National Republican., 1883-07-17
THE FRENCH RAILWAY CRIME.
The English Clergyman Tells the stor,
OF His Struggle with Rn Assassin In I
Railway Car.

@N"H'NN'tsA -
Railway Car.
london Telegraph
| PARIS, Juno 90 Anxious to know the real
facts of the murdorous assault upon the Rev.
Mr. Whidborne, asked for and obtained the
favor of an interview this evening and am
thus enabled to send you trustworthy ac-
count, which has had the advantage Of being
subjected to Mr.. Whidborno's revision. The
victim Of tho attack is u gentleman of from
IS to 40 years of age, and will be known TO
numbers of Londoners rs q curato of st. Pan
/ cras, which parish he left on Wednesday last
for holiday trip in Switzerland. Ho left
Calais for Paris yesterday at about 12;45 H. m.
AT the harbor station three gentlemen
ontored his carriage, but quilted 1T upon
| tho arrival of the train at the
town. when Mr. Whidborne was left alone
until Bouogne was reached. At that station
he was leaning out of the window when his
assailant, possibly attracted by seeing him un-
accompanied, approached and entered his
| compartment. When the train had travelled
some short distance the man addressed Mr
Whidborno in kind of broken French, but
that gentleman, not understanding him, aud
not wishing to enter into conversation, only
replied by signs All went we'll until about
1870, when Mr. WhidbOrnc, who has lately
been doing much hard work, dropped fast
asleep, He had been in that condition for
about ten minutes when he was awakened by
an acute pain In the hoad, and found his COM
panion standing over him. chisel In hand.
Before he could recover himself the blow
was repeated again and again, five wounds
bcng inflicted in all, one especially above the
loft temple. Mr.. Whidborne then sprang up
closed with the assassin, and succeeded in
spite of tho pain and loss of blood, in
Wrestling the weapon from him. A dread
Gal Il.
ing, in the course of it, to gOuge out
ono of his antagonists eyes, and afterward
drawing revolver, which Mr. Whidborne-
fortunately the stronger of the two-prc-
vented him from using. While they were
struggling together, now at one end now at
the other of the carriage, tho would-be mur-
dorer opened the door, perhaps with the in
tentiou of throwing Mr.. Whidborne out upon
the line, but that gentleman was too quick
for him, and succeeded in getting on the foot
board and running along it toward tho rear
of the train. Arrived at third or fourth car
riage in an all but fainting condition, he
tapped nj one of the windows, and was hauled
in by Mr.. Shawland, of Gravescnd, and Mr..
Leigh, vicar of bennington, with whom he
had been conversing upon the boat Tho first
thing was to give the alarm, which was done
by smashing the glass case of the connection,
and communicating with the guard. The
train being stopped about ten minutes out of
Amiens, the conductor came up and was hur-'
riedly told of tho affair. Not, perhaps,
clearly understanding his informants, he
thought it sufficient to leave one of the
othor guards on the train in tho same car
riage with the assassin. Just before entering
Amiens the man succeeded in springing from
the train and running for some distance.
When, however, he found escape hopeless he
drew the revolver with which ho had pre-
viously threatened Mr.. Whidborne and fired it
81 l.. u. =
enter the brain he none the less inflicted upon
himself a worry serious wound, which leaves
his ultimate recovery doubtful. On reaching
Amiens station Mr.. Whidborne, who had re-
ceived all possible attention from his fellow
passengers, was taken into one of tho waiting
rooms, and aftor having his wounds dressed
by surgeon was confronted with his assail-
ant. TO the best of his remembrance he had
never seen the man before in his life, and can
assign no possible motive for the attack, un
less it be the usual one OF robbery. The pris-
oner, who was in serious condition, was
then carried off to the Jail hospital at Amiens,
where he still is, and Mr.. Whidborne went to
hotel near the station. After resting and
telegraphing to his friends he came OH to Paris
about 8 o'clock in the afternoon, despite
the remonstrances Of his attendants, and
won't to the Hotel do Lille ct dAlbion, IN the
Rue Saint Honore Mr.. Whidborne is, I am
glad to say, almost well, He has been able
to go out this afternoon, and even thinks of
continuing his journey to Geneva on Monday.
His head is, OF course, bandaged, but there arc
otherwise no signs of the murderous nit
of which he has been tho victim. He not
quito certain as to tho nationality of his as,
sailant, and Is inclined to think that his bad
French was an effort at disguise, though his
name, so far us can be made out, had a French
sound, being something like Rozior or Rogier.
Tho government ho hopes and expects, will
tln a,,I 4, II,
thorties his future address Mt Cbamounix
should he be wanted soon. Perhaps, owing
to the dangerous state of the prisoner, a pros
ecution may not he necessary. Mr.. Whid-
borne describes the assassin Us q stout, middle
aged man, of ilorid complexion, with a short,
red beard, and of about medium height. He
noticed him walking up the platform, look
ing attentiyely into the train, and on seeing
Mr.. WhidbOrne leaning out of the Window he
camo up to the carriage in bustling and
flurried manner Indeed, his whole
demeanor during the journey was nervous
and unusual, SO much so as to cause Mr.. |
Whidborne some anxiety, and certainly to |
inspire distrust. After revising the above,
Mr.. Whidborne further stated TO me that |
when the door was flung open during the |
struggle and ho had released tho hand of his |
lssailant that held the pistol, he was much |
afraid that he would be shot while making |
his escape along the footboard. IIe looked |
back once, and to the best of his belief he saw |
that the door had been shut. Incredible US it |
may seem the occupants Of the next carriage |
refused to admit him, in spite of his appeals, |
and as the next compartment contained a
lady, whom he was reluctant to frighten, he |
was forced to go to the length of six carriages
before ho could find any one to helm him.
Had he not been succored at that precise
he is certain that he must have given
Up and fallen on to tho line-.a fall which, as
he train was going at express speed, would
lave been certain death. At tho station he J.
nado long deposition, which he signed, and
vas also confronted with the assassin at tho
'rison. He wished mo to give publicity to
lis opinion that railway travelling neither
ould nor would be safe under the present
ystcm, In his own case, he had got into
arriage with three or four other gentlemen,
Who, however, left II at the next station,
vhen o man then got in, seeing him alone,
nd few hours afterward attacked and we'll
ligh murdered him. 1t is n thing that might
lappen to any one while tho system of sopa.
ate carriages exists and Mr.. Whidborne lays
reat STRESS as well he may, upon the urgent
iced of reform aud improvement. He de-
iros also to express his deep gratitude for the
.indness and attention shown to him by tile
entlcmen who helped him into their car
iage, and indeed by overy one whom he met
fter the attack He is much to be congratu-
lted on his miraculous escape from so many