The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-03-02
THE BARRIERS MANIA.
John Rhett's Close Shave and How
He Escaped.

John Rhett, the handsomest young
man in the county, he of the raven locks
and with the beautiful black mustache
that the women adored|ohn Rhett
walked into the barber shop in York
vile for a shave.
1t was a cold day and there were three
or four of his friends, besides several
t~onsorial artists, standing around the
stove at the time, but the man who al
ways did his work being idle he walked
directly over and threw himself into the
comfortable chair.
The barber wal a tall, well built young
fellow by the name of Henry Casey,
whom Rhett had known for along time.
The usual preparatory process vas gone
through with and then he sharpened his
razor and went to work, but he started
off in q u that made Rhett uncom-
forable from the first. This WAS due to
the unusual and seemingly reckless way
in which he handled the razor. There
was entirely too much flourish about it
to make one feel easy. He would whirl
it round in n or two cirles before it
touched the face, and then take it off
again in the same artistic style. This
may have looked very pretty to a spec
tator, but to the person who formed the
center of these c~oncentric circles, Rhett
thought it was anything but pleasant.
At first he was inclined to think the fell
low was drinking. But he soon dismissed
this idea, for the work was being done
well and shllfully and as no drunken
man could do it. Finally he told Casey
that he didn't like any such fourishes
around his head, and to stop it.
But the only reply he received was the
press of the BARRIERS finger against his
throat, and a short Kissing "keep still"
This made Rhett mad, and he started
to express himself very forcibly, but
when he looked up at the man who
stood drawing the sharp razor over his
face his anger gave way to a far more
fearful feeling. The words died OF his
lips and a sudden chill crept over his
body.
He had looked into the wild. excited
eyes of a maniac.
Don't you move O say a word; if You
do I'll cut your throat" came again in a
suppressed whisper, as that sharp, Gun
ming face bent near TO his.
do you know" said the barber as he
Kept on with the work; 'do you know
that this viii be your last shave-that
intend to kill you with this same razor
the moment l have finished?
81 have long wanted to make the ex-
pertinent" he continued Is he went rap
idly on, "just to see how quicklyi it could
be done. Perhaps you think lam crazy.
but you are wrong. ! only want to do
this work in the interest OF science.
believe it will prove to be the most pain
less and quickest Of all deaths. If l sue
coed today, as l expect TO do, my method
may become the public mode of execu-
ton in this country, supplandng the gal
lows. You see what an honor it viii be
to have started such a reform in capital
punishment. Myname will become i'm
mortal. There viii be none Of the sus-
pen attending executions now; non OF
the terrible scenes at the gallows. You
Simply take the condemned man in for
a shave and before he knows it he is in
eternity"
He kept on talking in this rapid, ex-
cited way, and kept OF shaving.
Rhett heard his friends conyersing on
the other side of the room, and he turned
his head to see if he could tell them Of
his danger. Bnt it was quickly jerked
back in position, and the barber told
him if he did that again II tried to gel
out of the chair it wonld be the signal
for his death And the wicked gleam Of
his y more than his words showed that
he was in terrible earnest. Under the
circumstances the intended victim
thought it best not to nov again, and
so he laid there IS still as death
But his brain was not idle. 1t was
working with the rapidity of lightning,
and well it might.
Rhett had always been regarded as q
cool and brave young man; be had proved
it on more than n trying occasion
And he determinedin this last extremity
to be himself and to meet the sharp cum
ming Of the maniac with an equal Gun
ming.
RAcommenced . fierce and hiddAs