Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-19
DoINGs OF A MApMAN.
Tho Terror OF His NsighborhOOd-
Fiendish Treatment OF His Family.


The Terror Of His NsiGhbOrhoOd-
Fisndiah Treatment OF His Family.
From the Monticello (Fla.) Constitution.
James Tryan, about 30 years Of age, re-
siding in the lower part OF this county, be-
came insane six or seven menths ago
and, as ne was considered by his neigh
bors and friends harmless imbeche
nothing was done to deprive him of his
liberty. During the recent severe cold
weather he would often leave his home
and wander through the swamps and
pine-flats of that section for several days.
and return TO his family with his clothes
frozen upon him, but, strange to say, suf-
| fered no inconvenience from such ex-
posture.
Later he began to display more violent
| phase OF insanity, and his mania appeared
| to be the commission of acts of violence.
He apparently delighted I'm creating
fright and transformation among the Deo-
pie living in the vicinity Of his residence.
| When the imam OF the house, was absent
in any home he entered, the women and
children fed.
Old men and young men, not desiring to
shoot down a fellow man deprived of his
reason, feared this maddened, tTenzied
lunatic, and resorted to force only when
their life and property was endangered.
He stole a shotgun from the house of one
of his helghbOrs, and threatened to shoot
anyone who attempted TO gain possession
of it. He then became indeed the
terror OF his neighborhOod. From the
time Of his gaining possession OF his gun
he was Stunned by the residents of the
neigh bOrhOod until it was restored to its
proper owner by his wife.
He went to Jess Lewis house, during
| his absence, and observing the little boy
| ploughing near the house, apprOa ched
/ and took possession of a lack that he was
| the act to his mother, and she handed him
a shotgun with Instructions TO shoot the
man. He carried out her command, but
! the lunatic had gotten beyond range, and
consequently the shot was Intellectual.
/ Tryan's act was reported to the father
on his arrival, and he secured the services
of Mr.. Stevens to 90 in pursuit of the
mailman, who, after few hours brisk
| walking, overlook him still astride of the
donkey, which he had so unceremoniOusly
/ appropriated to his use. MIR. Stevens
carried mis- rifle along TO intimidate the
lunatic, but the sight of it had no effect
on him, and after few moments talk he
| saw it was necessary to use force, and
using mis- rife as a club, knocked him of,
mounted the animal and LETT Tryan bleed
ing in the road.
After this rough treatment from his
nelghbOr, TrYan's disordered brain began
to concOct and execute fortunes upon his
helpless wife and children which were
fiendish in the extreme-his wife being
subjected to indignities unfit for public
print, He carried one of his children
aged or Z years) around with him,
whipping it severely IL the helpless little
one made any complaint, and affirming
that he intended to kill it. They say that
he actually swan the st. Marks river
with the child in his arms, keeping it
submerged until he landed, when be
stripped and wrapped it up in piece OF
cloth. set fire to the cloth, and left it to
its fate. Exhausted from it's recent hap
tism, the child barely had strength left to
crawl out of the flames.
After learning of the inhuman and bar
barous treatment of his family, jess
Lewis, a resident OF that thinly settled
section, came to Monticello and reported
him to the Sheriff, who secured an order
for his arrest. On last Thursday Messrs
Chas. W. Henry and John West went
after him. They remained at the house
of Tryan's nearest neighbor g or miles
of Thursday night, and Friday morning
went in pursuit of their man.
On arriving at his home they inquired
OF his wife his whereabouts: she pointed
a certain direction and told them that he
had gone that way few hours before
their arrival They started in the direc.
ton indicated, and after tramping four OF
five miles through the wiregrass. saw
palmetto and water up to their knees
they came ppon fryRn listlessly strolling
through the sOmber pine humm0ck.
Tryan was acquainted with Mr.. West;
he also was aware that Mr.. Lewis had
been to Monticello, and suspiciOned that
his visit was to report him to the authori.
ties, for on leaving his home that morning
! he told his wife that he would kill her be-
| fore he was carried OF, if any one came
| for him. The officers approached and adj
dressed him in a friendly manner. After
the greeting he expressed a great desire
TO return TO his home, but his captOrs be-
/ ing aware Of the threat he had made, re-
| fused to let him 90. This maddened him,
and they we're satisfied that force would
have to be resOrted to. He was thrown
to the ground. or rather in the water, and
/ hand-cuifed. He then refused TO rise
| forcing the officers to pick him up, and
almost carry him to hack in waiting.
The party reached Monticello at about
9 O'Clock Friday night, and the lunatic
was placed in Jail. On Saturday morn
| ing he was examined, adludged insane,
and has been conveyed to the asylum.
| Tryan had an ugly scalp wound, caused
| by the blow from young Stevens rife, and
! 1t was dressed by DIR. Theo. Turnbull.
| The mans family, whom the officers re-
| port TO he in very destitute circumstances,
is being cared for by kind hearted and
most excellent neighbors.