Two men and three women attacked by five drunkards

An automobile-taxi was travelling along Rue de Ménilmont last night at around one o’clock in the morning, carrying five passengers: two men and three women.

Five drunkards, while staggering home, apparently thought it would be amusing to jump onto the rear of the vehicle, tearing its hood and striking the passengers.

Upon witnessing the scene, customers on the terrace of a nearby café intervened and sought to chase away the drunkards, who responded by lashing out with knives. A violent struggle ensued, and police officers arrived at the double. The scoundrels fled, although not before firing their pistols at one of the officers, Mr Félix Arnaud, who fortunately was not hit.

Four people were injured: Mr Lucien Depoux, thirty-three years old, of 18 Rue Levert, received stab wounds to his head and a gash on his nose. His wife, Emérance, suffered an injury to her right temple. Messrs Félicien Renaux, thirty-two years old, and Louis Weimann, thirty years old, of Rue Delattre, received a number of stab wounds to their arms.

All were treated at Tenon hospital, before being taken home.

Only one of the attackers was arrested: an eighteen-year-old man, Marcel Rahier, of 13 Rue des Maronites. However, due to his good previous record, Mr Deslandes released him without charge.

Le Petit Parisien, 16 August 1910