Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1881-06-07
An Exciting Soene-A Lunatic at
Large,

-
Mr.. Dennis Fenton, a we'll known citizen,
and a giant in size and strength, has for some
time been eccentric in his behavior. In
Pennsylvania, whore he had a railroad con-
tract, a few months ago, his actions were
such as to alarm the good people of the town
OF Waynesboro, and induce them to believe
dor was passed by the Court of Franklin
county consigning him to an asylum. He
escaped arrest, however, by returning to this
place-his wonderful feats of strength, for,
which he is noted, having inspired officers
and citizens alike with a wholesome fear,
which prevented them from putting them>
selves within reach of his powerful arm.
He conducted himself very we'll here, until
last week, when on several occasions he de-
fed the Law and its officers; and although a
warrant was Issued for his arrest, the mani-
fest danger of the undertaking, together
with the solicitations of friends who hoped
to be able to get him under control by
peaceable means, induced the police to over
look his conduct. On Friday night, how
ever,he literally took possession of the town.
During the whole night he kept up an up
roar in the streets, broke lamps, smashed
windows, etc., and at daylight he repaired to
the market house, where he amused the
large crowd by his antics. He wore Mother
hat or shoes, and had scarcely enough
clothing on his person to hide his naked
ness. Except the natural scandal of such
proceedings, he was harmless enough for a
while, but at last he grew more violent, and
began to chase the crowds of idlers who
surrounded him. Meanwhile the police let
him severely alone-in fact they left the vi
cinlty entirely, aud during ali the excite>
ment, which attracted everybody in town
who happened to be out of bed at that early
hour-not an officer was to be seen. Every.
body agreed that he ought to be captured,
but no one moved in the matter until Gen.
j. ID. Williams appeared on the scene. He
determined to attempt the capture, and laid
his plans and disposed his forces like a skill
tui general. Preparing himself with a rope,
and accompanied by Mr.. Sam. Larue, and a
powerful oolored man named Jacob Smith,
he awaited the approach of the enraged gi,
ant, who was chasing the crowd in every
direction: Coming up with Tom Newlan be
struck him down with a blow like a tilt
hammer. Just then the colored man Smith,
threw his arms around him with a powerful
grip, and Newland recovering, struck Fem
ton behind the ear with a stone which
brought the giant to tue ground, when he
was securely tied, then placed in a wagon
and carried to Jail, where he was ironed and
chained to tho floor. This was not accom-.
plished, however, without a desperate strug>
gle, for as soon as his arms were freed from
the rope he seized Mr.. Larue by the throat,
forced him to the floor and threw himself
upon him. Our worthy Treasurer thought
his time had come, as it surely would. had
not Mr.. Kurtz, the j~ailor, taken Fcnton bv
the throat and choked him until he was
forced to release his hold on Mr.. Larue.
Thus ended the capture of tho desperate
mailman, and the people (and the polioe)
breathed freely once more. But on Sunday
morning the excitement was renewed by an
attempt of the prisoner to escape. He pos
sessed himself of o short bar of iron, which
formed part of the fastening of the door of
his cell, but which, not being securely at
tnched, he was able by his immense strength
to break off. Armed with this bar he broke
the ring in the floor to which he was fas.
tened, and was making further efforts to es.
cape when detected by the jailor. A crowd
quickly collected, and he was secured with.
out much trouble, and is not likely to get
loose again. But scme excitable person
caused a fire bell to be tapped, with a view,
1t is said. OF getting an engine to drown the
prisoner into subsection. The whole depart-
ment quickly responded to the cali, aud the
churches wero almost entirely emptied at the
first sound of the bell, pouring forth their
audiences to swell the crowd which had al
ready assembled.
The prisoner, we learn, is daily growing
calmer, and it is to be hoped under the
medical treatment of DR.. Mcclure he will
soon be restored. 1t is not believed that he
ls incurable, and steps have been taken for
his removal to the asylum at staunton.
Winchester Times.
Nervousness, debility, and exhausted vit,1itv