The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-08-17
A Human TIGER.

Among the notorious desperadoes of
Coviugton, Ohio, is ono Lee Crane,
OF Creane, a man who has been
guilty of several deeds of blood, and
who until recently has been hiding from
the arm of the law. One afternoon his
beastly nature became inhamed, and he
started out for blood-to run Malayan
"muck."
There is brickyard situated on the
street occupied by the Kentucky Central
railroad. Crane was drunk, and was
raging like one possessed in a low den.
This house looks upon the brickyard.
Lee Crane was pursued by bis brother
Will, who lives near by, into this place,
the brother wishing to get his own pistol
back, Lee having recently taken it from
his house. Lees only response to the
demand for the surrender of the pistol
was shot from it directed a. his
brother. Will Crane did not wait for a
second bullet, but got out of range as
thirst for blood was aroused, and he
started out with blind rage to satiate it.
lhe first object he saw on leaving the
Connolly house was poor old laborer
named Henry Hageman, who hal Just
freshened the fires in the kilns, and was
STOPPING down in the act of putting a
live coal in his pipe. Crane took de-
liberate and unerring aim at him, and
Hageman fell, pierced through the
groin.
Crane continued on his way, and met
an acquaintance named Frank Dresman,
who was passing from his house to the
brickyard. Dresman, having heard the
pistol, and perceiving Cranes disor-
dered appearance, inquired what the mat
ter was, when bullet fewpast his head.
Dresman stood astounded for o. second,
and could not believe that it was any
thing moro than an eccentric piece of fun
athrst, but the continued presence of the
pistol trained on him persuaded him
that his life was sought, and he ran
toward the other end of the brickyard,
pursued by Crane. The devilish MUIR
derer sought rest for his weapon to
steady his hand, and aimed at Dres.
mans retreating form from pile oi
wood, the pistol swapping twice, but
luckily failing to go Off.
The two men had at this time got as
far as the west end of the yard. Here
We're Henry Drosman and Ben Hage
man, the latter Il nephew Of the man
previously wounded. They were en-.
gagged in conversation, when their atten.
tion was drawn to the chase by the noise
made, and one of them called on Crane
30 stop. He replied by a shot at them.
The three men poured rain of bricks
upon the human beast, and one of them
struck him on tho breast. Cranes am
munition was now exhausted, and the
men whose lives he had sought now had
the advantage. He turned and ran, the
three men IL hot pursuit. In his flight
he throw down or lost the pistol, which
was picked up by Bill Cranes wife, who,
it is charged, used it to iptimidate the
pursuers of her brother-in-law, and &C
tually did deter one man who had Joined
in the pursuit.
The hunters overlook the fleeing mur
derer, and would have made short worl
OF him with clubs and stoues, aided b,
the crowd, now swelled Ey large mum
Der of Germans, hot for instant revenge
But they were persuaded to desist b,
the clerk in charge OF the lumber com
pany's office.
Henry Hageman and Benjamin Dres
man took the prisoner in charge, force,
him to street car, and got him aboart
after a severe struggle. At the cour
house, they found an officer in charge
and with his assistance the prisoner wa
lodged in jail.