William John Foster
On the 11 October 1888, William John Foster, was arrested at 11 Memel Street, Belfast, on information received. Foster was in bed, when constable Carland called. Foster gave his occupation as a watchmaker, though added that he did not need to work, as he lived off an allowance from his father, who was a brewer in London. A search of his room revealed a clasp knife in his coat pocket, a purse containing £19, a watch bearing the monogram, A.M.R, which Foster claimed was his own, and a bag containing a table knife, a number of watch making appliances and three razors, one of which had blood on it. Foster said he had no fixed abode and had arrived in town on Sunday from Greenock, where he had stayed for two days, prior to that he was in Glasgow, and before that Edinburgh. His clothes were examined, and it was noted the boots he wore were similar to those worn by military men. He was remanded in custody for a week, and presumably cleared. It is not know what information the police received which caused them to become suspicious of him.
According to the Star newspaper, Foster was described as 30 years of age, 5ft 8"tall, of slight build, shabbily dressed with a fair complexion and a short cut sandy moustache, his hair was described as flaxen, crispy and hedgehog like, his head was remarkable for its length rather than breadth or height, his eyes, his most characteristic trait, appeared to protrude somewhat. And lastly, his ears, which were said to be cocked and projected outwards. No other facts are known about this (highly attractive) suspect..
