Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-12
A WIFE'S NIGHT OF TERROR
Her Husband Becomes Insane and At
tempts to Kill HIMSELF.


DESPERATE EFFORTS OF THE BRAVE WOMAN TO
DIsARM HIM-HE ESCAPES FROM TIE HOUSE
AND Is FINALLY CAPTURED By POLICEMAN
AFTER FIERCE STRUGGLE.
This morning between 3 and O'Clock some
excitement was caused in the neighborhood of
Sth and streets northwest Mr. William +.
Free, who lives at S07 street last night be-
came insane, and while suffering from an at
tack of acute mania at the time mentioned at
temptedto kill himself Mr. Free is about
forty-seven years old, and is engaged as an
iron-worker at No. 300 18th street northwest.
Some days ago he undertook a difficult job, the
making of an ornamental fence, promising TO
have it finished in fifteen days. He soon found
that the work could not be completed in that
time. and being of an excitable temperament,
the fact worried him greatly. During the past
two or three days he has shown signs of mental
alteration while at his work, and yesterday APP
peared to be worse. Before he went home one
of the men at work in the shop told him not
to worry over the job: that they would get It
finished as soon as ii could possibly be done.
This advice did not seem to have much effect.
HIS WIPES EFFORTS TO sooTH HER HUSBAND.
When Mr. Free went home he was still labor
ing under excitement. His wife reasoned with
him and implored him not to worry, telling
him she would rather live on bread
and water than to have him in such state.
This had no effect and he still talked lnces-
sanity of his wOrk-''t twisted posts and fence
rails" Before retiring the wife did all i'll her
power to relieve her husband of the burden
upon him, and finally they prayed tOEe Their.
This seemed to quiet him temporarily and he
went to bed. but could not sleep. After IA long
time he fell asleep, but 1t was only few min
utes before he awOke. All this time his wife
watched faithfully over him. When he awoke
he renewed the conversation about his trouble
and exclaimed:
MY God, can't stand it; L must do some
thing"
He got up and started down stairs His wife
begged him to remain in bed, and wanted him
to take dose of medicine. He declined and
appeared to be greatly excited.
Il MUST KILL MYSELF"
he cried. Then he went down stairs The gas
was not lighted. His wife picked up box of
matches and started behind him. She could
not reach the gas-fixtures. and in the dark she
could not find IA chair to stand upon Her hus-
band went to the sideboard and opened the
drawer. just then his wife lighted one of the
matches. and she saw i'll her husbands hand the
shining blade of the carving-k knife He had cut
his throat i'll several places and had inflicted
several slight cuts on his hip. Fortunately the
knife was not very sharp, and the wounds in
His wife. thinking of nothing but saving her
husbands life, grabbed the handle of the Lnife
There was
no ONE TO ASSIST HER IN THE STRUGGLE,
but she succeeded in taking the weapon from
him and hiding it. Having thus been disarmed,
the unfortunate man returned up stairs. his
wife clinging to him. Again he succeeded in
getting weapon. This time it was his pen
knife. and he attempted to use it on his throat.
AtraIr Wiz. g, IL IL
from him. BY this time he had become n raw
ing maniac. lie returned down stairs with his
distressed wife close behind him. He went out
into the back yarc, she still holding to him.
When he reached the yard he
ATTEMPTED To DASH HIS BRAINS OUT
by hutting his head against the brick pave
ment. Then he broke loose from his wife and
started to enter the woodshed. evidently for
the purpose of finding an axe but discovering
that the door was locked. he vaultcd over the
high brick wall surrounding the yard and went
headlOng to the cObblestones in the allev a dis
tance OF about 10 feet. Mrs. Free was unable
to get ont into the alley immediately. and fear
ing he would succeed in killing himself. she
went to the front door and screamed for help.
There was no one passing at that hour OF the
morning, but her cries were soon answered by
Policeman Lotus. She told the officer what
the trouble was, and he went into the alley in
search of Free.
THE STRUGGLE WITH THE POLICEMAN.
The officer went through the alley almost to
the rear of the houses on X street before he
found the insane man. He was in a stopping
position attempting to butt his brains out
against the cObblcstOnes. The officer placed
his hands on him for the purpose of preventing
him from taking his life. The insane man
turned upon the officer and a desperate strug-
gle followed The officer and Mr.. Free fought
all over the alley. The latter had almost over
powered the policeman when the latter was
forced to use his club in self protection. The
officer finally succeeded in blowing his distress
whistle. which was heard by Sergeant Bvrnes
and Officer CaverIy. They were unable TO
locate the place where the sound came from.
and during the time they were looking for the
officer the latter was struggling with the in
sane man.
THE RESCUE.
When assistance came Mr. Free was taken in
the house, where he was attended by Drs. VOL
happier, Stockstill and Osborne. The patient
was then unconscious. The physicians were
unable to state whether the patients skull has
been fractured or not, but they considered his
condition critical. Under their care the
patient rested az well rs could be expected, and
seemed a little easier this morning. When the
officer went to the station his uniform was COW
cred with blood and dirt, and he was completely
exhausted. The patient will probably be sent
to the insane hOS1,ital