The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-09-07
HACKED TO PIECES.
A Corn Knife Becomes Terrible Weapon
In the Hands of "A Lunatic.

A Corn-Knife Becomes Terrible Weapon
In the Hands of Lunatic.
News has just reached here of desper-
ate fight in Meade County, in which a
Deputy Sheriff was hacked to pieces with
corn-knife in the hands of lunatic whom
he was attempting to arrest, says Louis
vile special to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Clinton Peake, a young man related to
some of the best families in that section,
has for years shown evidence of insanity
which he inherited from his father, who died
in the asylum at Anchorage. During that
time he has more or lass dominated and ter
roriZed the neighbOrhood, though lie was
possessed of the delusion that the neighbour
hood were terrorizing and pursuing him.
Recently he has gone about armed with
corn-knife. and the neighbOrs were in fear
of their lives. They determined that some
thing must be done, and writ of lunacy
was taken out by prominent man OF the
neighborhOod, few miles out Of Branden-
burg, last Saturday.
Armed with the writ of lunacy Deputy
Sheriff Hutchinson started out, accompanied
by Il posse of trusty neighbOrs, some fifteen
or twenty in number Hutchinson is a man
of 10, but exceedingly active for one of his
years. No imputatiCn has ever been cast on
Hutchinson's courage, but as Peake had
sworn he would not be taken alive it was
considered safest to take posse sufficiently
large 10 OverpOwer him. As the officers APP
preached Peake, who had heard of their
mission, was seen parading in front of his
mothers house armed with corn-knife.
The posse halted in balllng distance and
Hutchinson went forward to try and per-
snade the lunatic to surrender. Peake
silently awaited the officers approach, but
as soon as hutchinson came within reach
the man sprang at him like a wild beast.
Hutchinson turned tn run, but had not
gone ten steps before the maniac was upon
him. a fierce struggle ensued. Hutchinson
attempting desperately to ward off the
blows from the corn-knife and cltnch with
his adversary. The lunatic, however, fought
like demon, and before the posse could
come up Hutchinson was stretched in
pool of blood upon the ground. AS the
other officers rushed in, Peaks turned on
them and badly wounded two of them with
his cimetar-like weapon before he was Sc
cured.
Both of Hutchinson's arms were almost
literally hacked to pieces and severed from
his body. But that was not the most dan
gerOus wound. The corn-knife made one
large and deep cash about four incnes long
on the right side of Hutchinson's head, just
above the ear. The skull was crushed or
cut through, and he has never since recoy-
cred consciousness, hanging between lie
ana death. The doctors saw that the
pressure of the bone on the brain of Hutch
insOn must be removed, and the operation
only one chance in hundred for the VIC
TINS ultimate recovery. The other two Off
GERS will recover.
Peake was taken to Brandenburg and
placed in Jail. A lunacy Inquest will be
held tomorrow, and he will be sent to the
asylum.
Several years ago Peake strayed away
from home, and his family did not know
where he was until he was heard from in
New York with lot of counterfeit money
in his possession. He was held there for
some time by the authorities on the charge
of having the counterfeits in his possession.
but was afterward released without trial,
as the authorities became convinced he was
crazy. They had some trouble in finding
out anything about his antecedents, but
finally learned that he had relatives at
Brandenburg from some papers in his pos
session, aud communication was had with
them. He was brought home, and has been
here since.