At the Thames Police-court, on Saturday, before Mr. Lushington, WILLIAM WALLACE BRODIE, 33, having no occupation, and no fixed abode, was charged, on his own confession, with the murder of Alice M'Kenzie [McKenzie]. Considerable interest was excited by the appearance of the prisoner on account of the rumour that he was the author of all the eight Whitechapel murders.
Inspector Pinhorn, H Division, deposed that at 8:50 on Thursday night he was in charge of the Leman-street Police Station. The prisoner came up to the window of the office, and said he wished to give himself up for the murder of that woman on Tuesday night. He added "I do not tell you anything about the other eight or nine." Witness questioned him but he could get nothing more from him. He was under the influence of drink, if not suffering from delirium tremens, when he made the statement.
Detective-Inspector Henry Moore said that about 10 o'clock on Friday morning he found the prisoner detained at Leman-street Police Station. He was in a very depressed state. Witness said, "Do you remember coming here last night and the serious charge you preferred against yourself?" He said "Yes. I committed the murder on Tuesday night, and if you like will tell you all about it." I told him I would take it down in writing. He then made a rambling statement. He added "This is the ninth murder that I have committed in Whitechapel, but none of them have caused any trouble to my mind except the last one. What with that and a worm in my head that wriggles about I cannot stand it any longer." It was shown that at the time of the murder he was asleep at his lodgings at Harvey's-buildings, Strand.
Mr. Lushington remanded the accused.
JOHN ROYALL, 35, a labourer, giving an address in Long-lane, Borough, was charged with violently assaulting and threatening to murder Nora Brown. The prosecutrix said that about 1 a.m. on Saturday morning she was standing near St. George's Church when the prisoner came up and asked her how she was. She replied that she was all right, and he then invited her to have a cup of coffee. While they were drinking the coffee at the stall near the church the accused asked her to go for a walk with him, and she consented. They went down a court in the Borough, and the prisoner attempted to assault her. She resisted, and the accused said, "Be quiet; if you don't I'll rip you up," at the same time taking a knife out of his pocket. She caught hold of a scarf which the prisoner was wearing round his neck and called out "Police" and "Murder." When he heard some one approaching he struck her a violent blow in the face with his fist, cut the scarf with the knife, and made off. Police-constable Albert Crancy, 116 M, said when he arrived on the scene the prosecutrix said, "Jack the Ripper has been trying it on me; he has run down there," pointing in the direction the man had gone. The witness ran in the direction indicated and caught the accused. Witness said, "A woman charges you with having threatened to stab her," and the accused replied, "It's a mistake." When searched at the station a large pocket-knife was found on him. In reply to the charge the prisoner now said, "It's a mistake; I was drunk." This was denied by the constable, who said the prisoner was quite sober. Mr. Slade remanded the accused.
