Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-07
A GEM PUZZLE MANIAC

GEN PUZZLE mAx,Ac
Provoked by tho Three Bo,h.r.om.
Biocks C"tu Reassn 10 Dethronea.
From the Erie Dispatch.
A sadder spectacle than that which "a.
presented at the home of Mr.. Daniel Conrov
Yesterday cannot be we'll imsRined. M.
Conroy ia well known in the CITY. and ali
Who are acquainted with him can bear VT
ness to his temperate habits, bis devotion a.
bis family, and his manly qualities. And
yet this man, with the physiane Of an .,h-
lete. and with a normal disposition a. eentl.
~ the lamb, stood 10 the presence ~ III
family transformed into an unnatural hin.
capable of putting his child 10 . most horri..
bic death. To mention the game Of "Fif.
teen" 10 connection with this IA afEsir. and
to 'ay that this mans madness is attribute.
oie 70 the little game. may provoke . smile
OF '~ncredulity. But such is the we'll authen.
ticated TACT. fsr nearly three weeks this
man, Who Is a first class stone cutter. and
does the principal work on the cathedral.
mas been greatly exercised over the game.
His fellow workmen noticed that he vould
frequently stop bis labor to make some cal.
culatlons on the game, and during the last
seek his wife became aware that the 'solu.
ton OF the pnzzle was q subject Of more ia.
terest than was his family. It vas soon ey.
'dent that his whole mind wa absorbed IN
the game. On Saturday last he walked into
Aid. Woods Office and wanted to explain
certain combinations, but the squire had ma
time to give to the subject. He then walked
to Nebauer & GIBBS restaurant and offered
to bet MI. Gieb $25 that he could solve the
problem. All day Sunday he was engaged
in manipulating the blocks, and, when re-
monstrated with by his patient wife. he de.
clared that be would do it in spite Of all the
powers that be. Far into the night he
worked. moving and moving until. weafied
out, he sank into a fitfal slumber. vhicL
was broken by mutterings of Is. IA. Is.
The discovery of his condition vas made
bout $50 Yesterday morning. Mrs CO n
toy saw him srlse and take one Of The Il ins
and pace about the room In Z most sinpu-
ar manner. Whe she spoke to him he
turned upon her With q yell of rage. and
she saw by the terrible look 10 bis eve that
her poor husband was out Of his mind.
She called 10 neiehbors to appesse him.
nut it availed not. The sight Of the PEOPLE
'nrsRed him the more, and only served Ia
accelerate bis strides through the house,
Great fear was felt for the little boy be held
10 his hand. and On effort was made to get
t away. The infuriated fifteen. plavel
irove them of, and 10 his frenzy ives sboui
to place bis child upon the hot stove when
10 rushed Captain Sullivan and q posse ol
police, which had been sent BY Chiel
Crowley to secure the poor man. Officer
sullivan succeeded 10 getting one handcu6
m. but the other hand was held aloft and
srasped the child, which, all unconscious
IT the terrible danger It was expos-
ID to, smiled at it's manisc father o.
If the noise and confusion wss created fol
ITS own diversion. The officers threw
themselves upon him. and finally succeeded
10 getting possession of the infant and So
curing the madman. The scene durins
his fearful struggle is beyond description
The cries of the children, the shrieks O
the mother, fearful for her babe 10 the pow
erful grasp of the maniac. the sharp excla
nations of the officers, the fearful wells O
The %lunstic, aod the prsttlings of the littl,
boy in such y dreadful clutch, made up
scene the reporters pen cannot co full
Justice To.
The officers took the unfortunate man Il
the county Jail for security. and be wa
lodged 10 a cell on the ground floor. A,
may be supposed, the journey from Con-
roy's home to the Jail was not accomplish
d without great difficulty. Frequentl,
the frenz,ed man threw himself upon thu
ground and put forth strength that non,
out q madman could possess. to free him.
self from his captors. A few hours afte
his incarceration a Dispatch reporter was
c ,nducted to the cell bv Warden Staples
add there saw this wretched victim of "6f:
teen" Conroy was seen at the furthermos
md OF the cell chalkiDg out the game Of
The wall. Upon being discovered be sprsnI
up with q loud cry and flung himself Wit
nj his might against the iron.bsrred dool
''Ho! 10! ha! ha!' be cried. II have it,
have it at last! o thank God l can do
-l3, IA. Is. Let me out-6. rs.
Where's nv children! I'll cut '.m into /
nlocks-1. 2, 3. 4. Give me some wate
wretches-l3, Is. IA. Omy God in HEAVIER
what shall do! Hal hat hat Shes
!aisy! She's a darling!" aod then the de
menied Cenroy commenced to dance
nreakdown. See here, be exclaimed. beck
"niug to Mr.. Staples and the reporter, NJ
,how you how to solve is" He drew
anil from his pocket and lifting his man
,cl.d aud bleeding hands high over hi
head he traced out sixteen squares on III
o wall. There's q Thousand dollars re
ward tor q solution Of this puzzle" said he
and I have won IT. 1t is mine! nine
n,ne!" aud tGen he commenced beatinI
his chest with his ironed hsnds.
The reporter e visited the home Of III
afflicted Conroy family, on Short stree
Mrs. Conroy was found in tears, ,lamentin
tne trouble that had fallen upon her. "H
ia a k,nd, good man and he would not barr
a worm." said abe to the reporter. Tn
woman held a twin in her arms and anotht
vas gambling about the floor. "My hu
band has not touched . drop Of drink sine
Christmas" replied she, in answer. to
question. "No, sir, there vas no famil
trouble to upset his mind it is all owing
thst game Of fifteen"
II should think they ought to put a sto
TO the selling of such games" remarked
female who was present. Later in the ds
tho repnrtar called a0ain n thu ;ail ~ 1.