Hans Bure
In October 1888, Hans Bure, a well dressed German, was charged at Thames Police-Court with assaulting Elizabeth Jennings, of 37 Duckett-street, Stepney. The assault happened at about 12.30 on Saturday night. Jennings was walking along Harford street, on an errand, when Bure caught hold of her arm and said, 'Come along with me'. She refused his request and made an attempt to escape, whereupon the man gave chase. Jennings was frightened, and her screams soon drew a crowd, who encircled the man and began calling him Jack the Ripper. They detained him until a Constable arrived to take him into custody. Bure, who it is claimed could not speak English, talked through an interpreter, and said that he did not mean anything by his actions. He had been drinking and took the woman to be a prostitute. He admitted accosting her. Bure received a fine of 40s or one months hard labour.
