John Royall
In July 1889 John Royall, a 35 year old labourer, who gave an address in Long Lane Borough, was charged with violently assaulting and threatening to murder Nora Brown. On Saturday morning at about 1 a.m. Brown was standing near St Georges Church, when he approached her and inquired how she was, to which she replied that she was all right. He then invited her to have coffee with him, to which she agreed. While they were drinking the coffee Royall asked her if she would accompany him on a walk, to which she dually consented. They walked down a court in the borough, where Royall attempted to assault her. She resisted, to which he urged her to keep quiet, before adding, 'If you don't, Ill rip you up', at the same time producing a knife from his pocket. She grabbed hold of his scarf, which was round his neck, and called out, 'Police, murder'. When Royall heard someone approaching he struck her a violent blow to the face with his fist, cut the scarf with the knife and made off. Police Constable Albert Crancy 116 M said, when he arrived on the scene the woman said to him, 'Jack the Ripper has been trying it on me, he has run down there', pointing in the direction that Royall had fled. The policeman quickly gave chase and apprehended Royall, who when confronted with the allegation of assault said, 'It's a mistake'. When Royall was searched at the police station a large pocket knife was found on him. In reply to the charge against him he replied, 'It is a mistake', and that he was drunk. This claim was contradicted by the Constable who said that Royall was quite sobar at the time of the incident. He was remanded in custody.
