8. The Authorities never Convicted anyone for the Crimes of Spring Heeled Jack.
Perhaps the most frightening aspect of the case of Spring Heeled Jack for the populace of London was that the courts never convicted anyone for his crimes. That is not to say that there was any shortage of suspects. Shortly after the Jane Alsop incident, a man called Thomas Millbank was tried at Lambeth Street Court for her assault. For Millbank had been overheard boasting in a local pub, the Morgan Arm’s that he was Spring Heeled Jack.
The arresting officer, James Lea who had also arrested the Red Barn murderer, was sure he had the right man. When Lea arrested him, Millbank was wearing white overalls similar to those worn by Jane Alsop’s attacker. Investigations uncovered a discarded great coat and candle nearby. However, Millbank escaped conviction because Jane Alsop insisted that her attacker had breathed fire out of her mouth- and Thomas Millbank admitted he could do no such thing.
Another potential suspect was Charles Grenville whose case was reported by The Examiner newspaper. Grenville’s appearance certainly fit the bill. The Examiner described him as “a tall, ill-favored young man” who fitted descriptions of Spring Heeled Jack gangly, unusual appearance. Grenville was caught after frightening a number of women and children with behavior similar to the “silly and dangerous pranks of Spring-heeled Jack.” However, no one seriously believed Grenville could be Spring Heeled Jack. For the young man was too simple-minded to have orchestrated his crimes, undetected across London.