A Murder Attempt In 1889

THE WHITECHAPEL SENSATION.

LONDON, July 26. - The name of the man who was arrested on suspicion of being the murderer, and who subsequently confessed that he was guilty, is Wm. Brodie. He was arraigned before a police magistrate that the confession made by him to the police was true. The prisoner was remanded for a week.

CAUGHT RED-HANDED.

NEW YORK, July 20. - The World's London special says: At 3:30 this morning another murder of the "Jack the Ripper" class and the capture of the murderer are reported. This last crime occurred just outside the Whitechapel district, near London bridge. The shrieks of a woman were heard from the rear of St. George's building. The police caught the man as he was running away, knife in hand. It is reported that the woman's throat was cut and the body mutilated. Another despatch says: Towards midnight the life of another woman was attempted close to Castle Alley. A woman and man were seen to approach a dark portion of the thoroughfare, near the old gate, East Station. The pair did not remain long on the corner before the woman was heard to cry, "No, I won't." The remark was addressed to a dark man of medium height, with a slouch hat and of foreign appearance. The man seized her, dragged her a short distance, flung her upon the curbstone and produced a dagger.

SCREAMS OF "JACK THE RIPPER."

and of "murder" attracted crowds of men and women from all directions. Among the first arrivals at the scene were several members of the local vigilance association, which has resumed work. Before the man had time to get far he was seized and a dreadful struggle ensued. He had a long knife in his hand, and it was some time before he could be deprived of it. Eventually it was taken from him. Even then his fight for liberty was of a most determined nature. In the midst of the fray the woman crawled away. Police whistles were heard in all directions. A great number of officials both of the city and metropolitan force, appeared on the scene. When the police reached the spot the man was cut and bleeding profusely from wounds inflicted by the crowd, who had raised the cry of "Lynch him!" and were throwing all kinds of missiles at the prisoner. Under a strong escort of police he was got to the police station, where he was charged. In reply he said:

"THE WOMAN ROBBED ME."

when asked why he drew the dagger, he replied that he had done so in self-defence. He said he was a sailor, and gave a Scotch name, adding that he had arrived from South Shields a week ago. When asked where he was on the morning of July 17, he could not say. He did not know where he had stayed while in London. A small knife was found in his possession, together with his seaman's discharge papers. It is not at all likely that the man arrested is the genuine Jack the Ripper. This man seems to be simply a common murderer or a reckless sailor filled with liquor. His method was not that of the scientific Jack, and none of the circumstances of the case indicate that this attempted murder had any connection whatever with the Jack the Ripper series.

Source: The Twillingate Sun, Saturday August 10, 1889, Page 2