A RAILWAY TRAGEDY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1132, 9 August 1883, Page 1

A RAILWAY TRAGEDY.

An attempt was made, in the carriage of a train running from Calais to Paris, to murder and rob the Rev Mr Michborue, an English clergyman. Tho clergyman was alone in a compartment of the carriage, with the exception of u well-dressed man, who is supposed to have got into the train at Boulogne, and who occupied a seat in the same compartment with him. The clergyman had fallen asleep, but when about ten miles from Amiens ho was amused by a severe blow on the bead, inflicted with a chisel. Before he had time to grapple with the assailant be received five other wounds, from which the blood flowed copiously. Tho assassin opened the door, and tried to push the clergyman out while the train was running at full spead. A thrilling struggle for life then ensued, resulting in tho clergyman being violently thrown Imm the carriage. In his fall he managed to grasp the footboard, and succeeded, although streaming with blood and nearly fainting, in attracting the attention of the occupants of the neighboring compartment, where there were several Eng ish gentlemen. The woubl-be-assassut, fearing detection, jumped from the train when passing the station at Rinanco Court. The stationmaster saw him, and ran after him. After ant exciting chase, he came up to him as he was quietly washing the blood from hi* face and hands at a village pump. On finding himself discovered he drew a revolver and fired at his own head, inflicting a painful wound. The motive of the attempted murder was robbery. The assaswn was at first supposed to be the son of an English colonel, but he turns out to be an architect named Ducrolz. The assassin is in a critical condition ; but his victim is repo raring.