At the Thames Police-court, yesterday, Charles Ludwig, a German, was brought up, on remand, charged with being drunk and threatening to stab Alexander Finlay, of 51, Leman-street, Whitechapel. ---The evidence of prosecutor shower that at three o'clock in the morning of Tuesday week he was standing at a coffee-stall in the Whitechapel-road when Ludwig came up in a state of intoxication. The person in charge of the stall refused to serve him.
Ludwig seemed much annoyed, and said to witness, "What are you looking at?" He then pulled out a long-bladed knife, and threatened to stab witness with it. Ludwig followed him round the stall , and made several attempts to stab him until witness threatened to knock a dish on his head. A constable came up. And he was then given into custody. --- Constable 221 H said when he was called to take the prisoner into custody he found him in a very excited condition. Witness had previously received information that Ludwig was wanted for attempting to cut a woman's throat with a razor. On the way to the station prisoner dropped a long-bladed knife, which was open, and when he was searched a razor and a long pair of scissors were found on him.
Constable John Johnson, 866 City, deposed that early on the morning of Tuesday week he was on duty in the Minories, when he heard loud screams of "Murder" proceeding from a dark court. The court in question leads to some railway arches, and is a well-known dangerous locality. Witness went down the court and found the prisoner with a prostitute. The accused appeared to be under the influence of drink. Witness asked what he was doing there, and he replied, "Nothing." The woman, who appeared to be in a very agitated and frightened condition, said, "Oh, policeman, do take me out of this." The woman was so frightened that she could then make no further explanation. Witness got her and the accused out of the court, and sent the later off.
He walked with the woman to the end of his beat, when she said, "Dear me! He frightened me very much when he pulled a big knife out." Witness said, "Why didn't you tell me that at the time?" and she replied, "I was too much frightened." He then went to look for the prisoner, but could not find him, and therefore warned several other constables of what he had seen, and also gave a description of the prisoner. On the last occasion witness was unable to procure the attendance of the woman. On the application of Detective-Inspector Abberline, of Scotland-yard, Mr. Saunders again remanded the accused for full inquiries to be made. He also allowed Inspector Abberline to interview the accused with the interpreter, Mr. Savage, to ascertain if he would give any information as to where he was on certain dates.
The woman Ludwig was alleged to have attempted to stab has been found. She is well known to the police, and her name is Elizabeth Burne.
The excitement caused by the brutal murder on Saturday of Jane Beetmoor, on Birtley Fell, near Gateshead-on-Tyne, is still considerable. The London police still appear to think that there may be some connection between this and the recent outrages in Whitechapel, and Inspector Roots, of Scotland-yard, with Dr. Phillips, who conducted the post-mortem examination on the body of Annie Chapman, traveled to Durham on Monday night, in company with Colonel White, chief-constable of the county, and drove yesterday morning to the scene of the tragedy. Dr. Phillips saw the body, but the result of his investigation is not known. The local police are inclined to think that the discovery of the deceased's sweetheart, William Waddle, or Tweddle, who is said to have been seen with her on the night of the murder, and who thereafter disappeared, will lead to a solution of the mystery.
An official description of the man, which has been issued from the police-office at Gateshead, states that he had in his possession a large knife. He is about 23 years old, 5ft. 9in. or 10in. in height, with fresh complexion and blue eyes, which are small and sunken. He has brown hair and a proportionate figure, has tender feet and walks badly, leaning well forward. He is a single man, and has worked as a labourer and farm-servant.
During yesterday a searching examination was made of the numerous disused pit-shafts in the neighbourhood, down one of which it is thought he may have thrown himself. Inspector Roots yesterday afternoon spent some hours in company with the local officers, and took copious notes and sketches of the locality of the murder. The publication of the description of Waddle has led many people to declare that they have seen him in Newcastle, Gateshead, and other places, but the police have little faith in these statements. The remains of the deceased woman will be interred to-day (Wednesday).
A Press Association's correspondent telegraphed last night: A man answering in almost every particular the description of the person the police want in connection with the Gateshead murder was seen at Byers-green Colliery about seven o'clock on Sunday morning by Mr. Robert Lodge, foreman coke burner. The man was in a cabin near the coke ovens, and when first observed was in a sitting posture, either whetting or cleaning a large knife on the leather of his boot. The stranger inquired the time and disappeared suddenly. Mr. Lodge speaks positively as to the description of the man. The distance from the scene of the murder to Byers Green is about 14 miles.
A verdict of willful murder was returned, yesterday morning, at the inquest, against George Nicholson, a journeyman baker, of Aston, Birmingham, for the brutal murder of his wife. The prisoner deliberately smashed the deceased's head in with an axe, took her watch and chain, pawned it, and with the proceeds made off to Walsall, where he was arrested on Sunday. The prisoner was heard to say, "I'll make a Whitechapel job of her."
SIR- Being a constant reader of your valuable paper I see by your last night's issue of another atrocious murder at "Birtley." Being for many years a resident in Australia, New Zealand, and America, I have seen blood hounds used in these countries to track murderers and other criminals, and in no one case have they failed. Why our authorities do not use tham is a mystery to me, as the whole police force are entirely at fault up to the present. It may not yet be too late, although the odds are against the hounds, so long having elapsed however, no harm can be done trying, and I feel confident that if the blood hounds were used in the case of Jackson, the murderer of the warder Webb would have been in the hands of the police in less than an hour, and I beg to suggest that should another deplorable atrocity be done, that the dogs be put upon the murderer's track without delay. Apologising for troubling you, I am, &c. AN OLD TRAVELLER September 25.
SIR- In reference to the horrible murder near Gateshead, would you kindly insert the following in your valuable paper. I think two, or three black trackers from Australia should be always employed at the police headquarters, ready to start to the spot where a murder has been committed, at a moment's notice. It was mentioned in your paper, last night, that no footprints could be distinguished around the body. Quite so, to our eyes. But these men I speak of can see certain indications on the ground that a white man cannot, and I believe in this case, being in the country, the murderer could have been tracked right to his destination, as the ground in England is rarely as hard and dry as in Australia. I have followed these men, looking down low on the ground from their saddle. Where I could see no signs of anything at all, and this in the bush where it does not rain sometimes for three or four months at a time, murders have often been found out like this. Hoping the suggestion may be of some use.--- I am, &C., ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN September 24.
