The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-21
MAD AS A MARCH HARE.

POLICEMAN KERNs SINGULAR DoINos WHILE ON
THE PEDESTRIAN LUNACY.
Captain Mount. of the Nineteenth precinct be-
came convinced during the past week that Police
man Thomas F. Kerns insane. He had noticed
something eccentric in the officers actions previ-
ously. but it only recently. when Kerns struck
down and severely injured young Jacob Holp while
Harvesting horse at No. S53 Second avenue that he
came to inquire seriously into his subordnate's
ity. He not left in doubt about it long, The
mans associates in tho force had had reason
to believe him stark mad for many Q day.
but his mania took such Q shape that
they led to believe 1t only an abnormal devel-
opment Of the popular pedestrian craze. The walk
ing matches had turned the heads of good many
people and when Kerns calmly announced apocry-
pha records at plying the heel and they believed
he was only indulging kind Of mendacity which
generally prevalent at the time. Often the
tired patrolmen awakened by ghostiy footballs in
their dormitory. and they arose only to find Kerns
tearing and down ut Q gait that made
them giddy to witness. and whom ut last
word that residents Second avenue
were kept in state of constant excitement
by his sudden spurts past their doorways he
removed from that locality and put on post in a
moro sequestered neighborhood on Madison avenue.
The change wrought no permanent good. Visions
of burglars in full retreat began to stare the deni
and at night the waytarer often frightened
out Of his life by the apparition of the flying
meteor. At last a sergeant came upon him
when he was going ut full speed. and reported the
phenomenon ut the station house. The Captain
called him to account. aud he was not at all back
ward in explaining his position. He was to enter
six days walking match, he said, and proposed
walking 1900 miles during its continuance, making
twenty miles each hour he appeared the rack.
Captain Mount sent for Police Surgeon Clemmens
who examined Kerns and decided he was not ht to
go post. He was relieved from duty then, and
nothing was heard of him till yesterday afternoon
when his successor second avenue saw him lying
over tho ground between Fftieth and Fifty-eghth
streets. to the astonishmont and admiration OF all
jewellers the route.
MAKING THE CIRCUIT on rnn PARK
He was taken To the station house and there talked
wilder and moro incoherently than ever
IL am sure of winning now, F" he said, to Captain
Mount. in fropzy OF delight. IL up TO The
Park today-made hundred and hfty laps around
IL sleek Us you please.
Then he pulled diagram out of his pocket show
ing tho ground traversed and the record of his
trsmps over IT, Come down anu see mo. boys. he
called out to the sergeant. III won't disgrace the
old Nineteenth. you bet. Just put all your pile on
me an you'n come out winners. I'm going to
pocket every cent that's put up against me, and III
fetch the belt up and hang IL over the yonder
and don't you forget it,"
Assured of the incxpediency Of allowing the man
to be at large. Captain Mount borrowed his pistol
under some prctence and prepared to take him to
court, but Kerns slipped out and was discovered
threatening tailor, whose shop adjoins the station
house, because he had discovered disposition to
escape the rehearsal OF the pedestrian g prowess
Court quietly enough, and there Court Officer Null
doom engaged him in conversation while his
was being explained to the magistrate. He waxed
quite discursive there and revealed to his listeners
an ingenious plan no had for pocketing what money
III am going into this with heavy hackers" he
said. Mr. Dabbtt alone. Is putting up $l500O0 ON
me. Now here's my little racket. The nrst day I'll
go $50 miles. That'll be an eye.opener. But I'll
funk on the second, pretend my ankles sprained
and let little Rowel 90 ahead. Thatll take every
one In and they'll ante up the ducats on him as
lively as they know how. 1hatll be my pic, boys.