The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1883-06-28
DRIVEN MAD BY A GHOST.
4 WOMAN'S LEAP THROUGH A WIN.
DOW.
Young Moore and His Mother See The Face
Of the Dead Father and Eusband-Three
Persons Made Mad by One Nights Ex-
perience.

night Mrs. Moore, a widow, who
lives with her young son in an old
dilapidated house at Brush Valley,
near here, was startled by hearing q
shrek, followed by agonizing yells,
in the room next to hers, occupied
by her son, a youth about sixteen
years Of age. In fright she ran
into the room and found tbs boy al
most dead with fear and trembling
in every limb. She quieted his
fears and questioned him, and after
considerable delay he told her that
about twelve o'clock, while listening
to the furiously raging storm, he
was startled by seeing through the
dim light of a lamp which burned
in the room a man raising the
window. Almost paralyzed with
fear he sat up in bed, unable to
move, until by the aid Of vivid
flash of lightning he perceived 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.
THE MOTHER SEES THE FACE.
When the mother had heard his
story she turned her gaze toward
the window and beheld the identi-
cal face pressed against the pane.
With terrific yell she sprang to
I the window, and raising the sash
jumped through, striking the ground,
twenty-five feet below, 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 a few. hours labor sue
ceeded in bringing her to sensibility.
AS soon as she fixed her eyes on
her son she burst into a violent fit of
laughter, in which the son joined
and which lasted until both fell to
the floor exhausted. On the part of
young Moore the fit Of laughter was
then followed by violent spasmodic
attacks. He foamed at the mouth,
barked like a dog and made vicious
snaps at those who attempted to
quiet him.
. MADNESS EPIDEMIC.
A young farmer named Herrick
went up to him and, while attempt
ing to quiet him, caught hold Of his
hand. No sooner had he done so
than he too was seized with fear
full spasms and writhed on the floor
in intense agony, exhibiting the
peculiar symptoms manifested by
the others. The few other neigh
bors who had come to the scene
were so badly scared as to be of
little assistance, and they fed pre-
cipitately, leaving the three maniacs
alone in the rooms. Mrs. Moore
was stark raving mad and soon the
two young men we're busy at work
demolishing the furniture and strik-
ing 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
bed ropes. He then secured young
| Moore in a like manner. Mrs.
Moore was bleeding from the wound
received from falling out of the
window and lay on the floor insen-
sible. Lifting her in his arms Bill
heimer carried the woman to the
open air, the storm having ceased.
A PHYSICIAN IN ATTENDANCE.
One of the neighbors had mount
ed a horse about one hour before
and ridden at full speed across the
rough country road in search of a
doctor. After a 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 re-
covery, Her son was unusually
violent this morning and could
scarcely be held by four men. The
case has occasioned much excite
ment among the farmers through
out the neighborhood. 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 a sinking condition
this evening, and she will hardly
live until morning.
RICHMOND, June 26.--Gen. James
Conner. who had been ill here for