New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-31
A PREACHERS INSANITY.
THE REV. ANDREW COLvILLE THREATENS
TO KILL HIS FAMILY.
HE ONCE ATTEMPTED sUICIDE-HE HAD BEEN
PASTOR IN NEw-YoRK AND IN



The Rev. Andrew Colvie, whose attempted
suicide few months ago caused much excitement
among the Presbyterian ministers in this city,
again came under the notice Of the police yester-
day. In a condition of violent insanity he was
removed last night TO the insane pavilion at Belle
vue Hospital. Ever since his discharge from the
hospital TO which ne WIS taken after his attempt
ed suicide, Mr. Colvile, who has lived with his
wife and five children at No. 122 East Twenty
second-st, has suffered from frequent fits of homi-
cidal frenzy, and at such times would make des-
perate efforts 10 kill one or other of his family.
The fits generally attacked him late at night. At
such times armed with a knife or a pistol, he
would go through the house threatening to kill
the family. His wife, the only person who exer-
eiscd any control over him, had hitherto always
succeeded in soothing him into quieter mood
During the last two weeks his murderous mania
had much increased in intensity, and Mrs. Col
vile BEGAN at last to fear that he would carry out
his threat of murder. Last night, shortly after
o'clock, he from his chair in the parlor and
quietly announced that Inc had made up his mind
to kill the family Then he went out of the
nom and downstairs to the kitchen, whcTe his
terrified wife and children presently saw him
sharpening a huge carving knife. There was
mUrderous CLEAN in his eyes.
Almost fainting from fright, Mrs. Colvillc ran
10 the parlor and rang for messenger by whom
She sent for a policeman.
The Eighteenth Precinct Station is not more
than three blocks away. and scarcely ten minutes
had ELAPSED when Officer Newman appeared on the
scene. In these ten minutes Mrs. Colvlle and her
children had passed through period OF terror.
The mailman had come up TO the parlor, burst open
the locked door, and stood before them brandishng
the knife in their faces At the sight Of the
policeman he was cOwed and after a faint show Of
resistance consented to give up the knife. Then
he taken to the police station and from there
conveyed in an ambulance to Bellevue Hospital.
As he entered the ambulance he turned to his wife
and missed I'll he even with you Tor this .
Mr.. Cove. who az time known rs a
brilliant scholar and an eloquent preacher, came
to this country about thirty years ago. In the
in the Presbyterian Church, >the most important
Of these being those at Grace Chapel, in East
Twenty secOnd-st, connected with the Rev. DR..
Howard CrOSbyS church, and ut the Phelps Mis-
sion. Ills love for strong drink, however. drove
him from the pulpit and for considerable time
he was without Il pastciatc. Then he took charge
Of the Third Presbyterian Church OF Jersey City,
but was compelled TO gave up that place. For the
last six years he has been in more or less crazed
condition. and Mrs. CGlyillc his third wife, has
supported the family by drcSsm2king One Of his
sons is now studying for the Presbyterian minis
try.
On August II last Mr.. Colvlllc tried to shoot
himself AT his home which then was at No. $50
SiXth-avc lie fred three shots at his head. The
last shot. frcd into his mouth. was the only one
that took effect and within few week, he had
recovered suilcicitly TO leave the hospital.