Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-09

rsPKc1AL TELEGRAM TO THE DrsPArcHi
Me Ola, PA, August "a mad man in
Jail isthe sensation in Media to-day. Afev
days ago John Richards, negro, who fol-
lows the kalsomining art as a means OF liveli-
hood, was dispatched BY his employer to
collect bill from wealthy customer. He
was charged with receiving the money and
appropriating it to his own use, and also
with skilfully initiating the handwriting Of
his boss in signing receipt for it.
Richards don't tell the same story, but
avets that he took the lucre, and after re-
tanning three-fourths of it for wages due,
rendered the remainder to his EMPLOYER.
which the latter refused. He says also that
he did not sign the name, but that this was
done BY the man himself.
DUsKY ELEPHANT.
Nevertheless, be was brought up before
Alderman Granin, and committed for trial
on the charge of forgery. No sooner was he
landed in cell within the cool quarters Of
the Delaware county prison than Warden
Rowland found he had black elephant on
his hands.
On Wednesday afternoon the most un-
earthly wells and barkings broke the solemn
stiffness of the Jail, and there was a hurry
ing and scurrying among the underkeepers
to ascertain the cause of it. Following the
waves OF sound the officials found them
selves at the wicket o. John Richards, and
looking through this they saw the man tear
ing everything loose in the freproof COM
partment. He chewed tin pals and pans.
and attacked the cot legs and mattress with
his teeth, and then dropped on the yellow
pine floor and tried to lap it up with his
tongue, barking and yelping like a cur dog
all the while.
Assistant Keeper Hopes, who has the
courage OF a lion, slipped the iron bar and
entered the cell, but could do nothing with
the man. Water was then freely applied,
but he cIeLehed his fists, chewed his arms,
and continued to bark. The doctor was
away, but the telephone brought a medical
man OF experience in w. 7. W. Dickson,
who tackled the case with all the frmness
OF the allopathlc art.
RADICAL TREATMENT.
After sending two hypodermic injections
of morphis and atropia into the arms of his
patient. he gave him ounces OF chloro-
form, 20 grains of ipecac aud 10 grains Of
calomel, with but little effect, and the man
still raved and barked. Finally there was
a subsidence Of energy and a snooze, and
then it was that the medical man found
numerous marks OF dog bites on the patient.
When the latter awakened he explained
the cause OF the trouble. He said be was
bitten bv a large dog last spring a year ago
in the vicinity of the fish house, and that
ever since ne had had such paroxysms. The
doctor concluded that il was q case Of
chronic rabbies, not amounting to hydro
phobia, but that continuance of such
would surely kill the patient This morn
ing Richards was visited by Com uissioners
of the county, and he entertained them by
similar performance, but they kept tbs
grating closed.
DR.. j. H. Frone6eld, the regular physi-
clan o the prison, does not believe this is
case of rabies. He thinks the man has been
bitten by dog as the scars show, but he at
tributes the parnxysms to what is Vulgariy
called '6ts." Warden Rowland is on the
anxious bench, not knowing the day or hour
when trouble will begin.