The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-06-05
BATTLE WITH a MApMAN.


of wabash Passenger Car at Kansas
City-He Defies Arrest and Holds AL
Corners at Bay Until the Train Reaches
Chicago-His Capture in the Latter City
Only Effected After He Kills One Police.
man and Receives Mortal Wounds.
CHICAGO, June 1.-Officer Cornelius Bar.
rett was shot and killed at the Polk street
depot yesterday afternoon by Louis Reaume
an insane passenger on the 1886 Wabash
train. Reaume was shot three times in the
back and is not expected to recover. He is
at the County Hospital.
When train No. 6, on the Wabash line
which arrived in Chicago yesterday after
noon, left Kansas City, Reaume was among
the passengers. He was constantly passing
through the train witha huge revolver in his
hand, saying that some persons in Denver
were trying to lynch him, but that he intended
to sell his life as dearly as possible. When
the new crew came on at Peoria they were
warned to look out for him. Reaume wan
dered through the cars while the train was
in motion, but whenever it made a stop b(
would lock himself in the saloon and gaze
cut of the window with his revolver in hi:
hand. At the outset he also had big
knife, but baggagemaster managed to Dor
row it aid did not give it back. When e.
Paso, ILL.,, was reached the City Marshal
started to arrest Reaume. The latter free
two shots at him, which were returned, bu
the Marshal. did not persist in his attempt.
There were about fifty passengers on the
train, twenty of whom had been riding il
the same cara reclining-chair car-witl
Reaume. AT Ell Paso Reaume drove them
all out at the point of his revolver. Ar
attempt was then made to cut off the reclin
ing-chair car from the train, but Reaumt
again presented his gun and threatened tC
blow hole through any one who touched
his car Reaume remained monarch of all
he surveyed until he reached Chicago. Al
Chenoa Conductor Putnam sent the follow
ing dispatch:
"CHENoA, May 31.-To Depot Policemen, Cht
cdg0: have an insane man in my train whC
has possession of one car. Policemen at Kan
saS City, Jacksonville, and Peoria ali afraid tt
take him. Please send ten or twelve police
men out on No l to take him when we arrive
in Chicago They had better come in citizens
clothes and will have to look sharp or some
one will get hurt"
The conductor and all the train men took
pains to warn passengers not to go near the
chair car, but just as the train was leaving
Englewood Valentine Spuck, a resident Of
| that suburb, jumped upon the platform Of
Reaume's car. The latter resented this
treSpass upon his peculiar domain by firing
a shot which grazed Mr.. Spuck's chin
! and cut off one of his coat but
tons. When the train arrived at the Poll
street depot fourteen policemen in plair
inv no
stood on either side of where the car was
to stop. AS it came to a standstill smoke
was seen issuing from one corner, and the
report of a revolver followed Immediately
Officer Barrett staggered back, and exclaim.
ing: Il am shotp' fell into the arms Of
Officer Herman. He did not speak again
and died ten minutes afterward in the
ladies' waiting room of the depot.
Reaume did not cease firing until he haC
fired nineteen shots from the car-WndoW,
rapidly 1eloading his siX-shooter as fast a;
it was emptied. Lieutenant Laughlin crept
along the west side of the car and fired &
shot through the window near where
Reaume was. This caused him to emerge
from the car, and he made a dash nortl
around the head of the train. He continued
to discharge his weapon until it was empty
and ran west toward Fourth avenue
followed by the officers and large crowC
of citizens. Everybody VINO had a gun be
gan to fire, and probably $50 shots were
heard III the next five minutes. Lieutenant
Laughlh headed the pursuit and soor
caught up with Reaume. The latter
snapped his pistol in the Lieutenant's face
but the plucky officer grabbed him by the
throat and soon had him on his back.
After desperate struggle the mailman was
disarmed and taken to the Armory, where
an examination showed that he had beer
shot three times in the back, twice under
the shoulder, and once in the small of the
back.
Reaume said in reply to numerous ques
tions that he was thirty-three years of age
and was born in Crosse Isle, an island il
the Detroit River. He belonged to the
Well-knoWn Canadian-F French family of the
ReaumeS He was freSco
painter, and had lived most
of his life in Detroit, but for few year:
had lived in Denver, Col. He said
they were going to lynch him there, but he
didn't know why, as he hadn't done any
thing that he knew of. His wife and only
child were now in Denver Within short
time he was removed to the County Hos
pita in the patrol wagon, handcuffed and
guarded by several officers.
The officers can not agree as to whether
he is simply insane victim of delirium
tremens, or has committed some crime for
which his head was in danger At one
o'clock this morning Reaume was reported
to be a little more comfortable. He was
sleeping quietly.
DENVER, Col, June Louis Reaume
left Denver on Friday evening for Detroit,
Mich, to visit his mother, Mrs. George w.
Thompson. He had received intelligence
of his mothers illness and left here unex.
pectedly. Reaume bore good reputation
here. He seldom drank liqror, and was
dutiful to his family.