Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-10-07
bloody Vagaries Of n Cincin atian
in n BOSTON EBagnfO.
From tho Boston Post. Septe

lFrom the Boston Post, September 3o1
About half-past 8 o'clock last evening
an affair occurred in house of ill-fame,
kept by woman known as Frank Howard,
in Alden street, which was rather singular
In its circumstances, and nearly tragic in
lts results. 1t appears that young man
OF means, about thirty years of age, named
Frederick A. Babcock. and hailing from
the city OF Cincinnati, came to this city
ABOUT three weeks ago. A little more than
week since he tell in with a young wo-
man named Florence A. Blake, otherwise
Florence A. George, who for some time
past has been an inmate of Mrs. Howard'S,
ana became so completely enamored with
ner that, forsaking business, and regard
less of the disgrace his course would bring
upon MS connections in the West, he lett
the hotel in which he had been stopping.
and took his abode entirely with her. Dn-
ring their short term of intimacy Bah
cock had repeatedly the girl to break
off her shameful life and marry him. prom
ising to take her with him to Cincinnati,
where she would find all the comforts
and luXuries which wealth could con-
fer, besides living with him in a life of out
ward blamelessness and purity. The girl,
however. was deaf to his entreaties, and
used every endeavor to dissuade the infat-
uated man from so foolish a course She
told him that not only her position in life,
grace upon himself and family, should he
marry her, but, having a husband already
living. it would be impossible for her to
comply. Notwithstanding all this the
young man persisted as much as ever, and
finally threatened her with death if she
did not comply with his wishes. In spite
of his threats Florence continued to keep
his company as much as before, little
thinking he would attempt to carry into
effect his rash design. Babcock, at last
worked up to pitch of frenzy, procured
pistol, and meeting the girl alone in the
drawing-room of the house, last evening,
told 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 refused, as she
had done the former solicitations
Babcock thereupon drew his weapon,
which, during the conversation, he had
concealed from her sight, and presented it
at the girls head and fired. The latter
lodged in time to avoid the ball, which
lodged in one of the walls of the room
The shot proving unsuccessful, Babcock
fired again; but this time the girl lodged
behind sofa in season to escape the con-
tents OF the barrel, which passed into the
furniture. Unsuccessful again, the Young
man sprang toward the girl, or between
her and the door, to prevent her getting
out of the room, and prepared to shoot a
Ghlrd time. There being pair of folding
doors in the apartment, separating it from
an adjoining room, the Blake Girl ran for
them, and succeeded, most provdently. for
a third time in escaping from her infuriated
lover. Alter these unsuccessful ATTEMPTS
at homicide, Babcock next attempted to
kill himself He presented the pistol,
which had one charge left to his temple
and fired, the ball passing into the right
SIDE OF his face near the cheek bone, and
thp m ha laFt 90
Inc wound was too low to injure the brain
or to cause the loss of sight. Not content
with this, Babcock took penknite from
his pocket and stabbed himself a. number
OF times in the region of the heart, and
once the blade penetrated a short way into
one OF his lungs. By the time this
scene had been enacted the inmates
OF the house had reached the apart
ment and found the young man
sinking, nearly insensible, to the floor
During the frightful attempt at self-mur-
der, the walls, furniture and carpets of the |
room were considerably bespattered with
blood. A physician was summoned imme- |
dlately alter the occurrence, who examined |
the wounded man, and pronounced his in |
Juries of avery dangerous. ifnot fatal char
acter. Officers Leavitt and Sleeper, of the |
Third police, were also called, who, at the |
suggestion of the doctor, procured a hack.
In which the man was taken to the Massa-
cnuseCts General Hospital. A singular part |
OF this affair was, that after the occurrence,
the. girl. notwiths' anding the attempts
made upon her life, volunteered to dis
charge all bills of hack fare, board at the |
hospital, &c, and even went so tar 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 late hour last night was
getting along as comfortably as possible |
under the circumstances, During his stay |
in this city he has been known as Fred. |
bennet, though Babcock is his correct |
name.
Florence A. Blake, to whom le appears
70 have become so ardently attached, is
woman of about his own age, and of re-
beauty, of the full, rich brunette
.ypee, with well-moulded features and very
fascinating manners. At the time of the
Tray she was dressed in very costly suit
Of black velvet. On one of her fin gers she
wore diamond ring valued at $500, pres
ent from Babcoek.