The Indianapolis journal., 1892-12-26
Chicago's Wicked People Had Az Inning
Christmas Despite the Weather.
The Day Of All Days Marked by Suicides. Mur-
ders, Shooting ARRAYS and Sensational
Confession BY Repentsnt Colored Man.
James Williams Told Strange Story
in Church That Caused His Arrest.
Victim o. Funny Mans Joke Taken to the
Hospital-The Day Elsewhere-Coldest
Spell Of the Season in the Northwest.
Suicides, Murders and Other Evil Doings I'm
the Big City by the Lake.

CHRISTMAS CRIMES.
Suicides, Murders and Other Evil Doings I'm
the Big City by the Lake.
CHICAGO. Dec. 25.-Tbe' spirit of peace
on earth. good Will to men." was not unan-
jmous in Chicago to-day. 1t may have
guided the actions of the large majority,
but there was q minority which held TO q
different doctrine and which had the cour-
age to put its convictions into deeds of
blood.
In the morgue lie the bodies of two men
who have sought ins another world the
peace they failed to find in this. In the
county hospital. slowly gasping his life
away, lies q man who endeavored to en-
force his arguments with an axe and who
succumbed 10 bali from the revolver of
his wonld-be victim. In another ward OF
the same institution is another man
bruised and battered so badly that Christ
mas will be vivid recollection for the rest
of his natural life. and behind the bars of
q prison cell Is still another. q colored man.
whom the good Influences of the Christmas
time led to make unwise revelations. and
he was berrayed where be had the most
right to expect that good ill to man would
bo found. He trusted In the charity of the
church and the church thrust HIM into the
outer darkness, where policemen sit on
high. He was anxious to be admitted to
the fold and in showing up the stains upon
his fleece he confessed To q murder COM
mitted years ago in Paris, France. HIS
wool was adjudged to be OF too sombre a
hue TO be cIesnscd by the church and the
officers of the law Will now assist the con-
trite sinner to prove his peEitsnce by work
ing out an ex xpiation.
John }. Regan. an Englishman, was the
first of those enumerated to put his prin-
ciples into practice. He went broke on
the races. broke in pocket and in spirit,
and, with q bullet. he scattered his brains
over his bedroom floor.
Andrew Benson, Q teamster celebrated
of red liquor, and he ushered in Christmas
morning by slashing his throat with q
knife
Anthony Lsvelle was the third man to
90 under. He was splitting wood early
this morning. and called upon his stop
son. Joseph Ross, TO get mp and help. Ross
made no reply. and Lavelle invaded the
bedroom with an ak. A fight followed,
and Lavelle was fatally shot. Ross, who
claims to have acted in seif-defense. was
arrested.
Steffano Alberrine is the bruised and bat
tered man at the county hospital. Early
this morning he saw two men in the store
of his employer, and at once began to shoot
-
skull of Lieutenant Clarke. of the Pink
erton agency. and badly frightening watch
man Dawson. OF that institution. When
Aibertine realized that he was IN the busi-
ness Of killing Pinkertons he stopped
firing. gave MP his pistol, and, az he says.
was immediately hammered almost into
tnsensibility by the men to whom he sur
rendered and by the police OH GERS who came
in later. Both the police and the Plnker-
tons say that Albertine was q thief. and
that he began shooting when he was placed
under arrest Tney also deny having beat
en- him. but he is In the hospital for all
that. A. Alpini. the employer of Albertine,
says that he 10 n thief. and that he should
have killed the Pinkertons, who forced
their way into O building where they had
no right to be. He also says that he will
take out warrants for the arrest of Lieut..
Clarke. whose injury is not serious, and for
Captain Foley. OF the Pinkertons.
JAMES wIILIAMs's CONFESSION.
James Williams. twenty-five years of
age. is the colored man who has sought
salvation and will now be invited by the
law to work it out for himself. He came
20 Chicago six weeks ago and one night
drifted into the Free Methodist
Mission at No. sos West Lake street. After
attending several meetings he went TO the
pastor. Rev. ID. NJ. Alien. and declared that
he had been touched by the spirit, and
wanted TO enter By the golden gate" He
was told thai the gate swung free and wide
only TO those who fabricated its hinges
with the oil of sincere repentance and full
confesslon OF past deeds. but this did not
SUIT Williams; he was ready to pray both
loud and long; but confession was a point
on which he declared himself unprepared.
Pastor Allen. that he might not lose pos
sible convert took Williams to the parson-
age and kept him as his guest omittin q
no opportunity TO urge him so acknowledge
his sins. Finally Wiliiams's piety over
came all other considerations. and tonight
he announced that be would unbosom him
self in tho presence of the fnll congrega-
tion. At an early stage of the services he
was led into the church by the pastor. and
at the first sentence he captured his
audience. 81 have q horrible crime
on my soul" he shouted, and here he was
interrupted by the clergyman, who told
him that he vss too excited to talk Just
tben. and 60 wait until he was more com.
posed. Williams. with tho tears stream
ingdown his face. sank into the seat. aud
Rev. Mr.. Allen, who had begun TO beliey @
that be had . dangerous man on his hands.
slipped out Of the pack door and hastened
little protection of the earthly sort He
Hartnet. Williams was On his feet
again. and had Just begun his con-
ssppsd s,% on the wlsn Shoulder Mar,nsi ana
told him that he was under arrest. Will
Jams was not to be frightened, however.
and went on with his story. while the
Lieutenant slid INTO o convenient pew
and let the man 60 on. At the conclusion
of the story be collared him again, and
hustled him out of tho sanctuary and
into the police-station. Tho following is
Williamss story:
al was born in Paris twenty-five years
ago." he said. AT the age of eleven was
sent as servant TO q man namsd Charles
La Naurne. who. with his wife. lived in an
wards. L lived with him continually until
four years ago. when one morning he was
found dead on the doorstep with his throat
cut La Vaurne had been murdered. Some
time ago the property was sold by the
widow and she left France.
The Paris police were unable to
discover the murdered. / did not kill
the man. but II was through me that
at was done. and / am the real murderer.
while an innocent man is now confined in
prison. While was in the employ of La
Vaurne q man named John Lafay-
cite fell in love with La Vaurne's wife. and
she reciprocated and desired TO marry
him. but the husband stood in the way.
formed plan 10 rid them Of him. He was
detained from home until late one night.
step anu IN On unguardcd moment drew a
knife across his throat. which severed
the jugular vein and caused instant
death. Even the wife was ignorant
% 10 who did the deed. | left Paris and
went TO Louisiana. Some time after Lafay-
cite followed me, accompanied BY the
woman. i then committed another crime.
and put the suspicion on Lafayefre. He
Was tried, and 10 now I'm prisoned in the