Morning Advertiser (London)
23 November 1888
THE CASE OF CONSTABLE BROWN.
Mr. MATTHEWS, in reply to Mr. CUNINGHAME GRAHAM, said that Constable Brown, who was kicked by a soldier’s horse on Jubilee-day, had not been pensioned, but had been awarded an extension of his previous six months’ sick pay.
METROPOLITAN LODGING HOUSES.
Mr. HOWELL asked the Home Secretary whether his attention had been called to the remarks of a metropolitan magistrate, Mr. Montagu Williams, at Worship-street Police Court on Monday last, namely, "that the whole crime of the district is due to registered lodging-houses …Which are made the homes of the men who perpetrate robberies," and of the words of the policeman, whom he quotes, who "said they were the resort of notorious characters," and whether he would cause an inquiry to be instituted into the common lodging-houses of the metropolis, with a view to further legislation and inspection.
Mr. MATTHEWS said he had not been able to ascertain whether the magistrate made use of the language attributed to him, but the police authorities knew of no case in which a police-constable had said that the lodging-houses "were the resort of notorious characters." In the opinion of the police it could not be said that crime was due to common lodging-houses. No doubt a certain number of the criminal class did reside in registered lodging-houses, but the owners were ready to assist the police with information, and the inmates were under better police supervision than they would be if driven elsewhere. He had been for some time past in communication with the Local Government Board to ascertain whether the legislation dealing with common lodging-houses not be improved.
Elizabeth Durham, 23, an "unfortunate," was charged with behaving in a disorderly manner; also with assaulting John Pope, an engine-fitter, living at 35, Foley-street, Regent-street.
The evidence showed that about twelve o’clock on Wednesday night the prosecutor went into the "Royal Standard," Seymour-place, to have some refreshment, and soon after being there the prisoner and another woman entered and were served. Durham, without any cause, made grimaces at him. He told her to mind her own business, and not interfere with him, when she picked up two drinking-glasses and hurled them at him, and he was wounded in the face. She also threw a match-stand at him, and fortunately he warded it off, or it would have done serious damage either to him or to the windows of the house.
Police-constable 312 D said he heard the prisoner shouting and using very bad language in the street, so he took her into custody.
Barrett (the assistant-gaoler) said the prisoner only came out of prison last Monday, after undergoing six weeks imprisonment, for damaging the eye of a woman who had lost the sight of one eye. She was a very violent woman.
The prisoner’s defence was that, as she was having refreshment in the public-house, the prosecutor said to her, "I wish I was ‘Jack the Ripper,’ It’s no harm killing the likes of you."
That statement was, however, denied both by the prosecutor and the landlord.
Mr. Cooke sentenced the prisoner to two months’ imprisonment.
THE WHITECHAPEL MURDERS.
No person was in custody last night in connexion with the latest East-end outrage. The detention of a man early yesterday morning was due to the cries of a woman who said the man had drawn a knife, but it appears that the occurrence was an ordinary quarrel to which the police attach no importance. Several man have been brought to the police-stations in the district on suspicion, but have been released after inquiries.
At Worship-street police Court yesterday, before Mr.. Saunders, a decent, but poorly dressed woman, giving the name of Louisa Day, was charged with being a person on unsound mind not under proper control.
Police-constable 499 J said that the prisoner entered the Bethnal-green police-station on Wednesday night and said she was in danger of her life from "Jack the Ripper," that she was related to the Royal family, and made other curious statements, so that the inspector, after questioning her, ordered her to be charged as a wandering lunatic.
Mr. Saunders (to the prisoner): What have you to say about yourself?
Prisoner: Well, sir, I did mention the Prince of Wale’s name, but that was all. I said he was my brother. But you know we are all brothers and sisters. - (Laughter.) It is true that I am in danger of my life, not, perhaps, from "Jack the Ripper," but from others who follow me about. I have been lodging in Dorset-street, and was there the other night, when I heard the gang threatening Mr. Charrington’s life.
Mr. Saunders: Have you a husband?
Yes, sir; in the Mile-end infirmary. My daughter is with the Bishop of Bedford.
Mr. Saunders: I think if your life is in danger, we had better have you looked after, and the constable shall take you to the workhouse. There they will inquire into the state of your mind.
The prisoner, who behaved very quietly, curtseyed to the magistrate before leaving the dock.
THAMES.
John Hurley, 19, was charged on remand, before Mr. Lushington, with assaulting Constable Wilcock, 148 H, while in the execution of his duty.
On Saturday, at midnight, Wilcock was standing outside a public-house in Fieldgate-street, Whitechapel, when the prisoner came up and tripped him into the road. A crowd got round him and kicked him while he was on the ground.
Prisoner was committed for trial.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET
John Findley, 32, carman, Drummond-crescent, Euston-road, was charged before Mr. Hannay, with assaulting two young women named Jane Kent and Jessie Farnham.
The evidence was to the effect that as the two girls were talking to each other in Great Portland-street, at twenty minutes to one o’clock yesterday morning, the prisoner came up behind them and put his arm around Kent’s waist. She asked him what he meant by such conduct, when the accused exclaimed. "I am allowed to do as I like, as you are out so late." Kent then told him that if a policeman was present she would give him in charge, and the words were no sooner out of her mouth than he struck her a blow in the face with his open hand. He also assaulted the girl Farnham.
Constable Collins, 400 D, deposed to arresting Findley, who in his presence, attempted to strike both the girls.
In defence the prisoner said he had no recollection of touching the girls.
Mr. Hannay said the young woman were entitled to protection, and inflicted a fine of 10s., with the alternative of seven days’ imprisonment.
