For today’s true crime tale, we head back to January 1881, when a break-in in Battersea almost led to murder.
The Diss Express covered the story in its edition of Friday the 7th of January 1881:-
ATTEMPTED MURDER IN BATTERSEA
It appears that rather more than three months ago a German named Fredk. Meyer, in the employ of Reinhardt Orb, a pork butcher, of 68, York Road, Battersea, was prosecuted by his employer for robbing him, and he was sentenced to three months hard labour.
On coming out of prison, Meyer summoned the police to Wandsworth Police Court for detaining £36 10s., a gold watch and chain, and three gold rings, found in his possession when arrested, but which Mr. Orb alleged were the produce of the robbery from him.
Mr. Sheil, the magistrate, ordered the watch and chain to be given up to Meyer, and the money to Mr. Orb.
On leaving the court, Meyer was heard to observe that he “would have the money somehow.”
THE LADDER AGAINST THE WALL
About half-past eleven o’clock at night Henry Moller, one of Mr. Orb’s men, went into the back yard of his employer’s premises, where he saw a ladder that had been placed against the side of the house.
He told Mr. Orb, who at once commenced to search the premises, suspecting that someone had entered the house by a closet window near the ladder, which window was open.
MEYER RUSHED OUT
On entering the front first-floor room, a man, whom he recognized as Meyer, rushed out from behind the door. Mr. Orb attempted to stop him, at which point Meyer struck at him with a large butcher’s knife he had in his hand, knocking him down, and inflicting a severe gash on his head.
Meyer then got out of the window by which had entered, scrambled down the ladder, and, climbing over several garden walls into a side street, he escaped.
His hat and the knife – a new one, and a most formidable-looking weapon – he left behind in his haste.
THE POLICE TRACK HIM DOWN
The case was placed by Superintendent Bigby in the hands of Inspectors Shaw and Jones, who discovered that Mayer had been courting Miss Souter, the daughter of a baker at Upper North-street, Poplar.
This clue led to the further discovery that he had been recently lodging in the German colony at Whitechapel.
ARRESTED AFTER A STRUGGLE
Eventually, his lodging in Suffolk-street, Whitechapel, was found, but he had not been there all night.
The house was watched, and, on his coming home the following evening, he was arrested.
He made a desperate resistance, but was eventually overpowered, handcuffed, and conveyed to Battersea.
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