The foreman at the inquest into the death of Mary Ann Nichols wanted the government to offer a reward and said he would donate twenty-five pounds himself. At the inquest into Jack the Ripper’s next victim, the coroner stated that the Government would not be giving a reward. Despite this a juryman asked if the Home Secretary, would so do, noting that the Whitechapel MP, Samuel Montagu had offered a hundred pounds, and a committee had found two hundred more.

Two months later Montagu elaborated on this in Parliament. He said that, after the murder, he went to the Police Station and asked if the Government would offer a reward. The local inspector said he didn’t know. Believing that the Home Secretary was absent, Montagu offered a hundred pounds but wanted it given through the Police. The Inspector referred his request to the Commissioner, who referred to the Home Secretary, who said no. Montagu claimed to be unaware that the Government no longer offered rewards and felt that the Commissioner supported him.

It was a Home Secretary from Montagu’s own Liberal Party who abolished rewards a few years earlier. Montagu could have asked a question in Parliament to clarify that. Instead, he delivered his speech after the Commissioner had resigned, following a dispute with the Conservative Home Secretary, Henry Matthews who was nicknamed “Never at home Matthews” by some sections of the press.

Matthews, on behalf of the Government did offer a pardon for any accomplice of Jack the Ripper, something previously recommended by the departed Commissioner. Neither this, nor the money collected by local residents, helped find the murderer.