Morris tribune., 1883-07-07
MADE MAD BY A GHOST.
A Woman's Leap Through a Windo1

A WOman's Leap Through Window
A snydertown (Pa) dispatch to the
Philadelphia Times, says: "Last night
Mrs. Moore, widow, who lives with
her young son in an old, dilapidated
house at Brush Valley, near here, was
startled by hearinga shrek, followed by
agonizing yells, in the room next to hers
occupied by her son, a youth about l6
years of age. In fright she ran into
the room and found the boy almost dead
with fear and trembling In every limb
She Quoted his fears and questioned him,
and after considerable delay he told hel
that about IL o'clock, while listening to
the furiously raging storm, he was
startled through the dim light of lamp
which burned in the room bya man rals.
ing the window. Almost paralyzed with
fear he sat up in bed, unable to move,
until by the aid of a vivid flash of light
ming he perceive the features of the
man to be those of his father, who was
killed in the mines five years ago. With,
the shrek that had so startled his mother
he sank on the bed and the intruder
fed hastily.
When the mother had heard his story
she turned her gaze towards the win
dow and beheld the identical face
pressed affainst the window. With a
terrific yell she sprang to the window,
and raising the sash jumped through,
striking the ground, twenty-five feet be.
low, with terrific force and injuring
herself fatally. The shrieks and means
of the young Moore brought a few
neighbors to the spot, and they carried
the limp body Of the woman into the
house, and after few hours labor sue
ceeded in bringing her to sensibility
AS soon as she fixed her eyes on her
son she burst into violent fit of laugh
ter. in which the son joined and which
lasted until both fell to the floor ex-
hausted. On the part of young Moore
the fit of laughter was then followed by
violent spasmodic attacks. He foamed
at the mouth, barked like dog and
made vicious snaps at those who at
tempted to quiet.hiia. ..l ..
A young farmer named Herrick went
up to him and, while attempting to quiet
him, caught hold of his hand. No
sooner had he done 50 than he, too
was seized with fearful spasms and
writhed on the floor in intense agony,
exhibiting the peculiar symptoms mani
tested by the others. The few other
neighbors who had come to the scene
were so badly scared as to be of little
assistance, and they fed precipitately,
leaving the three maniacs alone In the
room. Mrs. Moore was stark raving mad
and soon the two young men were at
work demolishing the furniture and
striking one another. One of the wo-
men, who had at first rushed to the
scene, ran home and returned with her
father. an old army sergeant named
Billheimer, who ran into the room and,
grasping Herrick, threw him to the floor
and putting his foot upon his breast,
bound him with the bed ropes. He
then secured young Moore in like
manner. Mrs. Moore was bleeding
from the wounds received from falling
floor insensible. Lifting her In his arms
open air, the storm having ceased.
One of the neighbors had mounted a
horse about one hour before and ridden
road in search of doctor. After long
search he found one and brought him to
the stricken family. The young man
Herrick was taken home by his father
in the morning and another physician
attended him. No hope is entertained OF
Mrs. Moore's recovery. Her son was
unusually violent this morning and
could scarcely be held by four men. The
case has occasioneda much excitement
among the farmers tbroughoutthe neigh
borhood. Mrs. Moore's husband was
killed in the mining region five years
ago. She and her son are practical,
steady people. Young Herrick is not so
violent, but arrangements are being
made for his removal to an asylum. Mrs.
Moore was in sinking condition this
evening, and she will hardly live until
morning