Today we have a tendency to focus on particular crimes at particular times – the Jack the Ripper murder being a case in point.

However, taken against the greater scheme of things, the Whitechapel murders were just a handful of crimes when measured against the large number of murders that took place all over the country in 1888.

The Leeds Mercury, in its edition of Friday the 2nd of March, 1888, reported on a murder that had occurred in Manchester the previous day:-

MURDER AND ATTEMPTED MURDER AT MANCESTER

A shocking tragedy occurred yesterday at Moston, Manchester, a woman named Mary Miller being murdered by a lodger, named Alfred Gell, and her daughter being dangerously wounded.

Mrs. Miller and her daughter lived together in St. Mary’s-place, and Gell, who is a wheelwright and worked in the neighbourhood, had for some time been lodging with them.

On Wednesday evening a quarrel arose between the landlady and the lodger, and in the end he was ordered to leave the house.

HE WAS KILLING HER MOTHER

Early yesterday morning he went away, but shortly before noon he returned, and then he seems to have made a murderous onslaught on Mrs. Miller and her daughter.

About noon the daughter rushed to the door with her head covered with blood, and shouted “Will no one come in; he has come in and is killing my mother.”

THE SCENE OF THE CRIME

A man named Clydesdale, who was passing, ran into the house, and in the kitchen saw Gell with a hatchet in his hand, but he at once made off.

Mrs. Miller was lying on the floor in a pool of blood, suffering from terrible wounds to the head, evidently inflicted with the hatchet. She was insensible, and although a doctor was at once fetched she died without recovering consciousness.

The daughter was found to be severely injured, and was removed to the Manchester Infirmary.

THE SEARCH FOR GELL

The police at once made a search for Gell, who had been seen running across a neighbouring field, and a policeman gave chase.

Gell, finding that he was likely to be captured, stopped, turned back, and went towards the policeman, saying, “Put the handcuffs on me.”

This the constable did, and then removed the man to the police-station.

In answer to the charge, he made no statement.

An inquest will be held tomorrow, and the prisoner will be brought before the magistrate.

DEPOSITIONS OF THE INJURED WOMAN

Our Manchester correspondent, telegraphing last night, says that further particulars which have transpired with respect to the murder show that the prisoner and the murdered woman were much attached to each other, and that jealousy was the cause of the crime.

Mrs. Miller has kept the prisoner for some time whilst he has been out of work, and there had been quarrels between him and the daughter, who disapproved of his presence in the house.

The prisoner first attacked the daughter with the hatchet, and when she got out of the house murdered her mother.

The daughter is in such a precarious condition that last night two magistrates attended at the Infirmary and took her depositions.

The prisoner was present at the inquiry.

HE HAD STAYED FREE OF CHARGE

The woman, who is 21 years of age, said that from January 16th the prisoner had been allowed by her mother to stay at their house, as he was out of work.

Yesterday morning she saw him in the kitchen alone.

She had told him on the previous night that he did not appear to be acting fairly to her and her mother, as he did not seem to be looking for work; and she added that he would have to go.

THE START OF THE ATTACK

Yesterday morning, when she saw him in the kitchen he said that he had got work, and she replied, “It’s a good job, and you can go now.”

He then went into the scullery, where her mother was, and shortly afterwards the witness felt a violent blow on the back of the head, which stunned her for a moment.

She got up, and staggered towards the front door, when he struck her again.

She managed to get outside, and there lost consciousness.

After he struck her the second time, the prisoner went to the scullery.

A PREVIOUS ATTACK

He had threatened her before, as he did not like her because she had expressed dissatisfaction at his staying in the house.

On one occasion he struck her.

She did not know how her mother got her injuries.

TAKEN INTO CUSTODY

The prisoner said it was not true that he had ever struck the witness before.

They had had a quarrel, and she picked up the poker to strike him.

The witness denied this, and said that in addition to striking her the prisoner had threatened to break her back.

The prisoner, who said he had nothing more to say, was then removed in custody.