The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-07-02
A Crazy Frenchman.

From the Brooklyn Union.
Police Superintendent Murray, OF
New York, received word from Wards
Island that Ernest Delacourt, or
Delanet, lunatic, had escaped from
the Wards Island Asylum, and that
he was not to be found anywhere on
the island. A description of the fugi-
tive was telegraphed out on q general
alarm, and detectives were sent out
by Inspector Byrnes to look for him.
Delacourt is q Frenchman, and at
one time was waiter IN the family of
Lispenard Stewart. He was every
thing that could be desired as a SER
want, until his evil fate led him to
conceive violent infatuationf for Miss
Stewart, his employers daughter.
When he became demonstrative
he was dismissed, but his impor-
tunities did not cease. He spent his
time watching tor the object Of his
passion,in th6streets, in public places,
and in stores when she went shopping.
When the family desiring to avoid the
annoyance OF public prosecution of
the fellow, went to Saratoga, and later
to another watering place, Delacourt
followed them and obtruded his atten-
tion on the young lady wherever she
went He had money, having inherit
ed several thousand dollars in France.
The annoyance became SO great at last,
that the Stewards had him arrested.
He promised to leave the country, but
did not, and, ,rearrested when he began
his systematic persecution again, was
found insane and sent to the lunatic
asylum on BlackwelPs Island. He es-
capped from that place, and after max
ing his home for while on the wreck
of the old "Seawankaka, that lay on
the Wards Island sunken meadow, ,es-
capped to France.
For while nothing was heard of
him, and it was thought he had for
gotten his old passion and permanent.
ly located in his native land. 1t was
not so, however. Last fall he return
ed and resumed his old tactics at once.
Miss Stewart meanwhile had married
and become Mrs. Withersbee. She
lived with her husband on Fifth aven-
ue. Delanet--since his return he called
himself "the Count Delanet,' and
paraded under that title among some
of his countrymen-sign his re-
turn by calling upon a member OF the
law firm of Coudert Brothers with a
challenge to Mr.. Withersbee to fight
him to the death. He brought his
second with him and both insisted
| that the "Count" must be revenged.
1t transpired that the madman had
evolved romance to the effect
that Miss Stewart really loved him
but WAS held captive by her people
and the wicked Withersbee because
he, the Count, was not rich enough,
and had even succeeded in making
some of his countrymen who were
scarcely less crazy than himself to be-
lieve his story. Hence his demand for
revenge" Mr.. Coudert sent out for
q policeman, but before he came Del
anet had gone away Detectives were
| put upon his track, but despite their
! vigilance he managed one day to make
his way into the Withersbee mansion
| and nearly frightened Mrs. Withersbee
out OF her wits. He was hustled out
and got away again. At last he was
arrested in Yonkers, after lodging
many attempts to capture him. Near
| ly 81 500 in French gold and bills
were found upon him. He was COM
mitted to the Wards Island Asylum
as a hopeless lunatic. His escape has
once more put the Withersbee family
on the rack.