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Cartoon of the London Monster

The London Monster was the name given to an attacker of women in London between 1788 and 1790. The Monster's modus operandi was to abuse women verbally with lewd and suggestive comments, then attack them with a knife (cartoon pictured). The philanthropist John Julius Angerstein arranged a reward of 100 guineas (equivalent to £13,000 in 2025) for the capture and conviction of the Monster. More than 30 men were taken to Bow Street Magistrates' Court with their accusers hoping to claim the reward; all were released. Renwick Williams was arrested when one of the attacked women claimed to recognise him as the attacker. He was found guilty, despite having an alibi for at least one of the attacks. There is doubt among some historians whether he was the attacker as no hard or forensic evidence was ever found. It is likely that copycat attacks took place, particularly as some of the assaults were recorded as being committed by a group of men. (Full article...)

Sanda Island Lighthouse

• ... that the Sanda Island Lighthouse (pictured) was built in three "steps" against a cliff face, a design that is unique in Scotland?
• ... that Bert Matter, the organist at the Walburgiskerk in Zutphen for 33 years, composed minimal music?
• ... that a Michigan TV station once broadcast out of a former student cafeteria?
• ... that Stephan Steinlein, Germany's current ambassador to France, held the exact same diplomatic post for East Germany more than three decades ago?
• ... that the Byzantine victory at the Battle of Satala in 530 against a numerically superior Persian army depended on the actions of a single individual?
• ... that Ben Streff joined the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party at the age of 14, and was sworn in to the Chamber of Deputies at the age of 31?
• ... that construction of the Interstate 65 Tennessee River Bridge was halted each winter due to the presence of waterfowl?
• ... that physicist Jadwiga Szmidt nearly died of poisoning when she opened a container when working in Ernest Rutherford's laboratory at the University of Manchester?
• ... that Chinese "assembly halls" could simultaneously be social, religious, business, and political institutions?

Candy store in Maryland, United States

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Hôtel de Ville the day after the fire

• The Hôtel de Ville in Limoges is partially destroyed by arson (damage pictured) as fuel and student protests escalate in France.
• The International Bureau of Weights and Measures votes to abolish the leap second over concerns about disruptions to computer systems.
• The Houthis launch a series of attacks on Saudi Arabian airports, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 370 others.
• South African jurist Navi Pillay is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

October 20

Mahamat Déby

• 1936 – British woman Mabel Freer was refused entry to Australia after failing a dictation test given in Italian, leading to a debate over Australia's immigration policy.
• 1944 – World War II: Fulfilling a promise he made two years previously, General Douglas MacArthur landed on Leyte to begin the recapture of the Philippines.
• 1986 – Soviet Aeroflot Flight 6502 crashed after overrunning the runway at Kuibyshev Airport, killing 70 people on board.
• 2022 – Protests broke out across Chad after President Mahamat Déby (pictured) declared his intentions to extend his rule by another two years.