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Robert Clack
Chief Inspector
Username: Rclack
Post Number: 639
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 07, 2005 - 3:52 pm: | 
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I came across this from 'The Illustrated Police News' Saturday 12 January 1889
ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A WOMAN AT GLASGOW.
[SUBJECT OF ILLUSTRATION]
A SENSATION was caused in Glasgow on Thursday by the report that an attempt to murder had been made in a court leading off Queen-street, near to the Royal Exchange, the circumstances being similar to those accompanying the tragedies recently enacted in London. The facts are as follows: - Soon after one o'clock on Thursday morning a woman named Mary Mackenzie was accosted by a young man near the Royal Exchange, and was persuaded to accompany him up a court at 85, Queen-street, when he threw his arm round the woman, and, with a pocket-knife, stabbed her in the neck. Then immediately withdrawing the blade he plunged it rapidly seven or eight times in succession into her abdomen. The woman apparently surmised his intention, and seems to have succeeded in warding off the force of some of the blows. Had she not done so the stabs must certainly have proved fatal. Her loud cries brought assistance, whereupon the man fled. He was, however, caught after a short chase, and being taken to the police-office gave his name as John Stevenson. He described himself as a coach builder, residing in Anderston, Glasgow, his age being nineteen. He was under the influence of drink at the time. He was charged at the Central Police-court on Thursday, and remanded. His victim, after being carried to the police-office, was conveyed to the Royal Infirmary, where she now lies. The medical authorities of the Infirmary report that the case is a very bad one, but they hope that it will not prove fatal.
Rob |
Jeffrey Bloomfied
Chief Inspector
Username: Mayerling
Post Number: 838
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 07, 2005 - 5:23 pm: |
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Hi Robert,
Fascinating discovery. I wonder if there was ever any follow-up (a trial for attempted murder, for instance).
Hope you find more,
Jeff |
Robert Clack
Chief Inspector
Username: Rclack
Post Number: 640
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 07, 2005 - 6:58 pm: |
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Hi Jeff,
I couldn't find anything in 'The Times', but I just found these in 'The Scotsman'
January 4 1889
January 26 1889
Rob |
Jeffrey Bloomfied
Chief Inspector
Username: Mayerling
Post Number: 841
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 07, 2005 - 11:05 pm: |
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Hi Rob,
The only point I can make right now is that John Stevenson's attorney is Comrie Thomson, who in 1894 would win the "acquittal" (by a "Not Proven" verdict) of Alfred John Monson in the murder of Cecil Hamborough at Ardlamont in Scotland. Comrie Thomson was a brilliant barrister, who unfortunately died at a young age.
Still, very interesting and nice work finding this unknown case.
Best wishes,
Jeff |
Robert Clack
Chief Inspector
Username: Rclack
Post Number: 642
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 5:12 pm: |
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I've managed to find a couple of accounts from 'The Times'
THE TIMES
Friday 4th January 1889
ATTEMPTED MURDER. - Early yesterday morning a woman was seriously stabbed in Glasgow. About 1 o’clock the woman was heard screaming in Royal Exchange-court, which is entered from Queen-street and also from Exchange-square. The constable on the beat hurried into the court from Queen-street, and as he entered a man ran out at the other end into Exchange-square. Chase was given and the fugitive was speedily captured. Meanwhile, the woman had walked out of the court and was assisted by a constable to the Central Police-office, where she gave the name of Jessie Mackenzie. On examination, it was found that she had been stabbed in eight places. Five wounds were found on her cheek and neck, one being behind the right ear, and three on the right thigh. The woman was conveyed to the Royal Infirmary. The man who is charged with being her assailant gave the name of John Stevenson. He is 19 years of age, of respectable appearance, and lives with his mother in Glasgow. In his possession was found a pocket-knife with three blades, on the largest of which was noticed some blood and hair. Stevenson was brought before Stipendiary Gemmel at the Central Police-court in the course of yesterday, and remanded until today.
Saturday 26th January 1889
CHARGE OF STABBING A WOMAN. - Yesterday at the High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, the Lord Justice Clerk presiding, John Stevenson, 19 years old, a coach trimmer, was charged with having on January 2 or 3 last, in a close or court at 85, Queen-street, Glasgow assaulted Catherine Mackenzie, at present a patient in the Royal infirmary, by stabbing her. He pleaded guilty at Glasgow, and was sent to the High Court for sentence. Mr. Thomson, on behalf of the prisoner, stated that he had a hasty temper and that his mother had been in an asylum and was still living in the country under restraint. He read letters from several clergymen and the accused’s employers, giving him an excellent character, Mr. Robertson, Advocate Depute, said the woman stated that the prisoner followed her into a close and suddenly struck her with a knife. She saw the knife and then he struck her two or three times and knocked her down. He then raised her clothes and cut her about the legs. At that moment the police arrived and the prisoner ran off, but was caught immediately afterwards. He was glad to corroborate what Mr. Thomson said as to the prisoner’s previous career. He had borne a good character in all respects. He himself had information as to the impulsive disposition of the lad, but there was no evidence of weakness of mind or anything ap proaching to insanity. It might well be that, reading the details of what happened at Whitechapel had acted to a certain degree on his mind, and had in duced him to commit this crime. But whether the desire to emulate the deeds of the Whitechapel murderer was to be urged as an extenuation was for his Lordship to judge. The woman's injuries were very serious indeed, but she was now recovering, although it would be some time before she was out of the hospital. After consultation with same of the other Judges, the Lord Justice Clerk said he should have been very glad if he had been enabled to limit the sentence to one of imprisonment, but he found it im possible to do so. To pronounce any sentence of im prisonment, in a case where a man attacked a woman without any provocation whatever, and stabbed her in various places in a most disgusting manner would be the worst possible example of all. He felt bound, in the exercise of his duty, to disregard all idea of the prisoner not being responsible for what he had done. There would be ample opportunity when he was in confinement for an investigation being made for the purpose of seeing whether that was the case or not. He could not pronounce a shorter sentence than one of seven years’ penal servitude. The prisoner was then removed.
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Amie Robb
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 12:25 pm: |
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Has anyone come across the murder case in Greenock of a sailor. The person who did it was nick named "Wolf Docherty" or Doherty.? It was unprovan. 1938-39 Greenock. |
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