Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-24
A VITRTOL-THROWER.
The Story of His Doings as Narrated by
Two of His Victims

NelC Orleans Times Democrat.
On Thursday last two ladies returning
from the matinee noticed a man walking
in front of them on Canal street. He was
fairly dressed in a business suit, and
there was nothing about him to attract
special attention, unless it was his cuffs,
which were unusually white and stiff,
and they fell below his coat sleeves,
almost covering his hands. Perhaps it
was these cuffs that caused the ladies
to observe the fellow, for they certainly
did take a good look at him. and said
that he carried something in his hand. a
lady IN front of them passed him, ana as
she did so they saw a stream OF colorlesS
liquid squirt from between his fingers and
on the lady's dress. and when they passed
the liquid trickled out again. Falling on
their skirts. At the time they thought
nothing of the matter, unless 1t were that
the fellow was very careless, and In the
excitement Of shopping ana sightseeing
they soon forgot the occurrence. On
reaching home they notIced that there
were numerous small holes in their skirts,
and were at a loss to understand the
reason therefor, never for an instant
dreaming that they might have been
caused by the liquid that fell from the
mans hand, that circumstance not having
made any impression on their minds.
On the following Saturday they again
prOme0dQeu canal street. ana the renen-
brance of what had happened on Thurs
day before was distinctly recalled by see
ing the same man, dressed in the identical
suit Of clothing and spOtless cuffs, right
in front Of them in the very act of squirt
ing the liquid on the dress of an elegantly
attired lady. OF course, with a wOman's
wit, they at once concluded that the
liquid was acid, and on examining their
dresses they found that they were right
g Ii
adventure was narrated to a gentleman,
who, on making an investigation, found
that the holes in the dresses had been
burned with YitriOl, thereby clearly es-
tablshing the fact that there is vitriol-
throwing tiend in our midst, who, unless
captured, will do an incalcalable amount
of damage.
The mania for throwing vitriol, for it is
a mania, dates back years, and once
Paris was over, run with an organized
band of yitriOl-thrOWers who caused the
police and secret agents no end of trouble.
In New York, in 1897, yitriOl-thrOwers
made their nrst appearance IN TINS cOun-
try, and they became so bold that it was
positively unsafe tor 4 lady to walk the
streets, as the fends frequently threw
YitriOl in the faces on unprotected females
and young girls. 4 terrible sensation was
the consequence, ana the entire police
Many OF the guilty parties were arrested.
but the reason of theii tons was never
clearly established, although it was SAID
at that time that tine 'ItI al-thr0wers were
actuated 10y an intense natred Ter dress
and tiuery, which in taem amounted to
positive insanity.
san Francisco was next cursed by the
vitriOl lieud, and it required all the ability
I of the citizens, detectives and police to
rid the city of the pests, who were rough
ly dealt with when captured.
This city escaped their dreaded pres
euce, although it is said that some years
ago there was a yitriol-thrower here, who.
prompted by jealousy, ruined the beauty
of a young girl. The fact that there is
one Of the cursed creatures in this city at
the present is, however. clearly estab-
I lished by the circumstances narrated
above, and Chief Rowley and his detec-
tiYes VIII have their hands full in trying
TO place him under ARE st, as now that
his presence has been detected he viii be
/ more careful in his operations.