spring-heeled jack... wagga (1918)
TRANSCRIPT
The Border Morning Mail and Riverina Times (Albury, NSW : 1903 - 1920), Tuesday 11 June 1918, page 2
National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109708022
'Spring-Heeled Jack.'
lERRLTTES EEMALES IE WAGGA
!
MAST'S MYSTERIOUS MOVE
MENTS AT NIGHT
ATTEMPT TO ENTER WOMAN'S BED-;ROOM. !
- (By Our Travelling Representative.) j
WAUtrA
At least a portion of the female population of Wagga lives more or less at
night in terror in locked houses, owingto recent adventures which women andgirls have had with a man, who is designated 'Spring-heeled Jack.'
*
The stories
related in the streets concerning this in-}
dividual (who would appear to be gifted[
with extraordinary cunning rather than;being eccentric) are so startunj; that, al
lowing for a certain amount of exaggeration, they appear to be credible. A sug
gestion that the stories may be merely-die imaginations or eoneoctions of sever
al females of highly strung temperamentwas promptly scouted to-day by a busi;
ness man, who furnished the names ofabout half a dozen women and girls,
who had been terror-stricken by the asi
nine behavior of. 'Sprink-heeled ._. Jack.'
who is alternatively styled 'SlipperyJack.'
The man is described as being tall, anddressed in a grey suit. To aid him in
his work at night, he is said to have used
a false beard, which is trimmed to a pointsomething like the beard pictured as worn
the beard, he always ,has the lapel of his
coat turned up and fastened near the
mouth, masking the bottom portion of
his face.
His campaign of 'frightfulness'' has ex
tended over three weeks, during which
time he has been under strict surveillance
by the Wagga police force. Every nightfor some days this man was 'shadowed'
by constables. The man suspected was
often seen in the main streets, and all
lus movements were closely watched byplainclothes policemen, but nothing haseventuated to warrant his arrest, so it
was officially stated to-day. His placeof lodging was watched practically dayand night, and several citizens have beenon the alert in the hope that they might
The fact that respectable girls have
been chased in dark streets when near
their homes by this scoundrel, or thatj
they have been frightened out of New-1
town Park, the noise of their scurryingfeet beins accompanied by hysterical cries
of 'Murder,' Police,' and 'Save Me,'has naturally given, scope for all sorts of
exaggerated, versions of the actual occur
rences. The result is that very few femalesin NeTvtown will now venture out at night,
unless compelled to do so, and then onlywhen in the company of parents or other
guardians. The picture entertainments
guardians. The picture entertainmentsa number of their
rons, though the 'houses' are again reach
ing their normal proportions. This is
chiefly due to the reneatcd statement that
'Slippery Jack' has' left Wagga. Nothingappears to have been seen or heard of
him since last Saturday week. Wherebe is now no one appears to know. Ru
mors are busy, however, in trying to lo
cate him, and Junee is now said to be
his hiding place. Others say he left
Wagga on a coach for Humula (35 miles
from Ttunbarumba), while some express
the belief that he went on to Albury.Questioned in Alburv on Sunday. Ser
geant Kersley admitted havins heard talkin Albury tliat 'sp-ing-ueeled Jaeii' was
in the town. He sail the police had
not seen any man answering his description, and there was no need for alarm.
The police are keeping a close watch for
any stranger answering 'Slippery Jack's'description.
MAN TRIES TO ENTER WOMAN'SHOME.