The sun., 1896-10-09
FOUGHT WITH STILETToS.
A DUEL IN THE STREET STOPPED
BIZ a POLICEMAN.

The Principals and Their Seconds Loekea
Up Over Night and Fined $40 Each in
tho Mornins-The DueI Over . Debt.
and Not Over . Woman, ne One Said.
Louis Ling, So years old, of $50 West Twenty
sixth street; Frederick Beaumonte, az years
old. OF the same address; Alfred Colin, 62 years
old, OF 253 West Thlrty-second street, and Ed
ward Rathenbauld, 81 years old. of 247 West
Thirty-hfth street, all French, were charged
with disorderly conduct by Policeman Spencer
OF the West Twentieth street station In the JEFF
fcrson Market Court yesterday morning. Spen-
Ger said that, summoned by cries of "Policel''
"Murder!" about 8 O'Clock on Wednesday
night he ran to West Twenty-si1th street,
where no found n crowd of fully 500 persons
surrounding two men who were fighting with
stilettos ana were being encouraged by two
other mon who were also inside of the circle Of
spectators. All four were cursing volubly in
French.
Spencer dashed through the crowd and
knocked Beaumonte down with one blow of
his club. Colin, who was Beaumonte's adver-
sary, waited In a very dramatic posture until
Beaninonie arose 70 his feet, and then made
another dash at him. Before he could reach
him with h his ,,sI siietto Spencer knqeked Colin
began to fight indiscriminateiy.
Spencer :, was accompanied bv Policeman
and seconds and marched them TO the station.
There they were locked up on n charge of being
drunk and disorderly.
Cohn said ia court that Beaumonte had SLAM
dered woman who was u friend OF his. He de-
clared that old as he was he had been forced to
fight for the honor OF the woman. He had ac-
cordingly proceeded in accordance with the code
and had challenged Beaumonte to meet him In
deadly combat. He said that he would like to
know hy what right the courts and the police
interfered with him.
Beaumonte had been GroaninR audibly all the
while Colin was speaking. He implored heaven
to bear him witness that he had never insulted
lady in his life. and that he was too much Of q
gentleman even TO dream of such a thing. He
dispelled the romantic story OF Colin By showing
the following challenge. which he said he had
received from Colin yesterday:
Meet me at o'clock in front of your house
and, and we WI saye duel to the death for the
Beaumonte .aid that he was accused by Colin
OF owing him $40. but be disputed the debt He
said that Colin was angry because he had not
count. He Ind received the challenge on We'd
nesday through n. Rathenbauld; who repre-
sen,ed Colin. He had delegated Ling to act as
his second, and had acc. pied the challenge. as
he could do nothing else with honor, he said.
he. too. questioned the right of tho law to
interfere.
The two seconds spoke also. Ling corrobo-
rated the story of Beaumonte. and Rathen bauld
said that what Colin had said was the truth.
You are not in France" said Magistrate
Crane. We do not have dues in this coun-
Spencer showed the two stilettos. They are
oueeT-lookinr weapons, and have sharp blades
Magistrate Crane fined each OF the quartet
$40. Each OF the principals In the duel paid his
own fine and that Of his second. AS they left
the court Colin turned to Beaumonte aud
Watt"
Beaumonte shrugged his shoulders. glared at
Colin, and then the party passed out Of the
court room.