New-York tribune., 1874-08-15
A MADMAN'S FREAhS.

Il
, ,c,pprNTrp IyFURIATED WITH DRINK SHOOTS HIS
WIFE. ATTEMPTS TO KILL POLICEMAN, WOUNDS
. CIVILIAN AND BLOWS OUT Ills owN BRAINS.
John Brandstein, age a. carpenter, VINO
has resided at No. $40 West FOrty-thirdst with MS
family consisting Of his wife, age So son, John Brand
stein jr, age Is, sonin-law, Henry o. refers anu
daughter Caroline Peters, 90 became enrageu III HIS
breakfast table yesterday about question OF coohc'
which led TO disastrous results. Brandsten mas oeen
maniac for years in his love OF drink He has threat
ened and attempted to carry out the most terrible
of violence when liquor, and has repeatedly attacked
his wife and his son-in-law in his violent nus oh
one occasion he tried to throw cohee-
pot OF hot water over his wife for some slght "oiu
which she had uttered and again had chased his son
law out of the house with revolver for some other Oh
fense equally trifng. His madness at times asSuou
almost ludcrous phases and recently 1t has led m 10
an almost demoniaca rage at the sight OF any OF tue
family eating heartily when his own thirst for liquor ue
barred him from the enjoyment OF his meals. Ills
wife and children lived in continual fear OF 'io-
leuce except when for week or t"o ho
would conquer his absorbing passion anu
remain sober Then, they said he was very KIhu'S
father. His face yesterday morning reihlnued uot"
that his madness upon him again. He sat al preaA
fast and grumbed his low rumblings Of rage warning
his frightened family OF coming storm Inc STORM
broke when dish OF stewed prunes came on tue taoe'
He threatened and roared like mad because they were
not cooked to suit him. The family renamed SILENT
and in his rage he from the table ana lelt INC
house. He returned about O'Clock III thc
afternoon, full OF liquor. The family was
all seated in the front basement, which was
used as a sittingrOom. There was also bed III IT,
When he came in he began grumblng and threatening
and the family as usual such occasions, quietly WIFI
drew retiring for safety to the upper part OF the mousse
Mrs Brandstein was uneasy, however at the CONDITION
Of her husband, and soon afterward feturheu W '"o
sittineroom where she found him still flushed ana
angry rocking himself to and fro at the ~huo"' oho
made some remark TO HIM, intended To DE soo'inE 0
he suddenly burst forth into ungoyernaDle rage anu
ordered her to leave house. She withdrew hastily
through the rear basement kitchen to the Dack yaru'
and while she was going up the rear steps
the mailman appeared at the kitchen wndo"' "hieh
was open with a double barrelled shotgun, ana hted
one barrel She partly protected a' thc 'no
by a heavy chair standing near the steps, ana ohiy
few of the bird shot with which the gun was Ioauo"
took effect those entered her face ana sue iei WIN
n scream. Her son had descended the back stairs
in the meantime, and at once devoted hn-
self 10 assisting his mother The father
seeing his son. supposed probably that an attempt was
about 10 be made to capture him. and he at once Dar
caded himself into the basement tightening the shutters
of all the windows and locking and barring the doors
The son could not get through the house 10 ior lne
police and Peters and his wife, who were IN inc upper
floors, did not dare to come down Information was
conveyed TO neighbOr, however by the son from the
rear yard, and Officer Frazier, Of the Twenty-seeond
Precinct, who was duty in the neIghborhood'
was immediately informed Of the affair He proceeded
10 the house. and on the way joined by Albert
Clover OF No. 400 West Thiryninthst, who volunteered
10 assist the capture All attempts to open the front
doors OF windows failed, and Frazier hnaly made his
way through the adjoining house TO the rear yard ne
peatod calls upon the madman within for admission
received no reply and Frazer WAS at last compelled
70 break open the rear window. There was
no one visible in the kitchen. The shotgun
with which the shooting had been dohe' Id!
on the floor. The door between the Kitchen ana the
stting-room in front closed and on trying the
officer found 1t locked like the rest Closely followed Dy
Clover Frazier began heavy knocking against this
door, demanding admission NO answer "as relulnou'
and the officer with two powerful blows demolished the
MINER paucls of the door had full view of the ROOM
nrectlv in the middle OF the floor stood the maddened
Rrandstein with a revolver i'll his hand, pointed
at the intruding officer. As Frazier saw u he
lodged his head aud dropped on one Knee Clover WAS
not so prompt He stood directly behind the occr anu
was unable TO comprehend the change In the SITUATION
until # was too late. BranGsteln fired and the Da'
missing Frazier went directly through the eshy part OF
Covers arm and lodged i'll the wall opposite Cover
waited for nothing more. He turned aud He'd through
the open window and only stopped wheh irih'o"y
scaling the back fence by special ohcer nren' WIN
had been sent to the assistance OF Frazer and WHO was
nreyented only by the hurried explanations OF the son
from sending another shot after Clover uhder 'no i
nresslon that he was the escaping madman
when Brandstein inside had fired his shot anu seeu IT'S
act on Glover he placed the revolver to the side OF
his own head and fired. the ball passed eh'rey
through his brain, and found aerward on tho peu
six feet distant Officer Frazier VINO had risen 10 MS
feet saw the suicide and again made desperate enorS
N enter the room The door remained uh!leiunR'
however ana II was only by the united Efforts OF MN
self and Special officer O'Brien that ne nha'Iy
efacted an entrance. Brandsten lay sueteheu
out across the room still breathing. ghas'y
yvound was visible In both "mPeS'
from which the blood flowing. An ambulance was
sent for and Drs Little and Campbell OF Fory-secohu
ot came with il q few moments afterward. cursorS
examination of Brandsten's wound convinced 'ncui
that he was beyond recovery. Mrs Brandsehs Wounu'
ore found 10 be comparatively slight, and Cio''r
r,s moro painful than dangerous Brandste'h was
,aken 10 the Nlnety-nnth-st Hospital, where he u'eu
two hours aferward Mrs. Brandsten ana clover "cie
attended at their bones. 49,, =.
Rraudstein was "A Bavarian BY birth ana had oeen III
This connry 30 years BY steady industry. before ioVe
NJ lauor had made o maniac OF him. ne secure" ~ ms
trade a handsome competence aud owned 'he hou'o ~
which he lived.
A MURDER on THE PLAlNS'
SIDNEY, Neb., Aug. 14.-W. ii. Taylor yes
Of man Ill