The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1882-10-25
Freaks of a Crazy Man.

Inc 1OllOWluR ID XII uCSooiiVJ lahSA ~
the New York papers, of the murderous at
tack made by Ernest Doubourgne, Il crazy
Frenchman, upon the people who we're pass
ing along Fourteenth street during q portion
of the day when that t~horoughfare was
crowded with ladies out shopping. The
Frenchman had approached from the direc-
ton of Broadway. When he was in front of
Johnson's store his progress was impeded by
the throng, and the loud remark of a young
woman who first noticed his strange actions
caused many well dressed persons to stand
directly in his way and stare at him. Tie
tried to make his way through the crowd, at
Ineligible words. 1t was plain
that he resented the presence
of the persons near him. AS the women
and children closed about him he suddenly
drew from his c~oat-pocket q pair of sharp
pointed carpenters compasses and began TO
strike right and left. His blows were struck
at random at first, while he bowed himself
until his upliftcd right arm was above his
head. In n few seconds lle had struck and
wounded three women who were near HIM.
They were Miss Louise Checker, Miss Mary
Stolzcnbcrser, and Miss NJ. J.. King. So
quickly had tho wounds been inflicted that
it was difficult to ascertain after
ward which woman had been stabbed
first. In n moment women and children
were flying in all directions. screaming and
crying. No men were near the maniac when
he began his attack. Terror took possession
of all who had witnessed tho stabbing.
Some ran into tho stores and closed the doors
behind them. One tall woman, who wore a
black silk dress, warded of a blow with her
parasol and fled toward Broadway, knock
ing over q smaller woman who stood III her
way. Children fell and were dragged along
tho sidewalk by their parents beyond the
reach of tho insane man.
For a few moments the maniac looked
about him as if bewildered at the commo-
ton he had caused. Then he made a dash
ut the front door of Johnson's store. 1t was
fastened. He tried the door of the Palais
Royal with tho Same result, and then started
toward Fifth avenue. At the curb-stone of
the avenue he met Miss Pauline Fielder and
Mrs. Mulligan. They had noticed persons
running away from tho stores in front OF
them, but they did not know tho cause until
the Frenchman came upon them. He struck
Miss Fielder in the breast with the
steel points of tho compass and then passed
on quickly, while she fell back into the arms
of her companion. Crossing the avenue he
met Thomas Worth, the artist, who was
walking in company with his wife, daughter
and little son. Mr.. Worth and the boy were
behind the others, and none Of them had
seen Miss Fielder stabbed. The Frenchman
vent past them so quickly that Mrs. Worth
thought he had only brushed against her,
but she felt sharp pains in her side ut
she had been stabbed. She cried out to her
husband, who caught her in his arms. Near
the place where the Worth family were stood
Mrs. Mary Hanley, the wife of a policeman.
with her two children. The mailman rushed
Mt her and dealt her a murdcrous blow in the
breast. Then he ran back across the avenue
toward a crowd which was gathering in front
of the 'Palais Royal. Men were there by
that time, however, and he retreated.
A short, thick-set German, with a ford
complexion, tripped up the Frenchman and
fell upon him. Several other men ran up,
seized the arms and legs of the maniac and
way from him. Policeman Charles A.
Hanley, whose wife had been stabbed, ran
up mt the moment and took the prisoner into
custody. Other policemen fastened to the
spot soon afterward, and the demented man
was dragged off, struggling, toward the
Mercer street police station.
Ernest Doubourgne and his father. Virgl!e
have been familiar figures in Now York city
for years. Few persons who have been ac-
customcd to walk in Broadway have failed
to notice two wretclcd Looking men plod-
ding along, one in front of the other, with
signs on their backs and breasts. The signs
were made of tin, painted black, and
reached from their necks nearly to
their heels. large glaring white
letters told the story of their fancied
wrongs. One sign chargedthe United States
government with having deprived the bear
crs of their rightful inheritance, and asked
that their wrongs be righted. Another began
with the words: II demand the will and tcs-
lament of my brother, who died in Califor-
mia. leaving a large property inheritance to
yir.ile DoIbourgue." It.thcn continued to
state in Il rambling way that the Inheritance
lad never reached him, and made some un-
ineligible assertion of his limo
renee of the crime charged, and concluded
with n fierce dcnunciation of the thieves. In
storm and sunshine, in cold and hot weather,
the old Frrnclman and his son strolled
ailnlcssIy, silently, vacantIy along the streets,
speaking to nobody, and never addressing
each other. They were never seen apart and
never showed the slightest signs of being
friendly to each other. The father died in
.irhruary last ut the age Of seventy. five years.
AID at the time of his death the newspapers
contained accounts of the two mems singular
actions.