The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-12-17
THE STRUGGLE FOR DEATH.
An Insane Mans Terrible
Suicide in a Station Cell.
ELEVEN DEEP KNIFE THRUSTS.
A Travelling Agent in a Delirium Cuts
His Throat with the Knife Which
SaVed His Life, After a Hand
TO Hand Contest.

From the Rochester Democrat Chronicle.
What appeared TO be large dia-
mond flashed from the hirt front OF
man who came walking rapidly
into the assembly room at the police
station last night. He was neatly
dressed in dark clothes and wore a
standing collar, set off in front with
a black cravat nectie. On his head
was dark plush cap.
81 want to be protected, l havn't
done anything" he exclaimed as he
approached Captain Keith.
That official talked with the man a
few moments and saw that he was
evidently out OF his mind. Lieut..
McDermott who was present took
the stranger down stairs and placed
him in cell "a for safe keeping, first
removing his pocket knife. The man
quietly accompanied the officer and
stated that his name was Hugh B.
Ross.
An hour later a Democrat and
Chronicle reporter was passing
through the corridor when he heard
some one talNing in loud voice.
The sounds came from cell FL, and
going to the cell he saw Ross walking
up and down in an excited manner
wringing his hands. At intervals he
exclaimed: 'I've done nothing at all,
/ am innocent, so help me Cod"
The reporter began talking with
the man and he became calmer.
When asked the trouble, he said
that some one whose name he refused
to give, had charged him with being
improperly intimate with woman.
He refused TO say anything further,
and and the reporter went out, leav-
ing him calmly standing by the door.
Three hours passed, and then en-
sued one of the most horrible scenes
of which those gloomy prison walls
have ever been the grim and silent
witnesses. 1t was struggle be-
tween two powerful men, each one an
athlete, and raving maniac, knife
in hand, bent on his own destruction.
The turnkey, Michael Hyland, goes
through the corridors at regular in
tervals during the night to look after
the prisoners. He gives them water,
aud in numerous cases has his sharp
knife cut the handkerchief or bandsge
with which some desperate prisoner
has attempted to end his life. The
knife was in the old mans pocket as
usual, and at HIS o'clock he en-
tered the first corridor, which cell FL
faces. A terrible sight met his eye.
Standing in the front part of his cell,
his collar torn partly OFT, was Ross
with his handkerchief and tie tightly
knotled about his neck. One hand
was on each side of his neck grasping
the knotted bandage and twisting it
tighter and tighter. The old man
used to scenes of violence took in the
situation at glance. The man was
strangl;ng himself. Already in the
dim light of the solitary gas jet, his
face could be seen OF livid hue and
the eyeballs were fairly starting from
their sockets. Rushing up stairs into
the assembly room the turnkey ex-
claimed:
"Where's the captain? There is
man down stairs trying to kill himself.
l can't stop him."
Captain Keith had gore out TO
lunch leaving Lieutenant McDermolt
on duty for the time. The lieutenant
and coroner Sharpe were seated alone
in the room smoking. They sprang
TO their feet and rushed down stairs
followed by the turnkey. The lieu
tenant whipped his keys from his
pocket, the heavy grated door of cell
III was quickly thrown open and the
three men fastened in,
Then came hand to hand struggle
which has probably never had a p&r-
allel in the cIty's history. Ross was
raying with delirium and seemed pos.
sessed of the strength of ten men.
The coroner and the lieutenant seized |
him in grasp which seemed like
that of wise while the veteran turn
key taking advantage of the situation
pulled out his knife and its keen
blade instantly cut the bandage which |
was choking out the mans life. But
the respite was only for moment.
As soon as the suicide found his
throat freed from the terrible pres
sure, fury seemed to seize him. He
fought like tiger; exclaiming every
few seconds: "Give me the knife"