Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-11
MANIAC MADNESS.

The Murderous Freak of John Calvin
After BEING Released from Jail, He
! Goes Mad Asa,p-Terrific Contest with IL
! Citizen in His Own House-He Seizes a
| Knife by the Blade and is Terribly Cut
An Axe Gives Him Weapon to Re
new the Attack-A Life and Death
Struggle.
A desperate and bloody encounter with a
lunatic took place near the line of the Alc-
Iced township road about six miles from this
city yesterday afternoon, which will probably
result in fatal consequences. The terrific
fight and the circumstances leading thereto
may be briefly narrated as follows:
A few days since there arrived in this city
from Morris named John Calvin on
visit to his brother in-l;.w, Mr. John Moriarty,
residing il the Sixth ward. His strange con-
duct attracted the attention OF his friends. who
IT first thought that he was laborlug unser
1T of temporary abstraction, and as he was
considered perfectly harmless no particular at
tentiun paid 10 his strange Authorizations.
Early Friday morning he escaped from the
hcuse. and unobserved wandered across the
bridge 10 Third street. where his strange ac-
lions and incohrent talk attracted the atten-
ton OF an officer who took him TO the lookup
for safe keeping. He was brought before Judge
O'Gorman Friday morning the charge of
insanity. which was not substantiateG and the
prisoner was discharged.
1t may be said en- PEASANT that his abbera-
tions periodical and temporary and that at
the time OF MS examination on Friday he was
considered perfectly sane.
He was again GomIclled at the residence OF
his relatives in the Sixth ward and the mem
bers of the family were instructed to keep
strict surveillance over his conduct.
Early yesterday morning, while within ear
shot of his brother-in- law, he started to for
the river, and verifying the adage that fools
rush in where angels fear to tread" he crossed
the fearfully thin ice in safety, while MIR. Mo-
riarty fastened across the bridge.
All sight of the maniac was lost from this
time forward, and notwithstanding that hack
was procured and the city thoroughly secured,
no trace was learned OF his whereabouts.
About o'clock yesterday afternoon a mes
senge- arrived in breathless haste in this city
and conveyed the information that desperate
fight had taken place between a tramp and
farmer named VIM. Townsend at the place
above indicated
1t was understood that the tramp had got the
worst of the fracas and that he was held
securely bound awaiting the arrival of an Of
ticer. Deputy Sheriff Harrison procured a
carriage and started for the scene of the fracas.
Upon arriving at the scene of the encounter
the sight presented was sckening in the ex-
IRENE. John Calvin, the lunatic, lay with
ing in pool of blood, profusely bleeding.
MIR. Townsend was almost unrecOguizaole, his
person being LITERALLY covered with CONCEALED
blood.
The appearance of the 6xl0 room in which
the fight took place, CHASTITY enough to
unstring the stoughtest nerves palsey the
bravest heart. The room bore evidence of a
frightful encounter.
Upon being INTERCEPTED as to the fight,
MIR. Townsend related the following story:
About three o'clock, while engaged III cutting
meat in frame addition to his house, he was
approached by Calvin, who inquired which way
he could best strike the road from which the
house is about one mile distant.
MIR. Townsend gave the necessary instruc-
tons, after which the stranger made himself
abnoxious by INDUCING ia personal re-
marks that were highly improper. Believing
that the man was a tramp Mr.. Townsend at
tached particular weight to tie remarks, un-
til suddenly the brute reached over and soizea
the knife with which he was cutting meat.
Being under the impression that the man
intended taking his life the attack was stoutly
resisted The mauiac seized the knife by the
blade and in trying to wrest II from MIR. Town
send he almost severed his right wrist. The
encounter was now desperate as Mr.. Townsend
knew that life depended on the issue, while
the rage of the lunatic became furious.
With the aacrity of cat the lunatic re-
leased his hold ON the knife and jumped for
axe which stood in a corner of the room, with
which he dealt MIR. Townsend one or two blows
on the head, the force of which was partially
broken by that gentleman.
MIR. Townsend managed TO seize the axe, and
after fearful struggle he felled the maniac
to the floor. after which he was secuereiy
plnioned.
The assistance Of a neighbor named OCor-
nor was called and intelligence OF the affair
was brought TO this city.
The lunatic was brought to this city by
Deputy Harrison who made the round trip of
fifteen miles IL less than two hours. Calvin
was taken 10 the city hospital and attended by
Drs. Mattocks and Smith. His right hand is
almost servered and he bears two ugly gashes
in the head, besides several minor bruises.
In all probability he will not recover, and
complete diagnosis of the wounds will be made
to-day. MIR. Townsend received a severe cut
IN the head and suffers from minor injuries,
none of which are considered fatal