The Osceola times., 1874-12-26
Terrible Struggle With q
Il Madman.

! At frvington, Washington Coun.
ty, H., a small town on the Illinois
Central Railroad a few days since
occurred airightful tragedy. The
conductor OF u n0rthward-b bound
freight train put off n man who ap.
pcared to be laboring under ten.
porary insanity, with the lequest
that he be. closely locked after, as
he was not lin condition to take
care of himself. The man WAS
taken to the railroad station by A.
L. Marsh and G. Rohman, but
sometime about midnight the luna
tic made bIs escape, and made u
terrible effort to break into the
residence of Mrs. Barton. Again
he was taken back to the station
house by Marsh, .Rohman, John N.
Driver and j. l.. Womack, who
bolied the doors of the station
house. remaining on the inside with
the madman. The madman seemed
not 10 be satisfied with this kind OF
procedure, and drew u pocket-kniie
and advanced toward Driver, say
ing al will kill you, or you must
kill me-" Driver attempted to
paciiy the madmar, when he struck
at him with the knife, but Driver
evaded the blow. The madman
next turned to Marsh, who was SIT
ting near the door, and stabbed
him IN the throat the blade enter.
ing TO tho right OF the windpipe
and passing out on the left side of
the neck behind the iuguIar vein.
Marsh sank to the floor saying,
"Boys, he has killed me-" Leaving
Marsh, with fend-iike ierecity, the
mudman sprang toward WOmack,
who lodged his first blos, and
clinched the terrible fiend closely
around the waist, but he was u
large, powerful man, aud much
more than IA match tor his intended
victim, and soon succeeded in get.
ting hi right arm free, aud com
menced to stab Womack IN the
back and cad, who cried To Driver
to "knoek hlm down, he is killing
me-" Driver procured crewbar,
and made an attempt to strike the
madman, but he, with wonderful
presence OF mind, managed to keep
Womack between himself and
Driver. Driver still made for
Womack's antagonist, but the blow
intended tor the mailman fell with
terrible force on Womack's right
hand, crusaing it completely, rem
dcrIng Womack helpless, who let
20 his adversary, who then sprang
ut Driver and was received with u
blow from the crow bar across the
lett side OF his head, which brought
him senseless to the floor. AT ,hls
juncturs of affairs, Driver and Rob.
man started out fer help, leaving
Marsh, Womack and the maniac
lying upon the floor. But scarcely
had they lett when the madman re-.
covered himself, and seeing his
knife upon, the floor started for it,
and Womack, anticipating h,s in
tentons, secured An iron poker and
again commenced the combat tor
lite. Womack this time had equal
chances, aud fought with the know
ledge that his life was al stake. Six
times the demon advanced towards
Wvmack. and six times he was
brought to the floor. Help soon
came, aud the insane man made his
escape; and the next morning was
found near the Baptist Church,
almost frozen to death, having
stripped himself OF nearly oil OF his
clothing. His wounds were dressed,
after when warrant was issued,
and the unfortunate wretch was
committed to Jail. Young Marsh
received every attention at the
hands Of his trends, but died the
next day, Wednesday. November
25, aud at 5 o'clock, Thursday
morning his murderer breathcd his
last. Womacks injuries were not
serious, and he will soon recover.
What fearful night was that at
irvington railroad Station, and,
no doubt, it will long be remem.
bered by the people OF that place.