Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-10-03
Attempted Murder and Suicide.

About half past o'clock last evening an at
fair occurred in a house ef ill-fame, kept by a
woman known as Frank Howard, in Alden
street, which was rather singular IN its CIR
eumstances and nearly tragic in its esuts. 1t
appears that young man Of means, about 80
years of age. named Frederick A. Babcock
TO this city about hree weeks ago A little
more than a week since he fell in with young
woman named Florence A. Blake, other wise
Florence A. George, who for some time past
came SO enamored with her that forsaking
business, and regardless OF the disgrace his
course would bring upon his connections in
the West, he left the hotel in " hich he had
been stopping and took up his abode entirely
with her. During their short term of intimacy
Babcock had repeatedly urged the girl TO break
off her shameful life and marry him. promis-
ing to tai her with him to Cincinnati, where
she woult find all the comforts and Injuries
which wealth could confer, besides living with
him in q life Of onward biamelessness ana
purity. The girl, however, was deaf to his
entreatiee, and used every endeavor to dis
suade the infatuated man from SO foolish
course. She told him that not only her posi-
tion In life, when found ont would bring last
ing disgrace upon himself and family, should
10 marry her, but having q husband already
living it would be impossible for her to COM
ply Notwithstanding all this the young man
persisted as m uch as ever, and finally threat
ened her with death II she did no. comply with
his wishes. In spite OF his threats Florence
continued to keep his company much as be-
ry into effect his rash design. Babcock, at last
worked up to pitch of frenzy, procured q
pistol, and meeting the girl alone in the draw
ing room Of the house last evening, tod her
once for all, that she must either consent to
marry him or die Florence even then did not
think that Babcock meant to kill her, and re-.
fused, as she hac done the former solicitations.
Babcock ihereupon drew his weapon, which
during the conversation he had concealed fr ON
her sight, and presented it at the girls head
and fired. The latter lodged in time to avoid
hka hoI inh lCND 1h
the room The shot proving unsuccessful.
Babcock fired again. but this time the girl
lodged behind sofa in season to escape
the contents OF the BARREL which pass /
into the furniture. Unsuccessful Pgain, the
young man sprang towards he girl, or be-
tween her and the door, to prevent ner getting
out OF the room, and prepared to shoot a third
time. There being pair OF folding doors in
the apartment, separat ing it from an adloin-
ing room, the Blake girl ran for them, and
succeeoed most providentially, for third time
in escaping from her infurlated lover After
these unsuccessful attempts at homicide, Bah
cock next attempted to kill himself. He pre-
sented the pistol, which had one charge LETT to
his temple and fired, the ball passing into the
right side OF his face near the cheek bone, and
lodging near the same spot on the left side. The
wound was too low to injure the brain or to
cause the loss of sight Not content with this,
Babcock took penknife from his pocket and
stabbed himself number OF times in the
region of the heart, and once the blade pene-
trated a short way iEto one OF his lungs. By
the ttme THIS scene naQ Oeen enacted the inmates
OF the house had reached the apartment and
found the young man sinking, nearly insensi-
BILE, to the floor. During the frighttul at
tempt at self murder the walls, furniture and
carpets of the room were considerably bespat-
tered with blood. A physician was SUNNI one
Immediately after the occurrence. who examin-
ed the wounded man. and pronounced his in
Jurit Of very dangerous if not fital, character.
Officers LeavitrHend Sleeper, OF the Third
police, were also called, who, at the sugges-
tion Of the doctor, procured g hack, in which
the man was taken to the Massachusetts Gen
eral Hospital. singular part of this affair
was. that after the occurrence the girl, not
withstanding the attempts made upon her life,
volunteered to discharge all bills OF hack fare
board at the hospital, &c. and even went SO
far as to call at the latter place, after Babcock
had been taken there, to obtain permission to
visit and nurse him.
Babcock retained his senses through the
whole, and at a late hour last night was getting z
along as comfortably as possible under the
circumstances. During his stay in this city
he has been known as Fred. Bennett, though
Babcock is his correct name.
Florence A. Blake to whom he appears to
have become so ardently attached, is woman
OF about his own age and of remarkable beauty.
of the full, rich brunette type, with we'll
moulded features and very fascinating man :
ners. At the time OF the affray she was dressed
in costly suit OF black velvet. On one of her
fingers she wore diamond ring valued at
$500, present from Babcock.