Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-08-25
ALMOST A MURDER.
THE BRUTAL TREATMENT OF A
FALLEN WOMAN.
lille Forrest Shocl1iDgly Beaten by
a Creature Who Calls Himself
a Mana Sad Sight.


of her Illicit calling OF such frequent oc-
currence are affairs of this kind among
that class of people, that this one scarcely
produced a ripple on the surface of society
in that quarter, still the police officers were
notified by Chief Dillman TO keep look
out for the alleged woman-beater. This
fellow Verhaegen had, however, so well
managed that his identity was not known
TO the police, and therefore he contriyed on
Monday to elude arrest. On Monday night
screams were again heard coming from the
same house, and yesterday morning the
police were notified of the fact. Officers
Rider and Agner were sent to the place to
investigate the condition of things there
and to arrest Verhaegen if they should find
him. They went to the place about 10
o'clock in the forenoon, and learned from
the neighbors that there were
LIVELY TIMES IN THE FORREST BAGYIo
The night before. Several persons went
to the house and shouted to the man Ver-
hagen to-desist from his outrageous con-
duct, but he came to the front, it is al
legged, and openly defied anyone to interfere.
He even threatened violence TO a woman
on the outside $50 the neighbors say if she
did not 90 away. On going to the house
the officers found it locked. They endeav-
ored to gain admittance from different
parts of the house, and finally succeeded
in efIecting an entrance. While thus en-
gagged, Verhaegen, who had been secreted
on the inside, dashed out unseen by the
officers and
MADE HIS ESCAPE
Around the corner. The officers followed
as rapidly as possible, and were informed
by parties who saw him that he had turned
into the alley between L and NJ, Second
and Third streets. They searched the To-
cality thoroughly for more than two hours,
but-although having secured q tolerably
fair description of the fugitve-were I'M
successful in their efforts.
They then returned to the house, where
they found the woman in bed. her cloth
ing in a bedraggled condition and the bed
covered with blood. She was very weak
from loss of blood, and presented pitable
spectacle. In a corner, slowed away, they
found her undergarments and a towel
soaked with blood, and these, together
with large photograph of Verhagen, they
appropriated. A hack was procured, and the
unfortunate woman taken to the receiving
hospital. Chief Dillman was present and
telephoned for City Physician Parkinson,
who soon arrived. The woman was placed
upon the operating table and the blood
stained rags removed from her head.
THE SIGHT REVEALED
Was positively sickening The hsir was
soaked with blood and matted to the skull.
Across the head, lust back of the forehead,
was a CHASTITY, ragged wound some four
inches in length, laying the skull bare for
more than an inch in width. On the top
of the head was another cash some two
inches long, and another four inches, while
at the crown was lump as large as tea
cup. When the hair was removed from
this latter wound it was found to be even
worse than the one over the forehead. Her
right eye was also in mourning while her
arms and side were black and blue from
bruises received. The wounds were dressed
with care and skill by the City Physician,
skull was apparent. The operation, al
though painful, was borne by the poor
creature without the use of anGsthetics.
Members of the police force, accustomed as
they are to scenes of brutality and blood
shed, declared that they had seldom wit
messed a more pitiable condition of a hui
man being than that of this unfortunate
woman.
THE WAGES OF SIN.
Could her sisters in sin have witnessed
the spectacle presented by this unfortunate
woman, as she lay there, pale and weak
from the loss of blood, her head cut and
bruised in such a frightful manner, with
none OF her own sex to cheer and comfort
her during the trying ordeal, no doubt
they would have realized more fully than
ever before the truism that the way of the
| transgressor is hard. But, whatever her
own sins may have been-howeyer far this
poor creature may have wandered from the
| path of virtue-no human being could
have witnessed her pitiable condition with
out a feeling of sympathy for her and
| loathing for the brute who was responsible
for her sufferings.
| SHIELDING THE MIsCREANT.
And vet, strange to say, this woman, who
| has so narrowly escaped a shocking death,
could not be persuaded to relate the facts of
| the occurrence. With that proverbial
! characteristic OF women of her class, she
| persistently declined to admit that her
" lover was the cause of her suffering,
| and invented a number of excuses to &C
count for her condition. One was that the
occasion was her birthday, and that her
| self and Nerhaegen were celebrating the
| event by over-indulgence in liquor, and
| that while under its influence she fell down
stairs. But there is the testimony of sew
eral persons TO prove that she underwent
| beating on both Sunday and Monday
nights, and that Verhaegen had on the lat
! ter occasion warned anyone from interior
| ing. The officers have no doubt that. with
out the woman's testimony-should she
decline to prosecute the fellow-they can
abundantly prove his guilt 1t would be
| disgrace to the community if such de-
| based creature as this alleged man has
shown himself to be, should be further per-
| nlitted to pollute its precincts with his
/ mr. ar1a % no
for his acts.
vERHAEGEN ARRESTED.
About o'clock last evening officer Nc
Cormack and special Tom Consolation, who
was specially deputized for the occasion,
visited the Albion House, on X street, be-
tween Fifth and Sixth, and there found the
object of their search, Verhaegen. When
discovered by the officers, he made an eff
fort to escape, but was unsuccessful. He
was taken to the station-house, but no
charge has yet been entered against him, as
| it remains to be seen what the result of the
womans injuries shall be.
THE WOMAN TALKS.
1t was the intention yesterday to send
! the injured woman to the County Hospital,
! but for some reason this was not done.
| She is, however well cared for at the re-
| ceiving hospital connected with the police
II! station, and was last night visited by fe-
male friend, who brought her clean under
clothing to replace her blood-soaked gar
ments She is quite young woman, and
good looking. 1t is said that last evening
she admitted that Verhaegen had beaten
| her, but that he did it while drunk.
| EXCAVATION OF THE WORLD Next
| Sunday afternoon, at Recreation Park,
Captain E. N Jennings, the only swords
man Who ever defeated Duncan c. Ross,
will engage in mounted sword contest
with F. B. Chance, of this city, who has
| the name of being most skillful swords
man. In addition, there will be a sword
contest between two members of the Sacra-
mento Hussars, for the amateur champion
ship of the coast. The whole entertain
ment will be under the direction of the
Hussars, and will take place at P. NJ,
| Immediately after the ball game. Captain
Jennings offers TO meet either Sergeant
Henry C. Ross or Captain John Green, and
| allow his opponent 5 points OUT of q, for
any amount up to 500 a side. Man and
money to be found at the Bee Office.
PLEASE take notice that the only piano
made that has the tuning pins pushed into
| the solid iron is the Mathushek. 1t is
patent owned exclusively by this COM
pany. They are over 500 in use in Sacra-
] ar,1