The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-04-01
CRAZED BY TIE GEM PUZZLE.
Daniel Conroy Works At 1t Until
Reason Gives Way.
He Becomes a Raving Mailman and
Attempts to Murder His Family
His Wife's Narrative of the
Calamity-He is Taken
To An Asylum.
Erie pa Dispatch. !

A sadder spectacle than that which was
presented at the home OF Mr.. Daniel Conroy
yesterday cannot be well Imagined. Mr.
Conroy Is well known In the city. and all who
are acquainted with him can bear witness to
his temperate habits. his devotion 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 family
transformed into an unnatural being, capable
of putting his child to a most horrible death.
To mention the game of Fifteen" In copuae-
ton with this sad affair, and to cay that this
mans madness is attributable to the little
game, may provoke q SfuilS OF lncreulitv !:
but such Is the Northumberland fact. For
nearly three weeks this man. who Is q first
class stonecutter and does the principal work
on the Cathedral. has bssn greatly exerc sad
over the game. His fellow workmen noticed
that he would frequently stop his labor 10
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
1t was soon evident that his whole mind was
absorbed in the game. On Saturday last H.
walked Into Alderman Woods Office and
wanted to explain certain combinations but
the Squire had no time to give to the subject
He then walked to NHunaunr u Gelb's resta,l.
rant and offered to bet Mr.. Geib S25 that he
could solve the problem. Ali day Sunday he
was engaged in manipulating the blocks and
when demonstrated with by hts patient wife
he declared he would do 1t In spite of all the
powers that be. Far into the night he
worked, moving and moving until, wearIed
out. he sank into u titfu slumber.
The discovery OF his condition was made
about 80 yesterday morning. Mrs. Conroy
saw him arise and take one OF tho twins and
pace about the room In q most singular man
smoke tn N ha ttIr
her with Il yell OF rage, and she saw by the
terrible look in his eye that her poor husband
was out Of his mind. She called in neighbors
TO appease 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 eff lrt 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 rushed Capt. Sullivan and posse of 90.
lice, which had been sent by Chief Crowley to
secure the poor man. Officer Sullivan sue
ceeded In getting one handcuff on. but the
other hand was held aloft and grasped the
child. which, oil unconscious of the terrible
danger II was exposed to, smiled at its ma
MAC father as IL the nolse and confusion was
created for it's own diversion. The officers
threw themselves upon him. and finally suc-
ceeded in getting possession of the infant and
securing the madman. The scene during
The cries OF the children, the shrieks OF the
mother, fearful for her babe In the DO werfu
grasp of the maniac, the sharp ordinations
OF the officers, the fearful yells OF the lunatic
and the prattlings OF the little boy In such q
dreadful clutch, made up n scene the report
er's pen cannot do full justice to.
The officers took the unfortunate man to
the county jail for security and he was
lodged In cell on the ground floor. As may
be supposed, the Journey from CDnroy's
n ypl 10 nnf ptNli ,baI -,
out great difficulty. Frequently the frenzled
man threw himself upon the ground, aud put
forth strength that none but mailman
could possess to free himself from his cap
tors. few hours after his incarceration q
reporter was conducted to his cell by Warden
Staples, and there saw this wretched victim
OF "Fifteen" C0nroy was seen crouched ut
the Furthermore end OF the cell chalking out
the game on the wall. Upon being discov-
cred be sprang up with loud cry and flung
himself with oil his might against the iron
barred door.
"Ho! ho! ha! ha!' he cried, II have 1t, [
have 1T at last! Oh, thank God, can do it
IS, H. IS. Let me out-6 7, 8, 8. Where's
my children? I'll cut EN- into fifteen blocks
!, 80, A. Give me some water, wretch IS 10
Is, H. oh, my God Ia heaven. what shall
dor Ha..; ha! hal Shes O daisy! She's
darllngi" and then the demeutdd Conroy
com menced to dance a breakdown. '.S9e
here, he exclaimed, beckontug to Mr. Staples
t.h1 lhe ltpoL eol, Ii SHOW you now 10 SOLVE
It,"
He drew nail from his pocket, and lifting
his manacled and bleeding hands high over
his head, he traced out sixteen squares on the
iron wall
There is $1,000 reward fora solution of this
puzzle said he, land | have won 1t. It Is
mine! tnfnel mine" aud then be commenced
beating his chest with his ironed hands.
The reporter next visited the home of the
afflicted Conroy family, on Short street. Mrs.
Conroy WAS found Ia tears lanenting the
5ronble that had fallen upon her.
He Is kind, good man, and he would not
larm worm" said she to the reporter. The
Woman held twin In her arms and another
vas gamboling about on the floor. my bus
,and' has not touched a drop Of drink since
christmas" replied she In answer tn a uuas-
ion. mo. Sir, there was no family trouble |
o upset his mind; 1t Is all owing to that
.ame of Fifteen"
Later in the day the reporter called again |
t the jail to ascertain this mans condition. |
leavy doors, and when the reporter stood |
gain in front of his cell the man came for
yard In nude condition, he having torn off |
very strip Of clothing from his body. Jesus |
: Joseph - Mary. Joseph - Mary - Jesus |
lary-Jesus- Joseph," he yelled, In voice
nade the prisoners turn pale. "Who says |
annot do 1t lies! He lies! Oh, the world IL all |
lade OF squares" He executed another pas
e deur with his bare feet, and then com
lenced to beat upon the bars again.
DIR. Strickland visited him several times
uring the day and endeavored to administer
plates. The poor man will be removed to
'ixmont Asylum tonight or tomorrow
lorning.
A Florida Fish story.
The spring fish story comes from Florida