Dr. Clarke, who was acting for Dr. Phillips, the divisional surgeon, who was away on his holidays, together with Dr. Sergeant, who practices in the neighbourhood, was soon on the spot and minutely examined the body. They were of opinion that death had occurred at least three days previously, as the blood was all dried and signs of decomposition were setting in. Other details having been obtained, a police ambulance was brought and the trunk of the body conveyed on it to the St. George's mortuary, where the doctors again examined it. The result of that examination was that the police afterwards issued the following notice: -

Found, at 5:40 this (Tuesday) morning, the trunk of a woman under railway arches in Pinchin-street, Whitechapel. Age about 40; height, 5ft. 3in.; hair dark brown; no clothing, except chemise, which is much torn and bloodstained; both elbows discoloured as from habitually leaning on them. Post-mortem marks apparently of a rope having been tied round the waist.

A conference, to which it is believed considerable importance is attached, took place on Tuesday evening at the Leman-street police-station. Dr. Phillips arrived in London about five p.m. on Tuesday, and, after making some preliminary investigations, attended at Leman-street police-station soon after six o'clock. Here he met Chief constable Colonel Monsell, Mr. Arnold, and the officers from Scotland-yard. At seven p.m. Mr. Monro, the Chief Commissioner, arrived at the station in his private carriage, and joined in the deliberations, which continued until nearly half-past eight.
Last week a letter was found at the rear of the East London hospital, announcing the intention of the writer to perpetrate another murder immediately. The letter was handed to the police, but no importance was attached to it in view of the number of such documents which have found their way into the hands of the authorities. On Tuesday night another letter was found in Whitechapel, containing the following words: - "I told you last week I would do another murder."
Notwithstanding the active exertions of the police authorities, practically nothing has been gleaned by them tending to elucidate the mystery.
Without the head, identification is a matter of the utmost diffculty, as the body does not appear to have any distinguishing marks or peculiarities. Neither is much assistance afforded in this direction by the torn and blood-stained under-garment which partially enveloped the trunk. In most of the previous East-end murders the clothing has aided in the identification, and it will be recollected that the marking upon some of the underclothing found with the Battersea remains eventually enabled the police to trace the movements of the murdered woman up to within a comparatively short time previous to her death. The railway arch under which Tuesday's discovery was made has now been completely boarded up.
Dr. Phillips, divisional surgeon of police; Dr. Hebbert, professor of anatomy at Westminster hospital; and other medical men, have made a careful post-mortem examination of the trunk. Their opinion is that the woman had not been dead more than from three to four days when her trunk was discovered. On opening the stomach there was found a small quantity of fluid, which, from its appearance, gave an impression that the unfortunate woman had been stupefied by some drug, or that she had even met her end by poison. For this reason it is not unlikely that Dr. Stevenson, the toxicological expert, will be called upon to make an analysis of the viscera and contents of her stomach, which have been carefully preserved. Beyond this, there was, it is stated, a small amount of internal inflammation, the cause of which could not be ascertained. About certain points Dr. Phillips is reticent even to the police, and has as yet only given them the information requisite to assist them in their inquiries.
The police authorities have published and circulated the following description of the body: - Aged about 35 years, height 5ft. 3in., hair dark brown, skin fair, hands soft and shapely, nails well kept, small circular hardening but no corn on right little finger, arms small but well-shaped, body plump and well formed, with full breasts. No marks of rings on fingers.
Mr. Packer, whose declaration that he could identify the author of the Berner-street murder excited some amount of interest, has been attacked and injured. Shortly after the commission of the murder preceding the Pinchin-street discovery Packer again expressed an opinion that the criminal did not live "very far from Batty-street," which is within three minutes' walk of the railway arch. Not long after that Packer averred that while he was standing near his doorstep two men rushed upon him and knocked him down, with the remark, "Know where 'Jack the Ripper' lives, do you"? The unfortunate man was, as a result, admitted to the London hospital, where he was detained for three weeks.
Scotch newspapers of August 31 give the following account of a discovery of human remains in Edinburgh: - "While one of the cleaners of the Union canal, named Thomas Clark, was engaged in taking refuse from the canal near Fountain-bridge, he was horrified on bringing to the surface the left leg of a human being. The leg was not very much decomposed, and appeared to have been sawn off below the knee. It is supposed that a murder has been committed. Search is being instituted for more remains. The spot at which the limb was found is beside the city slaughterhouse." It is suggested that inquiry should be made to ascertain whether the limb found in Edinburgh is a portion of the body found on Tuesday.

Source: Lloyd's Weekly London Newspaper, September 15, 1889, Page 3

It would appear that Matthew Packer, the fruiterer who gave information to the police about a man he saw with Elizabeth Stride on the night of her murder, was brutally attacked twice - once in November 1888 and again in September 1889, as well as receiving threatening letters. He was attacked on both occasions by more than one assailant.

THE SPITALFIELDS OUTRAGE.

Whitechapel is gradually assuming its normal quietness. This morning there was no one detained or under arrest on suspicion as the murderer, nor has Annie Farmer's assailant yet been seen. The police assert that the woman's story has now an altogether different complexion. They believe the affair was simply a brawl, of only too common a character since the occurrence of the East-end crimes.

MURDERER SAID TO HAVE BEEN AGAIN SEEN.
SERIOUS ATTACK ON PACKER.

A reporter writes: - Late last night, several of the witnesses who have alleged that they saw the man who it is believed committed the murders declared that they again saw him. After watching him for some time they observed him accost a woman, but, on their crossing towards him, he suddenly disappeared down a dark turning in the Commercial-road. These witnesses were Mr. Burch, the milkman, and his son, and Matthew Packer, the fruiterer. It is a singular thing that about a fortnight ago Packer made a similar statement as to the reappearance of the man. Some discredit was thrown on his assertion. Singularly enough, however, three days afterwards the atrocious murder in Dorset-street was committed.

THE ASSAULT ON THE FRUITERER.

The reporter adds - A few evenings ago Packer received an anonymous threatening letter. On this a murder was represented, drawn in blood. It was posted at Tottenham. At all events, it bore the Tottenham post-mark. He took it to the police. In the course of this week while standing one night outside his shop he was set upon by a gang of roughs. Two of them seized him and punched him in the ribs, and then threw him to the ground. His wife ran out to his assistance, and, on raising an alarm, they hurried away. A policeman who was at the bottom of the street captured one of the men, and he was taken to the police-station. He admitted there were nine in the gang, but said he had nothing to do with the assault, and he was allowed to go. Packer was last night still suffering from the injuries he has received.

Source: The Echo, Saturday November 24, 1888, Page 3