Last Sunday morning the mutilated body of a man was
discovered by a constable on Clapham Common. He was identified as Leon Beron, a Russian who had lived for three years in Jubilee Street, which is the turning out of Commercial Road next to Sidney Street, where Tuesday's fight took place. There was no explanation of the presence at Clapham of the dead man, who was last seen in Stepney on the Saturday night. It is difficult to avoid speculating as to a possible connexion between this crime and the Houndsditch murders. The possibility seems to be increased by a report that the dead man's sister stated that he had been having dealings with a man in Sidney Street. On the other hand, however, the fact that no money or valuables were found upon the body seems to show that the motive of the crime may have been only robbery. The sensational nature of the case was emphasised at the inquest on Thursday, when evidence was given of two S-shaped cuts found upon the victim's face. It has been suggested that they may be the sign of some secret society.
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