The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-12-18

JEgPKRs0N CRY. No, Dec. IA
bloody tragedy occurred ct the peniten-
tlaEy last night, the particulars which
are shout asfollows: An epileptIc con-
Yict named John Mason, who was sent
here September, 1882, since which time
he has been mostly a inmate Of the hos
pital, arose from his bed about midaight
and going out INTO the hall procured an
iron rod used, - poker, which Is three
feet six inches long and about an inch
went TO the hospital used for cranky
convIcts Who are clAssed e
insane, but harmless. In one
room four men we're sleeping, and Mason
stealthIly approached their bed, and be-
fore they ware aware OF >his presence,
commenced striking him over the heads
with the poker. The drss one he as
sailed was Charles Segner, whom he
dealt three terrible blows over the head,
one above each eye and on the forehead,
breaking bis skull over each eye and in
hictIng serious scalp wound on the
forehead. he next attacked Louis
Haelscher, whom he struck i've power
full blows over the head, breaking in the
top OF his alkull for distance of nearly
five inches, end otherwise cutting HIS
head and face up in . terrihle manner.
Mason next visited another ward, Wheys
he sesailed negro named Andy Allison,
whom he struck once over the head, cut
ting an artery. By this time an epilep-
tic negro named Jackson was awakened
by the noise. and clipping upon Mason
caught the poker. A struggle eEaued
and such q commotion was raised thak .
guard from another part of the build.
ing ruahed in and taking in the situation
at . glance dIsarmed the maniac and
locked hum up securely. DR.. c. r.
Oglesby, the prison physician, Wss
hastily summoned, and hurrying TO the
prison an awful sight met his gaze. On
one bed lay two men with skolls mashed
in and another, q negro, with an artery
cut in his head and slowly bleeding to
death. The doctor at once proceeded to
tie up the artery IN the negro's head, and
afterwards rendered ell the relief posi-.
bic to the two white men. Strange as II
may seem. both Whits men are living a
this hour of writing, although they arr
certainly both MORALLY wounded. The
negro will in all probability get we'll.
John Mason, the maniac who com
miIted the terrible deed, is about *
years old, and Is . Frenchman b.
birth. He was sent here from st. Louis
September 1882, on sentence of ter
j ICoAo AOA 0ARo Woy AOO0CLIs OOOA AlSCl
he came here he showed unmlstakabIt
signs of epilepsy, and was accordingly
| placed in the hospital. He was always
| looked upon more as q harmless crank
than dangerous maniac. Meyer beforr
did he show any signs of harmIng an
of the other conv1cts. The hospital i
| divided OF into wards and the insan,
are kept TO themselves. The insane AZ,
| divided into two classes, dangerous ant
harmless. The dangerous or v1olen
class are closely confined each to him
self, and the Others are pat TO
| gether or near each othe
in the same ward. 1t is the duty o
the night hospital nurse, or rath
or watchman' to stay up all night aaC
and zee that no disturbances occur, bu
il appears in this case that the watch
man was not in his place at the time tn
tragedy occurred, otherwise it coul
never haYe gone to the extent It did. o
the :Wo white men hurt, but little
known of their history. Charles Segne
has been here for petty offenses and !
said to be from South Missouri Loui
Hselscher is from st. Louis. He is o.
q short term and has not been here long
Both the white men are subject to cpl
Iepsy. The negro was employed as
kind OF cook in the hospital and slept L
the eplleptic ward. He is also here o.
| q short sentence