Kimberley Advertiser (South Africa)
29 June 1889
THE WHITECHAPEL ATROCITIES: A SELF-ACCUSED KIMBERLEYITE:- A respectably attired man, hwo said his name was William Brodie, was brought before the Police Court, Capetown on Saturday last, under somewhat peculiar circumstances. Inspector Rowbotham said the man came to the Police-station and accused himself of having committed the Whitechapel murders. He appeared to be suffering from a bad attack of "the horrors". The Magistrate asked Brodie how long he had been in the Colony? - Brodie: About ten months, sir. Further asked what he had been doing during that time, Brodie said he had been up-country, and in Kimberley. The Magistrate said the man had evidently been drinking, hence his confession. Brodie said he left the Ashton Extension Railway, where he had worked, about ten days back. He had also worked at the Sultfontein Mine, Kimberley, and had come down to Capetown for a spree. He would return to Kimberley at once, if allowed to do so. The Magistrate thereupon ordered Brodie to be discharged advising him to give up drinking.
