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#Post#: 7151--------------------------------------------------
Louis Jeans' 15 Minutes of Fame
DIR By: HowBrown1953
Date: August 13, 2026, 10:10 am
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His true surname was Jeans. He was Italian.
New York Evening World
April 25, 1891
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FOUR BULLETS MISSED SIMS.
A Desperado Tries to Kill a Roundsman and a Patrolman.
An Apparently Insane Man Runs Amok in Spring Street.
The toughest-looking character that came before Justice McMahon
this morning in the Jefferson Market Court was an Italian about
thirty-five years of age, named Louis Jaen.
He was charged by Roundsman Sims, of the Mulberry Street
station, with having tried to shoot that officer last night
about 9 o'clock. The prisoner fired four shots at Sims with a
thirty-eight-calibre revolver of French pattern.
Jaen cannot speak English and appears to be insane. People who
have seen him think that he answers in many particulars the
description of the man who did the Jack-the-Ripper work at the
East River Hotel Thursday night.
Roundsman Sims was returning to the station from supper last
night, when he saw two men quarrelling at the corner of Broome
and Wooster streets. He was about opposite the men when he saw
one of them pull a revolver and fire it at his companion.
The man at whom the shot was fired ran away.
Sims started after the man with the pistol. When about 150 feet
from the corner on Wooster Street, the man turned and fired four
shots at Sims, none of which, however, took effect.
A lively chase ensued. Men, women, and children screamed, and
cries of "it's Jack the Ripper" were heard on all sides.
Jaen turned down Spring Street, where Policeman Thomas Callahan
ran across the street and blocked his way.
Before Jaen reached the officer, he stopped and snapped the
revolver three times at Callahan. The shells were all empty, so
no damage was done.
Simultaneously with the last snap, Callahan's night-stick
crashed down on Jaen's arm. The revolver dropped, and so did the
night-stick, which again landed with great force on Jaen's left
arm, knocking him flat.
Jaen was then secured and taken to the Prince Street station.
The prisoner was surly this morning, and would not talk very
much to the interpreter. He said he did not see the officer when
he fired the shots.
He was held in default of $1,500 bail to await the action of the
Grand Jury.
Jaen is 5 feet 5 inches tall, about thirty-five years old, very
dark complexion, high forehead, eyes set deep and wide apart, a
prominent nose, a dark brown moustache and a mouth of a peculiar
cut. His hair is dark brown.
He had a black overcoat, badly worn; a black suit of clothes and
a flannel shirt.
#Post#: 7152--------------------------------------------------
Re: Louis Jeans' 15 Minutes of Fame
DIR By: HowBrown1953
Date: August 13, 2026, 10:11 am
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New York Sun
April 26, 1891
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SIEMS SAYS HE WAS SHOT AT.
But Policeman Callahan and the Prisoner Contradict the
Roundsman.
Patrolman Thomas Callahan of Capt. Thompson's command and
Roundsman John Siems of the Mulberry street squad are at issue
on a question of veracity. Callahan, in Jefferson Market
yesterday, openly accused the roundsman of romancing, and the
statement of the prisoner in the case appeared to bear out the
charge. Louis Jeans, an Italian, of 175 Wooster street, was the
prisoner. Roundsman Siems was the complainant. He said:
"I went to supper Friday evening about 8 o'clock. I was
returning from my home, 9 Watts street, about an hour later, and
when I got to the corner of Wooster and Broome streets I saw two
men quarreling. One of them drew a pistol and fired at the
other, who ran away. I crossed the road to intercept the man who
had fired, but he was walking quickly, and I determined to
follow him and notify the first policeman I met. I was unarmed,
my night stick and revolver were in the police station, and I
did not care to tackle the man while his revolver was in his
hand. I knew he could not escape. He walked up Wooster street,
and when he saw me he deliberately emptied his pistol at me,
firing four shots. None of them struck me. As we passed the
alleyway between Spring and Broome streets I called to the
watchman who is generally posted there to bring his club and
help me arrest the man. He did not respond. At the corner of
Prince and Mercer streets I saw Officer Callahan and shouted to
him to arrest the man I was following. Callahan knocked him down
with his nightstick, and I made a complaint against him at the
station house."
Policeman Callahan says he was on post at 9¾ o'clock at Prince
and Mercer streets when a man came running toward him, holding a
revolver at arm's length. He was pulling the trigger as rapidly
as he could, and the clicking proved the chambers to be empty.
He struck the outstretched arm with his club and the man fell
down. Then he arrested him. He was on his way to the police
station when the roundsman arrived. The roundsman did not call
to him to make the arrest. He made the arrest as a matter of
course.
"I don't believe," added Callahan, "that the poor devil fired at
any policeman. He was frightened half out of his life, and did
not seem to know what he was doing."
The prisoner, Louis Jeans, told his story in court yesterday. He
had been in America two months, and could speak no English. He
had all his worldly possessions, $31.87, in his pocket when a
man came to him in Wooster street and tried to rob him. He drew
his revolver and fired as quickly as he could. He did not fire
at the officer, or if he did it was by mistake. He was certain
the man he fired at was not in uniform.
Roundsman Siems was in full uniform at the time of the alleged
assault. In the prisoner's pockets were a silver watch and chain
and $31.87. The revolver dropped when Callahan struck his arm is
an old-fashioned pin-fire, five-chambered weapon of foreign
manufacture. It held five empty shells. Justice McMahon held
Jeans in default of $1,500.
#Post#: 7153--------------------------------------------------
Re: Louis Jeans' 15 Minutes of Fame
DIR By: HowBrown1953
Date: August 13, 2026, 10:19 am
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Nina looked into this further.....
He was sentenced on May 7th, 1891 to Sing Sing Prison to serve 7
years....first degree assault.
35 Years old, born in Italy. Laborer. 135 pounds. Dark
complexion. Single,
...with no friends in this country.
In July 1896, he was sent to Matteawan....
He died there on December 23, 1899.
Ain't it a shame he wasn't French? ::) ::)
#Post#: 7154--------------------------------------------------
Re: Louis Jeans' 15 Minutes of Fame
DIR By: HowBrown1953
Date: August 13, 2026, 10:36 am
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The actual file is included in the PDF below.
May 8- Sent to Sing Sing
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Received from: New York
Sentenced: May 7, 1891. 7-6 Ver assault-1st- Judge Fred Smyth.
Who arrested you? — Precinct No 15.
Born: Italy
Age: about 35
Occupation: Laborer.
Complexion: Med-
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
Stature: 5-6
Weight: 135
Can Read or Write: No
Habits: Mod
Tobacco: No.
Catholic
Single.
Resided when arrested at: Thompson st. Don't know number
No friends in this Country.
Med sized head about 7 Hat. Shoes 8 1/2.
Back of head broad and flat. Good sized ears set out from head.
Nearly bald. Forehead med-hight arched med. Left-Eye-nora. Good
siz'd and sharp nose. Med length upper-lip. Mouth small & lips
med thickness Med, hift chin. Large & fairly good teeth, some
under ones out lower jaw left side nose slightly marked by
smallpox Small mole on right-cheek bone. Split nail on
left-index finger & dot-between left thumb & finger Scar from
venereal disease on right-leg.
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