…At Dalston Police-court, yesterday, James Johnson, Whitechapel, aged 35, a well-set, pale complexioned, and clean shaven man, with a strong American accent, residing in Wandsworth, waiter, was charged with assaulting Elizabeth Hudson, by throwing her down on the pavement and threatening to stab her in Richmond-road, Kingsland. The prosecutrix, who described herself as unfortunate, said that prisoner met her at two o'clock yesterday morning, as she was going home, threw her to the ground, and then produced a long knife, and attempted to stab her. Her cries attracted the attention of the police, who arrested Johnson, as he was running away. Prosecutrix said the knife was 8 or 10 inches long. The police failed to find the knife referred to. Prisoner denied the allegations of the prosecutrix, and said she accosted him. Johnson was proved to be a very respectable man, while on the other hand the police said the prosecutrix was the worst and most troublesome prostitute in the neighbourhood. Other evidence having been given, the magistrate discharged Johnson, remarking that he had got himself out of a very awkward scrape. John Fitzgerald, who was arrested at Wandsworth charged on his own confession with the Whitechapel murders, has been liberated.
