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== Who was Home Secretary when Jack The Ripper was killing? ==
'''Henry Matthews ''' was the '''Home Secretary ''' whilst '''Jack The Ripper ''' was at large.
In fact, on 31st August 1888, the day of Mary Nicols' murder, L. & P. Walter & Son of Church Street, sent a newspaper clipping and a letter to Henry Matthews, the Home Secretary.
<blockquote>We beg to enclose you [a] report of this fearful murder & to say that such is the state of affairs in this district that we are put to the necessity of [having] a nightwatchman to protect our premises. The only way in our humble opinion to tackle this matter is to offer at once a reward.</blockquote>
A reply, Signed by '''Edward Leigh-Pemberton''', Legal Assistant Under-Secretary at the '''Home Office''', and dated 4th September 1888, was sent back to the company. It informed Walter & Son that "the practice of offering rewards for the discovery of criminals has for some time been discontinued; and that so far as the circumstances of the present case have at present been investigated, they do not in his [i.e. Matthews’] opinion disclose any special ground for departure from the usual custom".