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The Munster News and Limerick and Clare Advocate
Limerick, Ireland
Saturday, 24th November 1888

ATTEMPTED MURDER IN WHITECHAPEL

Further details of this attempted murder states that the woman who was the victim of this outrage was named Annie Farmer. She is stated to be a married woman of good appearance, and about 38 years of age. A woman who stated she had some knowledge of the circumstances, said the injured woman, who is also known as Matilda, has been in the habit of lodging in common lodging-houses in the locality, and has known the man who attacked her for about twelve months. About 7 o'clock she met the man near Spitalfields Church, and she stated that she was not able to pay for a bed. The man thereupon accompanied her to 19 George street running from Flower and Dean street to Thrawl street. About half past 9 the man hurriedly left the house, and almost immediately the woman came down stairs with her throat cut and bleeding profusely. It appears that when the man attempted to cut her throat a struggle ensued and she was able to give the alarm. Her assailant then fled, and was observed to leave the house hurriedly, but the man who saw him attached no importance to the circumstance. Others, however, who heard the alarm followed, but lost him in the direction of Heneage street. The woman says she can identify him, and the police have issued the following description:-

"Wanted for the attempted murder on the 21st inst, a man aged 36 years; height, 5 feet 6 inches; complexion dark; no whiskers; dark moustache; dress - black jacket, vest and trousers; round black felt hat; respectable appearance; can be identified."

On arriving at the police station Farmer was placed in a warm comfortable room and interrogated. She was suffering, however, from the effects of drink, and was in such a stupid condition that neither a coherent narrative nor a satisfactory description of her assailant could be extracted from her. It was not indeed until the evening that the woman had sufficiently recovered from her debauch to answer the questions with anything like clearness, and the description which she ultimately gave of the attempt on her life, and the appearance of the would-be murderer was somewhat confusing. It seems certain, however, that the man was not a stranger to Farmer, and that she had known him as a casual acquaintance for about twelve months. This, together with the evidence of some of the men who pursued the fugitive, has furnished the police with a clue which it is hoped they will follow to a successful issue.


Related pages:
  Annie Farmer
       Message Boards: Annie Farmer 
       Press Reports: Atchison Daily Globe - 21 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Chicago Tribune - 23 July 1889 
       Press Reports: Daily News - 22 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily Telegraph - 22 November 1888 
       Press Reports: East London Advertiser - 24 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening News - 21 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening News - 22 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening News - 23 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening News - 26 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening Star - 21 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening Star - 22 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Frederick News - 23 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Irish Times - 22 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Manchester Guardian - 22 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Manitoba Daily Free Press - 23 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Marion Daily Star - 22 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Mitchell Daily Republican - 22 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Morning Advertiser - 22 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Munster News - 21 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Munster News - 24 November 1888 
       Press Reports: New York Herald - 22 November 1888 
       Press Reports: New York Times - 22 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Newark Daily Advocate - 22 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Olean Democrat - 22 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Ottawa Free Press - 21 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Pall Mall Gazette - 21 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Semi Weekly Age - 23 November 1888 
       Press Reports: St. James Gazette - 21 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Star - 21 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Star - 22 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Times [London] - 22 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Times [London] - 23 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Washington Post - 22 November 1888 
       Victims: Annie Farmer 

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