The Portland daily press., 1881-01-04
A Fearful Encounter with a Mad
Man in New York City.

A few days ago, while lady of artistic
tastes and habits, was walking leisurely along
Fifth avenue, she noticed sign of an artists
studio, whereupon she entered an open
door, assembled one flight of stairs, raped at
the artists door, heard the words ''come n,"
and entered spacious room, elegantly fur
nished. Its high windows were richly draped
with heavy curtains, fine pictures were hung
upon the walls, and standing on the floor was an
easel, after the fashion Of most artists. In the
room sat man alone, with overcoat and hat
on, immovable, and with eyes glaring fiercely
on his visitor, as IL enraged at her intrusion,
but not uttering word A few moments
passed; she made casual remark IN regard to
some picture, when he suddenly jumped from
his seat, rushed upon her, seized her by the
throat, his eyes glariDg wildly and his fea-
lures indicating the fercest excitement, and
exclaimed, madly: "Now have youl have
been looking for you for the last ten years,
and now have cot you at last and I'll kill
you" At first the shock to her was terrible
and overwhelming, and she became quite un-
conscious; but recovering herself a little, she
struggled screamed and entreated, but to no
purpose. He clung to her throat with one
hand and with the other tried to fill her
mouth with her clo,hing. Finally, having
loosed his hold, he rushed to the door, locked
it, seized large knife and began to sharpen
1t upon his shoe. telling her that her time had
come, and she must prepare to meet her God;
that he was going to cut her into inch pieces.
She fell upon her knees, prayed, entreated,
told him of her husband and child, and wept
in the widest agony, fully believing that her
time had come, that she must die, but with no
avail. He continued to make his preparations
in the most violent excitement. He told her
that he should put her body in the large stove
in his room to burn it up. Finally, overcome
by excitement, she sank upon the floor At
this the rage of the madman seemed to Subside
little. Still he continued his threats and
preparations. After having recovered little
from her exhaustion, having now been in the
clrtches of the lunatic for over two hours, dur
ing which time she had suffered untold agony,
she now entreated him to give her something
to revive her. 1t was now about O'Clock in
the evening. He then went to the door, say
Ing that he was going to get something for
himself, unlocked it, opened, went out, and
locked the door behind him. Alone in the
room, she then screamed to the top of her
voice, hoping she might bring some one to her
rescue, but to no avail. He soon returned
still threatening her with instant death if she
was not silent. The tiend seemed to have no
other purpose but to torment her, or to take
her life. Finally he told her that if she would
take his arm and go quietly down stairs, she
could go. Hope now dawned upon her. She
told him that she would do anything. He ac-
cordingly made her walk down with him into
the street. She now felt inexpressble relief,
having got out of prison. Here she strove to
exiricate herself, but he threatened to dash
her brains out against the walls of the build
ing unless she went quietly. She told him she
wanted to take an uptown car" He said,
"I'll go with you. I'll follow you to ihe ends
of the earth" He entered the Car with her,
sat down by her side and appeared perfectly
sane. He paid her fare, and never uttered a
word till she got out of the car. He followed
her, and, on arriving at her residence, said to
her, "you must be at my place tomorrow at II
O'Clock. 1 shall follow you. You can't live
without me-" She then opened the door and
closed it upon him, with unutterable relief;
thus she was once more free from the clutches
of a maniac, and had escaped impending
death.
= The affair occurred near the Fifth Avenue
Hotel. The man was thin and spare, above
the medium height, of sandy complexion,
bald, wore a moustache-she thinks-was
richly dressed, wore diamond bosom studs
and nicely fitting buff gloves. These he put
an oF,x1lx hoo hax A,,t