Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1885-06-04
A MADMAN's FREAK.
He Takes Possession Of a Car and
Holds 1t Against All Corners.

iAo JANUS oSScsSiOu OI u Gar and
Holds 1t Against All Corners.
CHICAGO, May 31.-A strange
story of murderous halluc,nation
which resulted in the death of one
and possibly two persons, develop
ed here this afternoon upon the
arrival of the Kansas City express
over the Wabash Road. Before
the train was due, the city police
had been telegraphed to that an
insane man had cleaned out the
reclining-chair car shortly after
the train left Kansas City, and
held the fort successfully, thwart-
ing any attempt Of the train hands
and the authorities along the route
to secure him. Lieut.. Laughlin,
three detectives and ten policemen
were on hand when the train ars
rived at $3.50 q. m, and a fierce
battle ensued. during which Con
Barrett, a policeman, was killed
outright. The insane murderer
was secured after a most despers
ale struggle, and is now in the hos
piial, suffering from two wounds
in the back which are believed to
be fatal. /.
When the train left Kansas
City at $50 Saturday night. Louis
Reum, a travelling man for the
American Eagle Tobacco Works,
of Detroit, was one of the passen>
gers. There were in all about
twenty people on the train, which
consisted Of baggage.car, passen-
senger, chair car and sleeper.
Reum. who was evidently the
worse for liquor, had a large flask
of whisky, with which he paraded
the cars during the first few hours
OF the trip, trying to persuade the
passengers to drink with him.
When his offers were refused he
became sullen, and finally, at about
8 o'clock, he returned to the chair
car without, however, gong to
sleep. There were but three or.
four passengers besides himself In
that car, and these left when
Reum's strange antics became too
obvious. AS soon as Reum was
the sole occupant of the car he eyi.
IDENTITY determined to remain SO,
and he resented all persuasions to
the contrary by furnishing a huge
bOwie-knife in one hand and firing
with the other from a heavy six.
shooter. Whenever the train stop
ped at stations Reum retreated to
the washsrOOm, firing out of the
windows of the closet, and threat>
ening in the most determined
manner to kill any one who would
dare to come near the car. Be-
tween stations he walked the aisle.
watching the door. He never
slept a minute.
At Peoria, ILL.,, where the train
changed conductors. j. O.. Hazel.
ton, Of jamestown, N, Y, passens
ger agent of the Southern Kansas
Railway, who was on the train and
knew Reum, made an attempt to
quiet the mailman down, but Mr..
Hazelton had to beat a hasty re.
treat because he was greeted with
a demoniacal yell and the threat:
"Pll shoot you al well as any 9th,
er." The threat was followed by
two shots from Reum's revolver.
Some bananas prepared with NOR.
phine were thrown into the car
and Reum ate them, but the drug
was not strong enough.
BY this time the authorities all
along the line had been notified.
and at Ell Paso, ILL.,, the Marshal
made an attempt to secure the
maniac, About a dozen shots were
fred by both parties, but without
avail. An effort was then made
to side track the car in which the
mailman held sway. The sleeper
was detached, but Reum rushed
out on the platform of his car and
compelled the terrified train hands
at the point of his revolver to de-
sist from further interference,
AT Englewood MI. Speek tried
to board Reum's car, not knowing
the state of affairs. He was warn.
ed by a bullet which grazed his
throat without lnflcting a serious
wound.
At Twentyasecond street Reum
.ook the platform, and at Twelfth
street he tried to get to the wash>
'oom. firing occasionally through
windows.
AS soon as the train reached the
Polk street depot the police. under
Laughlin, made a rush for
he car. The rear was literally
'iddled with bullets. Amid flying
missiles, Reum dashed from the car
iring a shot at policeman Con :
Barrett, who attempted to board :
he car, killing him Instantly.
Reum was followed by a mob, F,
headed by the police. He ran up F,
avenue, receiving two :
ihOts in the back. :
AT the corner of Fourth avenue I.
Polk street Reum faced his
pursuers. The mob scattered,