The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-01-21
THE PARSONS NERVE.

An Exciting Time In a Boston Hotel--A
| Maniac Loose in the Corridors The
Timely and Vigorous Intervention of Par
son Downs Secures the Madman--An Ug-
Iy Weapon Freely Used.
Boston, MASS, January 12.-Mr.
Henry L.Wilkins, of Omaha, arrived here
with his wife on the day before New
Year. He boarded at fashionable house
on Berkeley street, in the back bay dis
trict, until Sunday night, when he moved
to the Parker House. His health has
been bad for some time, and during his
stay in this city he has been attended by
two physicians. He was to sail from this
port on one of the Cunarders on Satur-
day next, for Liverpool, from whence he
intended to go to Carlsbad, in Germany,
where he hoped to derive benefit from
the waters. He is only thirty-tive years
of age, and his wife is very pretty and
attractive woman, some eight years his
junior wilkins has overtaxed himself
in his profession, that of civil engineer,
and he has been warned several times
that he would lose his mind if he persist
ed in working so hard.
Within short time he had become
very much interested in spiritualism, and
during his stay here has devoted much of
his time TO seances and sittings with the
many SpiritualistS with whom Boston is
blessed. Only Saturday he was found by
a policeman standing on dry goods box
on the corner of Temple Place and Ire
mont street about dusk, haranguing a
crowd on spiritualism. At that time the
streets are full of people on their way
home, and the policeman was about to
take Mr.. Wilkins to the Station-hOust
for blocking the streets, when man
who knew him came along and
persuaded the officer to take him
home. DR.. Clark was in the room at the
Parker House with Mr.. and Mrs. Wilkins
all yesterday afternoon and evening, but
though the patient was sleeping quietly
for the night when he left him at quarter
before twelve, ten minutes afterWard
wilkins jumped out of bed with an I'M
earthly yell, rushed at his wife and struck
her a terrible blow OH the side of the head
with his fist, that knocked her down and
left an ugly wound on her check. Then he
ran into the hallway, tearing his night
clothes into small l.eceS and yelling at
the top of his voice.
In a moment all the Railways were
filed with men and women in scant robes,
rushing wildly down the stairs and anX-
iouSly asking each other in voices of ter
ror what the trouble was. Several of the
ladies tainted and were carried into the
parlOrS and laid on the sofas. The night
clerk and two porters ran up the stairs
and tried to capture the insane man. He
brushed all three of them to one side, and
few down the hallway, by this time al.
most nude, and tried to open one of the
double windows on School street, crying
81 must lily out; l must fly out; don't
touch my wings" The Stalwart engineer
and fireman tried to seize Wilkins by the
arms, but he eluded them and ran back
to his room, pulling the door to after
him
Parson Downs had been reading testi-
mony for his coming trial, in company
with his lawyers, in the rooms of the
syndicate for the defense, on the floor be-
low. He had just reached the question:
"When did you leave Mrs. Taber?" as he
heard the unearthly yells. He jumped to
his feet and went up the stairs two at a
bound hatless and cOatless and his curly
hair flying behind him. He showed open
the door to wilkins room, around which
stood frightened group of people afraid
to enter. He found Wilkins standing
on the bureau without stitch OF
clothing on, waving black bottle around
his head and shouting: 81 am God, | am
God; beware of me-" Downs ran up to !
the bureau and grabbed Wilkins firmly |
around the waist. As he did so, Wilkins |
aimed blow at his head with the bottle. |
Downs ducked his head, but received the !
blow in full force upon his right shoulder, |
almost dislocating it. He carried Will |
kins to the bed, threw him upon it, and !!
held him down, Judge Norton shouting /
all the time, "LOok out, Parson, he will !,
kill you"
After Downs got wilkins down, foul
men came in and helped to hold him. !
Then the police were sent for. 1t took |
three of them to carry wilkins to the |
Station-house after they had got some
clothes on him.
Mrs. wilkins wound was dressed. |
and she was tepderly cared for, but |
was suffering intensely when last heard |
from, with Mysteries. 1t was more thar |
an hour before the hotel was restored tC !
its normal quiet, and then the night clerk |
heaved deep sigh as he said:
THAT was the worst scene ever known !
in the Parker House. l don't think we
ever had a raving maniac here before.
Thank God that Wilkins ran out of the
room before he killed his wife" Wilkins !
will probably be sent to an asylum to-day |
Parson Downs shoulder is very painful,
but he is not seriously hurt.