Berner Street Suspect

[Joshua Rogan]

I've just come across this snippet of info from the Star, 23rd Nov 1888;

IN THE POLICE COURTS TO-DAY.
From Mile-End to America.

The man Benalins, a Swede, who was arrested as a suspect after the Berner-street murder, and last week was taken into custody for going into the parlor of a house in Mile-End, and nearly frightening a woman to death, was discharged at Worship-street. The Charity Organisation Society is going to send him back to America.

Does anyone know any more about this Benalins? Could he be the man the truth of who's story was not wholly believed?

[Jon Guy]

I've just come across this snippet of info from the Star, 23rd Nov 1888;

IN THE POLICE COURTS TO-DAY.
From Mile-End to America.

The man Benalins, a Swede, who was arrested as a suspect after the Berner-street murder, and last week was taken into custody for going into the parlor of a house in Mile-End, and nearly frightening a woman to death, was discharged at Worship-street. The Charity Organisation Society is going to send him back to America.

Does anyone know any more about this Benalins? Could he be the man the truth of who's story was not wholly believed?

It refers to Nikaner Benelius.
There should be a fair amount of info about him if you do a search

[Joshua Rogan]

Many thanks Jon, found him now;

Morning Advertiser, Nov 18th 1888

"At the Worship-street Police Court on Saturday Nikaner A. Benelius, 27 years of age, a Swede, and described as a traveler, living in Great Eastern-street, Shoreditch, was placed in the dock, before Mr. Bushby, charged with entering a dwelling-house in Buxton-street, Mile-end, for an unlawful purpose, and with refusing to give an account of himself.-Detective-sergeant Dew attended from Commercial-street station, and stated that the prisoner had been arrested that morning under circumstances which made it desirable to have the fullest inquiries made as to him. Prior to the last murder-of Mary Kelly, in Miller's-court-the prisoner had been arrested by the police and detained n connexion with the Berner-street murder, but was eventually released. He had, however, remained about the neighbourhood, lodging in a German lodging-house, but having, the officer said, no apparent means of subsistence; in fact, the landlord admitted that the prisoner was 25s. in debt to him.-Harriet Rowe, a married woman, living in Buxton-street, Mile-end, then deposed that at about 10.30 that morning she had left the street door open, and whilst sitting in the parlour the prisoner, a stranger to her, opened the door and walked in. She asked him what he wanted, but he only "grinned" in reply. She was greatly alarmed, being alone, and ran to the window, but the prisoner then opened the parlour door and left. She followed him into the street until she saw a constable, but the prisoner first stopped the officer and spoke to him. She (witness) ran up and told the constable what the prisoner had done, and he was thereupon taken to the station.-The police-constable, Imhoff, 211 H, said that the prisoner was asking him the way to Fenchurch-street when the witness Rowe ran up. After hearing her complaint, he asked the prisoner what he wanted to go to Fenchurch-street for, and the prisoner said he expected some letters at the post-office. The prisoner was searched at the station, but nothing was found on him. In answer to the charge he said he only went into the house to ask his way to Fenchurch-street.-Mr. Bushby said he should follow the usual course and remand the prisoner for inquiries. The prisoner was remanded till Friday.-Two men, one of whom was stated to be the prisoner's landlord subsequently called abut him and said that he had been preaching in the street at times and acting of late very strangely."

Interesting that his landlord says Benelius was 25 shillings behind with his rent, which makes Mary Kelly's arrears with McCarthy a little less remarkable.

[Ginger]

Interesting that his landlord says Benelius was 25 shillings behind with his rent, which makes Mary Kelly's arrears with McCarthy a little less remarkable.

That's an interesting point indeed!