Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-01-14

CHICAGO, Jaa, 12.-Walter @. Ores
ham, judge Of the United States court,
was for hours to-day shut up in his
chambers in the government building
with q lunatic. Judge Gresham sue
ceeded by strategy at last in getting
away from his unwelcome visitor.
When Deputy Marshal i. b. Hitchcock
and four other stalwart men sought to
place the mailman under restraint ter
rifle fight took place.
1t was about $50 o'clock, this after
noon, when Judge Gresham, accom-
panied by well-dressed, good looking
man, about so years old, appeared in
the Office of the United States marshal,
and approaching the rail demanded, in
poremptory way:
"Where is Marshal Hitchcock ?"
The tone was SO different from that
which always distinguishes the jurist's
manner of address that the deputies and
clerks looked up in establishment.
"The marshal is not in Just now, sir"
replied deputy.
"Well," sternly continued Judge
Gresham, "heIe is a gentleman who says
Mr.. Hitchcock has $4,000 which Jay
Gould has sent him, and that you are
Keeping IL from him.
The deputies saw at once that some-
thing was wrong.
"As soon as he comes in, said clerk,
we will look into il"
every WELL" said Judge Gresham,
and left the room followed by his com
panion who during the brief interview
did not speak, but gazed at the officials
with blazing eyes.
'Realizing that Judge Gresham was
in DANGER said Deputy Marshal Hitch
cock last night. tive sent out for two
policemen, and when they arrived /
went to Judge Gresham's private cham
bcrs, In which the man sat alone. Judge
Gresham had got away by ruse and
the man sat awaiting his return.
walked up TO him and, taking him by
the lapel Of the coat, said:
You must get out of here"
"He looked so threatening that
called for help and in came Deputy
Marshal George @. Allen and George
Steitz and Policemen Foley and O'Con.
nell. The moment the lunatic, whose
name VIC subsequently learned was
Martin McConaha, saw the men he spat
at us several times and raising heavy
cane which he held in his right hand
struck at me with all his force. The
blow was glancing one and only broke
the stiff hat wore. Then the officers
jumped in and we had lively time fol
a few minutes"
Eye witnesses of the struggle tell.sa
thrilling tale. When the officers spranl
on him, McCanaha sprang backward
with yell that made the gloomy ole
ruin echo and re-echo. Then he smashed
away with his cane in vain attempt Il
break the skulls of his assailants.
He kept the five men at bay for fully
three minutes before they closed in npor
him. A blow from d policeman's bator
had knocked the bludgeon from til,
lunatics grasp.
AS the officers jumped at him, Nc
Conaha fought more fiercely than eve
with both hands and feet. Foley caugh
singer on the nose that felled him Il
the floor. O'Connell and the other
also got severe raps, but they struck n,
blows in return. Finally it came to
clinch, and still the man fought on
yelling like demon. Deputy Hitch
cock got his hand too near the mad
mans mouth, for McConaha's teetl
closed down upon the little finger, in
fiicting slight but painful wound.
Judge Gresham, Judge Gresham,
shrieked the maniac. "1hey're killing
mel Help helpW
The government employees came rush
ing up the stairs and looked with won
dering eyes on the strange battle. Gu
into the hall came the struggling quin
tet, the four officers almost exhausted
but McConaha seemed as strong as ever
AS he was plunging from side to sid
his foot caught on an obstruction, an
he fell. Then the officers pinioned him
but not without another vicious figh,
The lunatic bit and scratched and kicked
but finally he was carried to the patrc
wagon screaming at the top of his voice
At the Harrison street station McConah
said he was from Cincinnati. Later i
the day he was taken to the detentio
hospital.