The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-04-23
rRIGarrUL rREARs
OF a Maniac Fireman HIS Desperate
Efforts 20 Murder Three Men. '

LNA0NNn 10 LAANNNA
The reaidents Of East Wheeling were
brown into a state Of the widest excite.
nent yesterday evening about 8 o'clock
~ the bomicidal freaks Of lunatc,
II the Creek Mill and the lower
and OF Jacob street. A reporter
II this paper investigated the affair, and
earned the following facts, his princi-
Dal informant being Mr.. Frank coyle,
wbo was a participant in the ARRAY.
Thomas Hulllen fred battery OF boil.
ara at the Whitaker Iron Works, and on
account Of his sulky and moroSe DISPOSE
ion was generally summed by the other
workmen In the mill. A few Of them,
however, occasionally leased him, but
soon abandoned this practice, as the
demonstrations OF the man
scared them of.
This has been the mans history until
Wednesday night, when youth who
works at the mill and Is known as Ben
Dobbs. or "Dutch Benz was standing
near the boilers fired by Hullien, perfectly
unconscious Of any danger. Huilien
slipped up behind Dobbs and gave him .
sound thump with his fist, and then
walked away. Dobbs and q companion
returned after awhile and renewed the
fuss, one OF them striking Hullien with
board. Hullien became inturiated and
chased both OF them of the premises.
This ended that difficulty.
Last night Ed. Costello and the boy
Dobbs were passing near Hullien's boil
ers, when Costello called out TO Hullien,
"Here is Dobbsw Hullien ran out with
a drawn knife, and at once made
a lunce at Costello, who closed with his
assailant and attempted TO disarm him.
But his efforts availed nothing against the
strength, and fury Of the desperate mad
man, and in moment his shoulder was
lacerated in several places by Hulliens
knife. Frank Coyle, seeing the desperate
strait OF his friend, rushed upon Aullien
and threw him to the ground, calling in
the meantime for some Of the many per-
sons who were watching the scene with
painful interestat sate distance, to come
10 his assistance and help capture the
man. Their only reply was to place the
creek between them and the other
tive, taking with them Costello, who
had been released by the bravery OF
Coyle. Coyle, who is very small, but at
the same time q very determined man,
seeing that any further effort on his part
was hopeless, jumped up and ran away
from Hullien, closely pursued, however,
by the latter, who, as he ran, threw stones
and pieces OF iron, and whatever else he
could gather up, at Coyle. Coyle returned
the missiles as he ran, and finally got over
the bridge, followed at some distance by
Hullien. When Coyle reached the OPP
posite eide Of the creek o revolver was
handed him by some Of his friends, and he
then called out to his pursuer to stop or he
would shoot him, but Hullien came
ahead, saying, ~ do not fear that pistol,"
and Coyle began firing on him. One shot
only struck him. and that in the thumb,
doing but little injury and not In any way
impeding his advance.
Another workman in the mill had in
the meantime picked up fire brick, with
which hs strnck Hullien in the back OF
the head, breaking the prick into small
pieces, but only staggering him slightly.
The crowd while this was taking
place relreated to the bank above the
field in the rear and south OF the wooden
factory, and by this time Policeman Wm:
Miller put in an appearance and rushed
upon Hullien, telling Coyle as he passed
TO cease firing. The mad man had man
aged TO ascend little mound, which is
divided by o stream OF water running
through tin the middle, thus making It
practically two hillocks. To. reach his
man, Miller was compelled to cross
the ravine dividing these hillocks,
and as he was doing this Hullien
hurled large piece Of muck iron at him,
which struck him on the right side at the
hip bone, knocking him down. Another
piece OF iron followed this one, which
knocked off the onicer's hat and grazed
his head. Recovering himself he drew
hismace and again went up the bank,
and this time more successfully, Tor he
reached his man, who fercely attacked
him with his open knife, and before he
could strike Hullien with his mace he re-
ceiyad two thrusts OF the knife near the
throat in his coat, which fortunately was
buttoned closely at the time, and thus
prevented the blade of the knife pene-
trating the throat. The coat, however,
was slashed badly in two or three
places. Miller then dealt the man three
or four powerful blows, WHICH staggered
him only very slightly. but OF this
juncture West Fry came near
and hurled limestone with terrible
force against the mans head, knocking
him down and rendering him powerless.
An alarm for police had been sent in by
some one from the mill and several came
up, and the maniac was easily taken to
the'lockup, where DR.. John 4. Campbell
examined him and found several scalp
wounds and wound in his thumb caused
BY one OF Coyle's shots, 1t was also
thought that the man had received inter
nal injuries, but this could not be deter
mined positively.
At the lookup our reporter met the SIS
ter and mother OF the unfortunate Young
man, who told him that about year ago
Tom was employed as fireman on the B.
& o. railroad, and while at this work had
his head squeezed between the engine and
tender, and since this accident, bis sister
said, "he has been rather Eighty" He Is
about % years OF age and is young man
OF good habits,
Costello, the man who was cut by HULL
en-, walked TO his home at the corner Of
Alley G and Seventeenth street, where DR..
Eugene Hoge attended him. Several SD.
perticial wounds were found about his
shoulders and some scratches about his
wrist and arms, but none OF them serious
enough TO capso any apprehension, and
he will he all right III day ortYo.
Another man, a roller, who came in
Hullien's way, was also cut slightly by
him.
The man Hullien was very sick at the
stomach last night, but will likely be all
right in a few days. He will have an ex.
animation this morning and will be com.
mitted as lunatic to the county jail until
can be made for his removal
TO Weston.
Too much credit can not be given Officer
Miller for his intrepid conduct in his en-.
counter with Hullien, for had the mad
man succeeded In reaching the crowd the
consequences might have been terrible.
-. u AZ Il.