Knife crime was a major problem in the Victorian East End.

In an age when a huge number of men, and boys, carried knives, it didn’t take much for a drunken brawl to result in murder.

On other occasions knife attacks appear to have been more random, as was the case with the following such crime that was reported by
the London Evening Standard in its edition of Monday the 22nd of September, 1873:-

SUSPECTED MURDER OF A FRENCHMAN

On Friday night last a circumstance took place in the vicinity of the Victoria Docks which resulted in the death of a Frenchman under highly suspicious circumstances.

The following are the details aa far aa they have yet transpired.

ATTACKED BY TWO MEN

About half-past eleven on the night in question the deceased, a Frenchman, named Napoleon Renovelle, was walking alone in one of the streets near the river, when suddenly two men appeared and rushed upon him.

One of them inflicted a severe wound in the thigh with a knife or some other sharp instrument; the wound was about four inches long and very deep, and was situated in the vicinity of the femoral artery, which was opened, thus causing profuse bleeding.

The unfortunate man fell down in the street from weakness, and was soon after discovered by a man who happened to be passing, and was attracted by his groans.

At the came time the two assassins were perceived in the distance running away.

TAKEN TO HOSPITAL

The man by whom he was discovered, seeing his desperate condition found a policeman belonging to the X division, into whose hands he entrusted the poor fellow.

The constable obtained assistance and conveyed the wounded man to the London Hospital.

Here he received every care, and the opened artery was secured, but owing to the time which had elapsed since the wound was inflicted, he was almost at death’s door from loss of blood.

A BLOOD TRANSFUSION

As a last resource it was resolved by the surgeon in attendance to attempt to infuse other blood.

A student of the hospital bravely volunteered to give a supply of his own, and upwards of a pint was introduced into the system.

By this means life was prolonged fora time, and a messenger was dispatched for a magistrate to receive his dying deposition.

DEATH OF THE VICTIM

So great, however, was the distance to thee residence of that functionary that, before the messenger returned to say he was coming, the man had expired, in spite of the exertions made to prolong existence.

As yet there is no certainty as to the perpetrators of this apparently wanton crime.

The man who was first on the spot perceived, as we have stated before, two others making away, but the wounded man having a prior call on his attention he did not pursue them.

ARREST OF A RUSSIAN

The police arrested a man who appears to be a Russian, and have reason to suspect him of being in some way connected with the business.

ANOTHER ATTACK THAT NIGHT

Another circumstance may be mentioned which adds to the mystery of the whole affair.

The same night, and after the assassination of Renovelle, the police were accosted by another man, who complained that while proceeding quietly along he was suddenly attacked by a man whom he had never seen before, who inflicted a serious wound on the wrist, and then decamped.

The two crimes may be in some way connected, and there is no doubt that the police, if they have not already obtained some clue to the perpetrators, will use every means in their power to dissolve the strange mystery.

A HUMANE ACT

It is, however, satisfactory to be able to state that the gentleman who freely offered his own blood on the chance of saving a fellow creature is none the worse for his humane act beyond a slight weakness.

THE SUSPECTS AT THE OLD BAILEY

The Sun And Central Press reported on the trial of two suspects in its edition of Friday, the 31st of October 1873

At the Old Bailey, two Spaniards, named Muralli and Sandoni, were charged with feloniously slaying a Frenchman named Napoleon Renovelle.

The deceased was walking near the Victoria Docks, when the prisoners, it was alleged, rushed out, and struck him in the thigh with a knife.

He was taken to the London Hospital exhausted by the loss of blood, when it was determined by the surgeons to infuse other blood.

A student bravely volunteered, and nearly a pint was taken from him.

Before a magistrate could arrive, however, the unfortunate man died.

Murelli was found guilty, and sentenced to five years’ penal servitude. Sandoni was acquitted.