Lusk's Strange Parcel

by **Karen** Sun 19 Jun 2011 - 14:57

THE WHITECHAPEL MURDER.
A HORRIBLE STORY.

LONDON, Oct. 18 - The mass of absurd theories, false clues and unlimited arrests of the wrong men, which have almost turned the pursuit of the Whitechapel murderer into a burlesque, were relieved tonight by a genuine sensation. Mr. George Lusk, a builder, is the head of a Whitechapel Vigilance Committee. Late on Tuesday night the parcel post delivery left a box at his house. Upon opening it he discovered a meaty substance which smelt very strong and which he judged to be the half of a kidney belonging to some animal. Enclosed in the box was the following letter:

"I send you half of the kidne I took from one of the women. I preserved it for you. T'other piece I fried and ate. It was very nice. I may send you the bloody knif that took it out if you only wate a whil longer."

Mr. Lusk at first regarded the whole thing as a joke. But remembering that such an organ had been taken from the Mitre square victim, he took the box to the London Hospital. Dr. Openshaw examined the inclosure yesterday, and said that it certainly came from a full-grown woman, and had been divided longitudinally. Today the box and the letter were taken to Scotland Yard, and the detectives are trying to find out in what postal district the parcel was handed in for mail. The handwriting of the letter in the box bore no resemblance to the handwriting of the letters of "Jack the Ripper," found some weeks ago.

Source: Montreal Weekly Witness, Wednesday October 24, 1888, Page 1