As January, 1889, began, and the spectre of Jack the Ripper began to diminish in the East End of London, many people were wondering what had happened to the fiend that had terrorised the enclaves of Whitechapel and Spitalfields during the autumn of 1888.
A SIMILAR CRIME IN GLASGOW
Then, on January 3rd, 1889, news broke that a similar type of attack had actually taken place in Glasgow, and newspapers began to wonder if the ripper had headed north to Scotland.
The South Wales Echo, reported the known facts in its edition of Thursday, January 3rd, 1889:-
JACK THE RIPPER AT GLASGOW
AN UNFORTUNATE STABBED
A PROMPT CAPTURE
“The Glasgow police report this morning that an attempted Jack the Ripper case has occurred in Glasgow.
This morning, in the darkness, John Stevenson enticed an unfortunate named Mary McKenzie into the Exchange-court.
He threw his arms around her, and stabbed her on the neck and in seven places on the abdomen.
She cried “Help,” and the police caught Stevenson.
The woman McKenzie was removed to the hospital, where she now lies in a precarious condition. Stevenson is aged only 19.
THE ASSAILANT BEFORE THE MAGISTRATES
Another telegram says:- Mary McKenzie, an unfortunate, was, early this morning, in a court, near the Royal Exchange, Glasgow, stabbed by John Stevenson, 19, coachbuilder, residing in Anderston, Glasgow, in the neck and seven or eight places in the abdomen.
Her assailant fled, but after a smart chase was captured, and today he was remanded at the Central Police-court.
The woman lies in the Royal Infirmary.
SUPPLEMENTARY FACTS
Another correspondent telegraphs that great sensation was caused in Glasgow this morning by the report that an atrocious murder had been perpetrated in the court leading off Queen-street, near to the Royal Exchange, the circumstances being similar to those accompanying the tragedies recently enacted in London.
Enquiries showed that the woman was not dead, but that she had received a number of terrible wounds.
A SUMMARY OF THE KNOWN FACTS
The facts are as follows:-
Soon after one o’clock this morning an unfortunate woman, named Mary Mackenzie, was accosted by a young man near the Royal Exchange, and was persuaded to accompany him up a court at 85, Queen-street.
They had no sooner got into a dark and secluded corner than he threw his arm round the woman, and with a pocket-knife stabbed her in the neck, then immediately withdrawing the blade he plunged it rapidly seven or eight times in succession into her abdomen.
The poor creature apparently surmised his intention, and seems to have succeeded in warding off the force of some of the blows. Had she not done so, the stabs must certainly have proved fatal.
THE PERPETRATOR ARRESTED
Her loud cries brought assistance, whereupon the man fled.
He was, however, caught after a short chase, and, on being taken to the police office, the prisoner gave his name as John Stevenson.
He described himself as a coachbuilder, residing in Anderston, Glasgow, his age being 19.
CHARGED AT THE POLICE COURT
He was under the influence of drink at the time.
He was charged at the Central police-court, to-day, and remanded for 24 hours.
His victim, after being carried to the police-office, was conveyed to the Royal Infirmary, where she now lies.
EMULATING THE WHITECHAPEL MURDERER
There is no apparent motive for the crime and the police assume that Stevenson must have conceived a drunken idea of emulating the Whitechapel murderer.
A BLOODSTAINED PAVEMENT
The pavement at the place where the woman, Mary Mackenzie, was stabbed is sprinkled with blood spots.
A number of people are gathered at the point, which is quite close to the Royal Exchange.
AN EXCITING CHASE
Mr David Lamberton, a commission agent at Paisley, who captured the criminal, states that he was passing along Queen-street when he heard cries of murder and the whistling of the police alarms.
He saw a young man run along Ingram-street towards George-square, with the police in hot pursuit.
He ran up Queen-street into George-square, and there met the prisoner full face.
Lamberton seized him, but Stevenson said, “It’s not me.”
Lamberton did not know what had happened, but he held the man until the police secured him.
In his pocket was found a knife with blood upon it.
THE VICTIM’S CONDITION
The medical authorities of the infirmary report that the case of Mary Mackenzie is a very bad one, but they hope it will not prove fatal.”