Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-04-02
A Gem Puzzle Maniac.

QUIET AND SOBER CITIZEN MADE
MANIAC By THE GAME OF ID, IA, Is.
A sadder spectacle than that which was
presented at the home of Mr.. Daniel Con-
roy, yesterday, cannot be we'll imaeined.-
Mr.. Conroy is we'll known IN the CITY, and
all who are acquainted with him can bear
witness to his temperate habits MS devo-
ton to his family and his manly qualities.
And yet this man, with the physique of an
athlete, and with normal disposition as
gentle as the lamb, stood in the presence
Of his ia nily transformed into an unnatu-
raj being, capable OF putting MS child to
most horrible death.
To mention the game of Fifteen" in
connection with the sad affair. ana To say
that this mans madness is attributable to
the little game, may provoke u smile or In
crptlnlity But such is the Well-authenti-
Gated fact. For nearly three weeks this
man. who ia a first-class stOnecutter and
d es the principal work on the Cathedral.
has been greatly exercised over the game.
His ellow.workmen noticed that he would
frequently stop his labor to make some
calculations on the game. and during the
last week his wife became aware that the
solution of the puzzle was subject Of
more interest to him than was his family.
It was soon evident that his whole mind
was absorbed in the game. All day Sun
day he was engaged in manipulating the
blocks. and. when, demonstrated with by
his patient wife, he declared that ne would
do it in spite of all the powers that be-.
| Far into the night he worked, moving and
moving. until, Wearied out, he sank into
| a ftfni slnmher. which was broken by
mutterings Of 10, IA, Is.
| The discovery of his condition was made
about half past yesterday morning. Mrs:
Conroy saw him arise and take one OF
| the twins and pace about the room in a
most singular manner. When she spoke
to him he turned upon her with yell Of
rage, and she saw by the terrible look IN
his eyes that her poor husband was cut OF
his mind. She called in neighbors to ap.
pease him, but it awaited not. The sight
of the people enraged him the more, and
only served to accelerate his strides
through the house. Great fear was felt
for the little boy he held in his hand, and
an effort was made to get it away.
The infuriated fifteen-player drove them
off. and in his frenzy was about to place
his child upon the hot stove when in rush
ed Capt. Sullivan and posse of police
which had been sent by Chief Crowley tf
secure the poor Iuau. OuuCoI ouIAvo'
succeeded in getting one handcuff on, but
the other hand was held aloft and Rrasped
the child, which, all unconscious OF tht
terrible danger it was exposed to. smiled
at its maniac father as if the noise ane
confusion was created for Its own diver
sion. The officers finally succeeded in get
ting possession of the infant and securing
; the mailman.
j The officers took the unfortunate mar
to the county jail for security, and he wa'
lodged in cell. A few hours after hi
incarceration, Conroy was seen crouchet
at the furthermost end of the cell chalklnt
out the game on the wall. His shrek
could be heard through the heavy doors
; and rang through the iron corridors ant
made the prisoners turn pale.
/ DR.. Strickland visited him several time
: during the day and endeavored to admin
lister opiates. The poor man will be re-
moved to Dixmont Asylum tonight or to
morrow night.-Erie (Pa.) Dispatch, ga
A telegram from San Francisco, Marc
30th, says:
Geo. Mitchell, painter, was last nigh
arrested at his place of business on
? charge of insanity preferred by his employ
er. He became insane over the IL, 10,
: puzzle, and covered the floor aud wall
\ with figures in attempting to solve it.