Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1894-05-17
VITRI0L KISSED.
Terrible Crime of Eli
ROchefOrt Last Night.
Blanche Renaud DiSfig-
ured and Blinded.
Baptized With Sulphuric Acid
by Her Former Fiance.
The Fiend AfterWard Returns to
Commit Murder and Is Cap
tured and Jailed.

Eli Rochefort was horribly avenged
upon Blanche Renaud last night.
The woman lies in a Jackson street
brothel fearfully disfgured. Her face
is marked by splashes of sulphuric acid,
and whether she will ever see again is a
matter of conjecture.
The vitriol fiend is in Jail raving and
cursing the woman and those who pre-
vented him from carrying out his
scheme of murder.
The peculiar and illicit relations
which have existed between this man
and woman are understood by most
readers of TBE REPUBLICAN. Not long
ago Rochefort was an honest and pros
porous ranchman near Phoenix. For
years Blanche Renaud, or Louise Huson,
has been prostitute. He became en-
amored of her and desired to marry her.
The plan was acceptable to her
for singular and sentimental
reason. She has son in school at
Denver. He is coming to an age at
which he will inquire into his mothers
life and she prefers that he should
know her as the honest wife OF ranch
man rather than as prostitute.
But Rochefort became contaminated
by his associations. The gay and idle
life of French mac came to present
a more roseate view to him than the
existence of a farmer. At last he
proposed to her to become her pimp
and not her husband; to give up his
farm and she to give up her aspirations
for an honest life. She rejected the
latter proposition, sickened of him and
tried to cast him off.
In the meantime she had secured a
deed to his ranch during his period OF
infatuation. A few months ago he be-
gan trying to have it annulled and a
few days ago during the present term of
court succeeded in having it set aside.
He had previously made an assault
upon her and was bound over to the
territorial grand jury which last Satur-
day ignored the charge against him.
Whether emboldened by his success
in litigation or driven by recurrence
of his infatuation for the woman he
called early yesterday afternoon at the
room occupied by his victim and Diana
Dumnisel another French woman. Both
were afraid of him though he was un-
armed. He spent the afternoon in the
room and che time was employed drink
ing wine.
Shortly before sundown he took up a
large black bottle which he had brought
with him and asked the women if they
would have a drink of whisky. Both
declined. Next he called Blanche
Renaud to him and said: ''Let's make
up; Pll pay you back the $500 you let
me have and we'll be good friends
again. Come and kiss me-" With a
gesture as if to throw his arm about
her he suddenly seized the black bottle
with the other hand and dashed the
burning fluid into her face. From a
lover he was transformed into demon.
The long narrow neck of the bot
tie prevented copious discharge
and he poured the liquid into
his hand and threw it in the face of the
screaming woman who was now shield
ing her eyes with her hands. He also
tried, unsuccessfully, to blind the other
French woman with the liquid, and
dashed out of the door and ran away.
The agony OF Blanche Remand was
terrible, but her companion, fearing
that the fend would return again
locked the door, and no alarm was
given.
Rochefort had been seen running
away from the house, and half an hour
afterward J. A. Porterie, hearing OF it,
called to see what had happened.
While he was still there inquirine
into the outrage Diana Dumnisel looked
out of the window and screamed: "My
God! Here he comes againW This
time Rochefort was on horseback lead
ing another horse. He had a dou uble'
barreled shotgun lying across the back
of the horse he was riding. He rode il
front of the house and called out jeer
ingly: "How you feel, eh? Pll xii
you this time"
Mr.. Porterie ran out before he
could d1smount from his horse
and to awe the would be murderer en-
ployed the majesty of the French Off
cial form of arrest: ''Au nom de ls
loie rendezvous (giye yourself up IL
the name OF the law"
When Mr.. Porterie approached hin
Rochefort tried to level the gun but or
hearing the familiar French, desistec
and struggle ensued for the possession
of the gun. Mr.. Porterie was unable tt
take the weapon from him but Roche
fort agreed to remove the loads
Porterie jumped behind a tree ant
Rochefort faithfully removed tn
charges and accompanied Mr.. Porteri
to jail. On their way they called OIL
Attorney Damron, who represented
him in all his recent litigation.
The victim of the vitriol was attended
by DIR. Helm. who thinks that her eye
sight may possibly be saved but the tel
rible designation will be permenent
The carpet in the room and the cloth
ing of both women were splattered an
burnt by the powerful fluid.
The quart bottle IN which 1t was cor
tanned was full when Rochefort bega