Islington Gazette (U.K.)
Wednesday, 10 October 1888
THE WHITECHAPEL SCARE.
MURDEROUS ASSAULT ON A DETECTIVE.
James Phillips, aged 37, a cab-washer, and William Jarvis, aged 40, were charged at the Clerkenwell Police-court, on Tuesday, with being concerned together in cutting and wounding Detective-sergeant Robinson, at Phoenix-place, St. Pancras. Jarvis was further charged with cutting and wounding Henry Doncaster, at the same time and place.
Mr. Ricketts, solicitor, appeared for the prisoners.
Detective-sergeant Robinson, G Division, said between 12 and 1 o'clock that morning, in company with Detective Mather and three or four Italians, he was watching a man who was acting suspiciously with a woman in Phoenix-place. At about twenty minutes to 1, a woman came up to him and said, "What are you doing here?" Witness replied that he was a police-officer. Shortly afterwards Jarvis came up to him and said, "What are you messing about here for." At that time witness had a woman's hat and mantle on. He took off the hat and said he was a police-officer, and that the other men were with him. Jarvis said, "Oh, you are cats and frogs are you?" and struck him a violent blow in the eye with his fist. Witness then took hold of Jarvis by the coat, but he pulled out a knife and stabbed him over the left eye. Witness fell to the ground, and Jarvis again stabbed him on the bridge of the nose. Witness, while on the ground, struck Jarvis on the head with his truncheon and tried to knock the knife out of his hand. The prisoner Phillips then came up and kicked him violently on the arm and in the ribs. Both prisoners ran away, and shortly afterwards he saw Jarvis strike the man Doncaster, who had been assisting witness. Doncaster cried out, "I am stabbed." He then heard Jarvis call out, "Cats and dogs," and several men came out of a cab-yard with pitchforks, but did not use them. Several constables had by this time arrived, and the prisoners were seized and taken to the station.
Cross-examined - Was anticipating the capture of the Whitechapel murderer. He disguised himself as a woman, because a scare was raised in the district that "Jack the Ripper" was about. Would swear that he told Jarvis he was a police-constable in the first instance. Did not know that Jarvis's head was nearly broken. There were not two police officers in uniform watching the struggle. The crowd did not appeal to any constable to protect Jarvis.
Henry Doncaster, of 26, Warner-street, deposed that he was standing behind a cab with Detectives Robinson and Mather early that morning in Phoenix-place, watching a man and woman. While there, the two prisoners came up, and spoke insultingly to them. Detective Robinson informed them that they were police officers, when Jarvis said, "You are ---- 'tecs," and struck him in the eye. They both fell to the ground, and he saw Jarvis make a stab at the detective. Witness went to Robinson's assistance, but he was hustled away, and, he believed, stabbed in the chin by Jarvis.
Cross-examined - Heard the rumour that the Whitechapel murderer was about the neighbourhood. Did not assume the dress of a woman. Jarvis looked as if he had a piece of wood in his hand when he struck Robinson.
Dr. John Alexander Miller said, at 1.30 that morning, he was called to the Kings-cross-road Police-station to dress the complainant's and prisoner's wounds. Sergeant Robinson had a wound three-quarters of an inch in length, and penetrating to the bone above the left eyebrow, The wound was irregular and star-shaped. Doncaster had a wound on the left jaw similar to the wound on Robinson's forehead, and his right jaw was dislocated. Upon examining Jarvis, he found that his right eye was much contused and swollen. On the right side of his head there was a contused wound about an inch in length. Phillips also had a contused wound on the back of the head. He examined the knife (produced), which was marked with blood. A blow with the knife closed would have produced the wound on Robinson's forehead.
Cross-examined - Jarvis was seriously injured, and bled very much.
Mr. Bros remanded the prisoners for a week, refusing to allow bail.
James Connolly, aged 49, a plasterer, of East-place, Chapel-street, and Agnes Connolly, aged 42, married, of the same address, were charged on Monday, at the Clerkenwell Police-court, the former with being drunk and disorderly, and the latter with being disorderly and attempting to rescue the former from the custody of the police. Police-constable James, 183 N, deposed to seeing the prisoners on Saturday night in the Liverpool-road, fighting. He requested them to go away, but they refused. He parted them when another man joined in the disturbance. Witness then took James Connolly into custody, when his wife came up behind and attempted to pull him away. By this time a large crowd had assembled, and the male prisoner was several times addressed as "Jack the Ripper." The prisoner - Yes, they say that because I am like "Jack the Ripper." Mr. Bros fined the male prisoner 5s., and discharged the female.
