The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-07-02
ADVENTURE WITH a nADmAM

ADVENTURE WITH A mADMAM
| AM doctor living in West Philadel
phia, and last winter had fearful ad
venture with a maniac, the account o
which have not before made public
from the fact that have SO shuddered te
think of that night of horror that l have
not before summoned courage to recall
the circumstance at the point of my pen
but my nerves have grown stronger, and
give this to the public as an evidence
that truth, if not stranger than fiction
has at least more fearful realization.
The following is the story:
One stormy night in December, during
a visit of my family to the northeastern
part of the State, was all alone, the ser
wants even being away at wake or a
wedding, when a ring at the door-bell
summoned me to the hall, and, on open
ing the door, was confronted by large
iine-looking man, well dressed, and OF
pleasing manners.
GOOD evening" said he in splendid
bass voice. "This is DIR. B., is it
not?"
"That is my name, sir" replied,
blandly; will you walk ing"
"Thank you, SIR" he returned, in a
manner that showed him to be proficient
in politeness. Are you disengaged for
the evening, doctor?"
II am said I.
I am very glad that you are, sir" he
replied; it gives me an opportunity
have long desired of conversing with you
upon anatomical science, with, perhaps,
ONE practical illustrations; and with
this he followed me into my office and
scatcd himself before thu, comfortable
crate.
AS he had apparently forgotten to leave
his hat on the rack in the hall, requested
him to take it off, and offered to carry it
into the hall for him; and while he arose
to take it off it gave me fine opportu-
nifty to observe his splendid physique.
He was apparently over six feet in height,
and of muscular proportions-a very
Apollo in form, with handsome, regular
features, a fine mustache, and luminous
black eyes that at times had wonderful
glitter in them.
"Who have the honor of mceting?"
said |, when I returned from the hall
"Ah!" he replied, with smile, "as to
the honor, you are raising question; as
to the name, l am answering one in the
card have the honor of presenting to
you.'
On handsomely-wr card read
the name, John Dalhousie, NJ. d., No.
IS Lombard street, London" and imme-
diately l entertained higher feeling of
respect for my visitor, and attached more
Importance to the visit A lecture of
mine upon anatomy had been read and
favorably commented upon by the Board
of Surgeons in London, and was vain
enough to think that this had induced
the visit, SO l extended all my hospital
ity to my visitor, and placed before him
wines and cigars, and we entered into an
animated conversation, in which found
him well read and deeply versed in med
icine and surgery, and the appearances
were that l had more to learn from him
than to impart
l noticed, as he slipped the wine from
time to time, that the CLEAN of his black
eyes grew more intense, but supposed
this came from his deep interest in the
subject of cur conversation. He then
proposed that we should go to my dis
sectingroom, which had located ON the
top floor for the benefit of fine skylight;
and with pleasure led the way, and lit
fire in the stove, which / always kept
ready to touch of, SO that we soon had
q hot fire and the room warm, while |
threw on a flood of gas-light, which
made the room brilliant indeed. He ex-
amined my surgical and dissecting instru-
ments, and his eyes glistened as he re-
marked how he should like an opportunity
Of using them, and expressed my re-
grets that had not subject to place at
his disposal. He then told me he had an
original plan for testing the strength Of
the human heart and it's highest degree
of pulsation, and if would lie down up
on the dissecting. he would practical
~ demonstrate it to me. He said it would
be best to remove my clothing to the
waist, SO l stripped them of and laid
down upon the table. He then went to
my head and leaned over me, and in a
moment, before l was aware of his pur-
pose, he had my arms pinioned back with
q rope that he had evidently taken out
of his pocket, with slip-noose all pre-
pared. As he bound me more firmly, he
told me that if made noise he would
stab me to the heart. He then went to
my feet and bouHd them firmly, and l
had an opportunity Of looking into his
face; insanity cleaned from his eyes; /
saw that / was in the power Of maniac.
Utterly helpless, I dared not make noise,
knowing he would kill me the moment l
did. Ny agony Of suspense was awful.
What was he going to dor
He took up my dissecting instruments,
and his eyes cleaned with fiendish de-
light. All hope died in my breast; / saw
his purpose. He said to me, with
demoniacal laugh that made my blood run
cold, as II freezing in my veins:
All, doctor, you regrettedn not having
subject for dissection 81 my dispesaI,
you ses how easily ] have secured one,
u stDaaEa1a plnn & soann1 - ltvine-enh.
jects; IKE % 6pefXs1 a then her(, aY,1