American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-12-23
A Fight With a Maniac in an
English Railway Car.

The London Daily Nea0s of Novem-
Der 25 says: Our Warrington CORE
spondent telegraphs that an outrage of
an extraordinary character occurred yes
terday in the express which leaves Limo
Street, Liverpool, at 80 a. m. for
Chester. This train does not stop be-
tween Edgehill and Chester. When it
| left the first-named station there were
three occupants in one compartment,
Mr.. Ellis, of Liverpool, an artist, and
man named Thomas Holmes, and his
father, both laborers, and the worse for
drink. Shortly after the train passed
Runcorn, the younger Holmes, who had
been restless for some time, drew out a
knife and attempted to cut the throat
of Mr.. Ellis. The latter thought THAT
money was wanted, and he gave him
his purse. This the mailman threw
out of the window, and watch that
was offered him shared the same fate,
In the struggle Mr.. Ellis received knife
wounds in the neck and face. He and
the young mans father endeavored to
horsepower the mailman, but that they
found it impossible to do. He after
ward attempted to get through the
window and eventually succeeded, after
biting Mr. Ellis's thumb off his right
hand, and injuring one of his fingers.
At this time the train was near
Frodsham, and the signal being against
it, it had to draw up, and the mailman
fell from the carriage into the six foot
way just as the train was stopping. In
formation was at once given to the po-
lice, and the man was at once taken
into custody. He will be brought be-
fore the magistrates to-day if in fit
state to appear. The injured man was
attended to as soon as possible by DR..
Robinson, of Frodsham. From inquiries
made it would seem that young Holmes
buried his wife last Sunday, since which
time he has been drinking. He and his
father intended to get out at Garston,
but got into the wrong train at Edge
hill.
From Chester we have received the
following statement made by the in
jured man, who is Mr.. A. j. Ellis, ith-
ographer, 81 Radcliffe Street, Liver
pool: 81 got in at Lime Street with
two men, and we proceeded all right
for time. All at once the younger
man jumped on his feet with an open
knife in his hand, and called out to me:
You -, will put this into you.' He
seized me by the coat and made a des-
perate lunge at my throat with the
knife. I thought that his object
was robbery; so handed him
my purse containing rs los
in gold, which he Immediately pitched
through the carriage window. I then
knew I was struggling with mailman.
He continued to attempt to cut my
throat with the knife. He knelt on my
breast as he was thrusting at my throat.
l laid hold of his hand that contained
the knife and kept him at bay for a
minute, and then his father got behind
him and held his hand, and it was at
that time within an inch of my throat
as he stood over me. then got up and
struck the knife out of his hand, and he
turned and struggled with his father,
whom he forced into a corner of the
carriage. He then went to a window,
smashed it all to pieces, caught me by
the wrist, and attempted to pitch me
through. He carried me to the window,
but failed to do that; and then he got my
thumb into his mouth, bit right through
the glove, and nearly severed my thumb
from the hand. He then leaped through
the carriage window, and I caught him
by the heels and held him hanging out
of the door for about mile, till faint
ed from loss of blood just as the train
came to standstill outside Frodsham
Station. 1 do not recollect any more