John Benjamin Perryman
John Benjamin Perryman a 40 year old hairdresser living in Pennethorne-road Peckham was charged before Lambeth magistrates with being drunk and disorderly. The incident happened on Wednesday night 14 November 1888 in the Old Kent-road. Two detectives Leek and Reed who fortunately happened to be in the area at the time heard a disturbance and went to investigate, they found Perryman surrounded by an angry crowd. The man had caused considerable alarm by manhandling several females, flourishing his arms about, exhibiting a black bag and proclaiming he was Jack the Ripper. With great difficulty the man was taken to the police station the crowd followed closely behind. At the police station a search of his person and his bag revealed a dagger and sheath, a life preserver and two pairs of scissors. When asked why he was carrying such items about with him Perryman replied 'that he was going to have them ground'. His sister stated that she was aware he carried a dagger about his person though for what purpose she did not know. She also said that had been intoxicated for a long time. Perryman it is claimed was known as the 'mad barber of Peckham'.
