Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-05-02
Exciting Experiences with a Madman

A CORRESPONDENCE of the Detroit Free
Press, writing from Flint, Mich, under
q recent date, says:
At about eight o'clock LAST evening a
man some thirty-fve or forty years of
age called at the residence Of Charles
Smith, prominent business man, and
q resident of the Third Ward, in this
city, and was instantly recognized by
Mr.. Smith, who had met him some
years since in Shiawassee County. His
name is Sheldon NJ. Thompson, whose
father Is afarmer and resides about one
mile from the Village of Corunna.
After greater part of the evening had
been spent In conversation (Which on
the part Of the stranger was of a ram
bling nature) Mr.. Smith showed him to
a room and bade him good night.
After q few moments had elapsed the
stranger again made his appearance,
and calling Mr.. Smith aside proceeded
to narrate his troubles, which were Of
a domestic nature, claiming that he was
an Outcast and was deprived of the
blessings of home and friends. Dur
ing his conversation he became bolster
Gus and claimed that he would soon put
an end to himself. All attempts on
the part of Smith to console and quiet
him proved futile, and he saw that
something must be done to save him
self and family from the injuries they
might receive at the hands of one who
was seemingly unaccountable for what
he might do. Atthis juncture Mr.. Hall,
a gentleman who was stopping at the
house, was called in, and an attempt
was made 20 persuade the maniac to
leave the premises, but he stubbornly
refused to do so, and taking a large
jack-knife from his pocket he opened
the blade, then opened his clothing, and
vowed he would take his own life. He
was persuaded to put up the weapon,
and soon Sheriff Phillips, with Deputy
Miller, arrived, and at once set about
the task of removing him from the
premises. Finding that cosxing and
talking would do no good, they deter
mined on bringing main force to bear,
and being strong, able-bodied men,
they seized hold of him, but he was
seemingly endowed with superhIman
strength, and hurled them to the floor,
at the same time kicking Mr.. Phillips
severely in the pit of the stomach.
Here Miller rallied and, making q des-
perate plunge, with one arm encircled
Thompson's neck, but was as suddenly
thrown from him, receiving severe in
juries. A revolver was here pointed at
Thompson, which he paid but little at
tention to, but set to work to place him
self in better attitude for defense, at
1soh kha ,,oV-Afa1
for few minutes to lay some plan to
capture him. He at once left the room
and passing up stairs entered q garnet,
and seizing boxes, trunks, ETC., pro-
ceeded to intrench himself. Another
attempt was made to capture him,
while he defended himself with large
cane which he had wrested from one
of the officers. He broke the windows
in this apartment in fragments, after
which he took down clothes line in
the room, fastened it to the door knob,
tied It to something securely and then
replaced the boxes, trunks, ETC.,
against the door and awaited another
attempt at an entrance. An attempt
was made to fill the room with chloro-
form in order to stupefy him, butowing
to the window being broken no effect
was produced.
After half days accommodating the
insane man was captured by being par
tally stupefed from the effects Of
chloroform and ammonia thrown on
his person from syringes, and blinded
by pulverized pepper thrown in his
eyes. Several persons barely escaped
with their lives. He is now confined in
a close cell, having broken his hand
cuffs.