An Attempted Murder

At around 1am on 3rd December 1888 the area around King's Cross(approximately 5 miles from the area where the Jack the Ripper murders occurred) was abuzz with rumours that another attempt had been made to murder a woman.

A prostitute named Harriet North, who lived at 12 Wood street, Cromer street, just off Gray's Inn road, was approached on Euston road by a young man who had a black moustache.

The two of them talked for a little time and then, presumably having agreed a fee for her services, she went with him along Belgrave street, King's Cross.

A few minutes later she realised that he had stabbed her in the abdomen with a sharp object. She cried out at him "Oh, my God, what have you done?"

The man didn't reply and hurried off. Luckily one of her friends, Sarah Ann Masters, heard her terrified screams and ran to her assistance.

Police constables Hy. Stone and Chas. Palmer had soon arrived on the scene and discovered that she was bleeding profusely from the wound. They rushed her to the Royal Free Hospital, Gray's Inn road, where she was seen by Dr. henry Tonks, one of the house surgeons, who admitted her onto Milne Ward.

According to Harriet North the man was a foreigner with a heavy black moustache.Indeed, this description tallies with that given in the Channel five programme reported and discussed in our Face of Jack the Ripper article.

However, journalists making enquiries at the Royal Free Hospital on the monring of December 3rd, were informed that Harriet North was not in any danger and doubts were being expressed as to whether she had actually been stabbed at all.

According to one newspaper:-

There are some scratches on the were (sic) part of the body but these might have been caused by sharp fingernails, in a struggle. The woman will most likely leave the hospital today. No importance is attached to the matter.

The Press Association reported that:-

The injury discovered on examination is in the nature of an abrasion, and could not have been inflicted by any sharp instrument, such as a knife. So strong is Mr. Tonks's opinion that it is not a case of premeditated assault, that he thinks the man probably was as much alarmed at the appearance of blood as the woman herself, and so made his escape. A woman named Sarah Ann Masters, who lives in the same house as Worth (sic), was with her for a few minutes before the occurrence, Masters having been accosted by the same man. From a statement of Masters it would appear that the woman Worth was herself under the impression that she had been stabbed with a knife, and that in her alarm she called Masters to her assistance. the woman's fears as to the nature of her injury are not, however, borne out by the surgeon in whose temporary charge she has been placed.