Famous Crimes in London – Volume 1: The London Monster, 1788

The London Monster was the name given to an alleged attacker of women in London between 1788-1790. First reports of the Monster appeared in 1788. According to victims (most of them from wealthy families), a large man had followed them, swore at them and stabbed them in the legs. In all cases, the assailant could escape before help arrived. Some women were found with their clothes cut and others had some serious wounds. In two years, the number of reported victims amounted to more than 50.

The press soon named the maniac “The Monster”. When people realized that the Monster attacked mainly beautiful and wealthy women, some women began to claim that they had been attacked to attract attention and sympathy. Some of them even faked wounds. Armed vigilantes began to patrol in the city. Fashionable ladies began to wear copper pans over their petticoats.

On June 30, 1790, Anne Porter claimed that she had seen her attacker in St James Park. Her admirer, John Coleman, began a slow pursuit of the man, who realized he was being followed. When Rhynwick Williams, an unemployed 23-year-old reached his house, Coleman confronted him, accusing him of insulting a lady. He eventually took Williams to meet Anne Porter, who fainted when she saw him. William claimed that he was innocent but it was futile.

During the trial, people cheered the witnesses for the prosecution and insulted those for the defence. One of the victims admitted that she had not been attacked at all. Realizing that the situation was absurd, Williams was given a second chance. In the new trial, Williams’ defence lawyer was an Irish poet Theophilus Swift, whose tactic was to accuse Porter of an evil plan to collect the reward (Coleman had received the reward money and Porter had married him).

The alleged victims gave contradictory stories and one of the most important victims said she had lied about the attack. But still, Williams was convicted on three of the assaults and sentenced to two years for each, for a total of six years in prison. Today, historians think Williams might not have been the attacker. They even question whether the London Monster existed at all beyond the hysteria.