Morning Advertiser (London)
26 September 1888
Charles Ludwig, who is charged with having threatened to stab Alexander Finlay, was again brought up at the Thames Police Court yesterday, and remanded. The accused at the time he was arrested was wanted on a charge of having threatened to stab a woman in the Minories. The woman could not be found when the case first came before the court, but it is stated that the police have now discovered her.
THE KNIFE IN WHITECHAPEL
Before Mr. Saunders, at the Thames Police Court, yesterday, Charles Ludwig, 40, a German, who professed not to understand English, and who gave an address in the Minories, was brought up on remand, charged with having threatened to stab Alexander Finlay, of 51 Leman street, Whitechapel.
The evidence of the prosecutor showed that at three o'clock on the morning of that day he was standing at a coffee stall in the Whitechapel, when Ludwig came up. The person in charge of the stall refused to serve him. Ludwig seemed much annoyed, and said to the witness, "What are you looking at?" He then pulled out a long bladed knife, and threatened to stab the witness with it. Ludwig followed him round the stall, and made several attempts to stab him, until the witness threatened to knock a dish on his head. A constable cam up, and he was then given into custody.
Police constable 221 H said that when he was called to take the prisoner into custody he found him in a very excited condition. The witness had previously received information that Ludwig was wanted in the City jurisdiction for attempting to cut a woman's throat with a razor. On the way to the station the prisoner dropped a long bladed knife, which was open, and when he was searched a razor and a long bladed 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. The witness went down the court, and found the prisoner with a woman. The witness asked the prisoner 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. The witness got her and the accused out of the court, and sent the latter off. The witness 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!" The 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 the 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.
The woman Ludwig is alleged to have threatened to stab has been found. She is well known to the police, and her name is Elizabeth Burns.
Adam Sheriff, 39, was charged with having threatened to stab Margaret Welsh. The prosecutor was unable to attend. Jane Charles, 12 years of age, living at 82 Lambeth street, Whitechapel, said that on Monday afternoon the prisoner had a row with his wife. Mrs. Welsh was there, and the prisoner drew his knife to her. He called her names, and said, "I'll cut you with this knife." The prisoner was given into custody. Constable 355 H said that when arrested the accused said, "If I get six months I'll rip her up when I come out." He made an attempt to get at her when the witness was holding him. Mr. Saunders remanded the accused.
