William James
William James, a 33 year old hawker, was indicted for the manslaughter of William Hall. The incident occurred on 7 December 1888. Hall, a sorter in the general Post Office was walking home along Marshalsea Street with a female companion, when a woman approached them crying. Her male companion also came up to the couple and spoke to the woman who was crying, James then proceeded to strike the man. Hall and his companion walked away and approached a Constable about the event which had just occurred. The Constable then approached James, who claimed he was Jack the Ripper. The Constable appeared not to take the matter further, and James subsequently followed Hall and knocked him to the ground with a blow, the force of the blow being such that it caused the man's head to come into violent contact with the ground. The thud of the fall was heard by a Constable standing some distance away. Hall was removed to Guy's hospital where he died as a result of his injury. In court, James denied striking Hall and said he only pushed him in self defence because he was making improper overtures to the woman he was with, who was a married woman. James, who had a previous conviction for assault admitted he was guilty of manslaughter by a shove.
