The Times on Saturday 17th November 1888 reported on a slightly bizarre case that had come before East End Magistrate Mr. Lushington.

John M'Carthy who was 28 years old was charged with being involved in assaulting and robbing a man named Michael Hadsburgh.

Apparently Hadsburgh had been acting suspiciously in a local public house by, to quote one witness, "dancing about in the house, saying he was "Jack the Ripper."

This attracted the attention of M'Carthy who asked Hadsbburgh outright "Are you 'Jack the Ripper?'"

When Hadsburgh replied that he was M'Carthy had some more drink and without any warning seized hold of the unfortunate Hadsburgh whereupon a group of four or five men began "...knocking him about, and robbed him of 5s. which he had in his trousers pocket..." They then proceeded to march him to Leman Street Police Station.

At this point Hadsburgh shouted for the Police and when a constable came runing to the scene they all ran away.

Hadsburg though was able to identify John M 'Carthy as the main instigator as the attack and, as a result, M'Carthy was arrested and taken into Police custody.

He pleaded not guilty when he subsequently appeared before the local Magistrate Mr Lushington who then committed him for trial.


Notwithstanding the fact he was evidently attacked and robbed it seems somewhat strange that, with the area in a state of utter panic in the wake of the recent murder of Mary Kelly,Michael Hadsburgh should claim to be Jack the Ripper to the regulars at his local pub!

But what is interesting to note is that several people were seeing the murders as a source of fun. This is reflected in the number fake Jack the Ripper letters that were in circulation around this time.

You can watch various presentations on the area as it was in 1888 on the Jack the Ripper Videos section of our online resource.