Year: 1872

Doctors Wife the Complainant In q


Case OF nm Alleged Attempt at Rape.


John G. Knapp, storekeeper Of Peekskill, West
chester county. was yesterday brought to the York
vile Police Court on warrant from Justice COul-
ter issued on complaint of Mrs. Catharine Rugg OF
No. 813 East Twentyhrst street. This aflidavit
charges that on the goth Of November,
1870, and for year or so previously
the complainant lived In Peekskill with her
husband, who Is q dentist. On the day mentioned
Mrs. Rugg alleges that she met the defendant at
the depot Of the New Haven Railroad, in Twenty
seventh street. He asked her to have some re-
freshments, and after a good deal OF persuasion
and cOaXine she accepted. Knapp took her into o
house In the neighb0rhood, up two flights of stairs
and into q room. Some beer was sent for by
Knapp, and after getting 1t he induced
her to remove her cloak and hat. He
then took of his own coat, and
going to the door, which he locked hung his coat
over the keyhole. He then attempted to outrage
her. but in consequence of her resistance he was
not able to accomplish his purpose, though he at
tempted to do so twice. She admitted that she did
not cry out for assistance. Neither did she tell her
made a second and more determined effort to ruin
her in her own house. In Peekskill; but there he
failed also.


It was after this second attempt that she told her
husband who advised her to proceed against him
n a. action at law This she dId In the Police Court



now she came TO get that justice here which was
denied her there.


occur In the room in Twenty-scventh street,
but denied that there o was any force
complainant, Mrs. Rugg, within four days after the
affair in Twenty-seventh street went to Knapp's
store, and at once and without the least hesitation
assumed the same warm demeanOr towards him
that she had previously: This was more than ne
ave anh fha rasul W. he w
another ambuscade at her own house in Peekskill
so open was their intimacy ct this time
on the stand yesterday, that Mrs. Riggs character
was looked upon with suspicion and condemned by
ladies of the town.


Previous to making complaint in the court at
Peekskill against Knapp, 1t was shown that DR..
Rugg wrote several long and threatening letters,
Sm ffns mon n1t shroush s ns '' coa4ts asSs tie
hands q degraded and and -, outraged ,ts
nnS that the easband sso raises
head among men, would have 1t If 1t cost him his liie
Trouble came upon the doctor, however, In the
taking OF patent of some kind to which he had
no right. lie was reduced to such an extremity
tS an% % Ii s ess he Sas'ss nSs e ess as ou, a
existence for himself and wife. Seeing every pros
spect Of his having to leave the country he wrote
for the loan Of $500, and he would trouble him no
further about the matter between him and Mrs
Rugg The defence exhibited in Court about
eight letters in ALL the purport Of all Of which was
Riggs demand for money to save him from ruin.


Alderman Plunkitt, who was on the bench on the
case being submitted, quoted the law bearing on
the matter, and promptly decided that everything
considered, he thought he would be doing an in
Justice to the defendant If he did not at once dis
charge him hOnOrably


Mrs. Rugg and DR.. Rugg then left arm In arm, the
most loving and conhding couple In this city, to all
outward appearance. While she Is handsome
blonde OF about thirty or less the doctor cannot
be under fty-fve or sixty. She has an abund-
ance OF pale yellow curls, all her own, while he
has to be contented with q wig OF dark hair and
dyed cnin whiskers; besides he is tall and lanky,
while she Is of the medium height and inclined to
be fat.