spring-heeled jack... wagga (1918)

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.