The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-12
BATTLE WITH A MADMAN.
4 cRAzF cHEsrEKFIELD MORO.
His Mind Became Unbalanced While "Seek-
Ing Religions" and He Was Very Nio-
lent-Other Interesting News.
MANCHESTER BUREAU RICHMOND TrMBs.
Twelfth and Hull streets.

bIhucn O1Uce llOf DcChtur street.
crazy negro created great excitement in
Chesterfield Saturday evening and Sunday.
The antics of the demented man were per-
formed in the neighborhood of Tomshawk
church
A1r. Lawson Morrissett. a well-known citi-
zen and successful planter, came in from the
field to bis house, and taking a seat in an easy
chair in the big front porch, viewed with feel
ings OF pride and plea sure his ample domains
and well-grown corn and tobacco. While
thus peacefully and serenely engaged he
heard the dulcet sounds Of a melodous voice
emanating from the pine forests in front of
the house.
Then he saw an ebony image spring lightly
| over the rlck-rack fence and with O stick In
his hand, which was waved above his happy
head ia mysterious and strangely weird
manner. he kept up bis strange gymnastics.
and whom he got little nearer be was recOg-
nlZed as Buck Ford, a negro youth living on
the Goodies Bridge road about fifteen miles
| from Manchester.
lie was singing in doleful and solemn
strain, and kept up his weird performances
OF the stick. which he called his rod. He
| sung everything he intended TO say. thus tell
! ing Mr.. Morrissett that God had sent him
! for his horses. pair Of Mr.. Morrissetts fine
animals were grazing in pasture near by,
and the negro said he would drive them TO
| the stable.
He suited the action to the word. driving
| the animals 10 the stable Mr.. Morrissett
! and his son followed him. He went into the
stable and began 70 harness one of the horses,
! when Mr. Morrissett took hold of and at
tempted to pull him away. Then began the
| fun. Thel crazy man threw Mr.. Morrissett
| from him as though he was only bit OF
| chat The son was treated in like manner.
! The scuffie waTed warm and the combatants
got out into the stable-yard, the negro oil the
while keeping up his strange monotonous
singing.
In the meantime two neighbors happened
| 10 pass by. and noticing the state OF a1alTs
proceeded TO take hand in the affair. IL
| took the combined efforts Of the four men 70
subdue and confne the maddened and de-
/ mented creature. and he was finally over
| powered and securely fastened to post.
! brother of the crazy man was sent ior
and when he arrived wanted to llherate him.
/ Mr.. Morrissett objected TO this and the
negro went away. 1t was arranged TO slt up
| and watch the lunatIc during Saturday night
and Sunday morning send for constable ana
| have the man taken 70 jail.
This plan was broken up, however TOT
| about midnight a gang Of negroes came ana
| took the prisoner away.
Sunday morning Constable Lindsay was
| notified, and armed with warrant and hye-
| shooter went for his man. There were a lot
| OF negroes at the house and they refused 10
| give Buck up, and the baffied officer had TO
| bite his lip and depart as he had come. Moth
| ing daunted he secured the services OF
number of citizens and again made his
! appearance.
| This time he was more successful and after
some little delay the man, his two brothers, a
/ sister and few cousins were all In olg lWo-
! horse wagon journeying towards Midlothian
where a commission OF lunacy had. been or
dered. The cavalcade attracted considerable
attention and number OF other citizens
! joined in the procession.
The magistrates could not come 10 de-
| cision and the case was adjourned over tiil
! Thursday aud the negro turned over TO MS
friends for safekeeping.
Relatives of the darby say he was con-
verted Saturday but having no one 10 teach
him how 10 pray he was greatly bothered
His troubles appeared TO he OF religious ma
| ture and he did not seem at all dangerous:
The lady members of Dir. Morrissett's fam
| ily were greatly excited He was considerably
| bruised up by the scuffie. The affair was
the cause of great deal of excitement.
ITEMS OF INTEREST.
Friendship Lodge, No. 20, Knights Of
Pythias. has contributed S25 towards the
Hines memorial fund.
Large crowds thronged Forest Hill Park
Sunday, and the electric cars were taxed to
| their capacity.
Mrs +. Conway Reese and children, of
! Petersburg, are visiting friends at Midlothian,
in Chesterfield county.
Mr. Joseph A. Haley left yesterday evening
! for Baltimore on business trip for the water
company. He will be away several days.
Messrs. Charles Bourne. Fay DuNal Chris.
| McRae Morton Graves and Sam Pool have
returned from Drewrys Bluff. where they
have been camping out for several days.
The new Methodist church at Chester will
I l. l..hr I'D ant Ia
casion promises 10 be very interesting. Ser
mons will be delivered by Rev. Drs. Sledd
and Tudor. of Richmond. The church is a
very neat and attractive place of worship
and the dedicatory exercises will no doubt be
largely attended.
Broaddus lost his pet dog out by Major Gin
ters farm. in Henrico. No trace could be
| found of the missing canine until Sunday,
| when Mr. Broaddus was visiting at Mldlo-
| THAN, in Chesterfield. There he was in
formed that the dog was few miles farther
out in the country. and on driving out IN his
! buggy found the animal.
Members of the defunct Semi-Annual En-
dowment League. which collapsed some
time last year Just about when tie certificates
| matured will be glad 10 learn that they will
at least get little Of their money back. 1t
will be remembered that on the day the order
was placed in the hands of receivers IN Batl-
more. Mr. G. ID. Corbus, the local treasurer
for Manchester, deposited in the bank here
about two hundred and eight dollars, being
the last assessment called. AS soon as II became
known that the order had collapsed the local
officers had the money in bank here at
tached The matter has since been pending
IN court and has just been decided the court
holding that the members are entitled 10 re-
ceiye their money back. Ii is thought that,
when the affairs of the order are finally set
tied in the courts of Baltimore, the members
will get a dollar or so more of their long-lost
money. 49,
Sunday afternoon Jimmie Writ. son of Mrs.
Jacob Writ of Swansboro. fell out of tree
and was painfully injured. The little fellow
received a severe blow on the forehead and Is
unable TO see out of one eye He was uncon-
scious for about half an hour Yesterday
morning he was confined to his bed and had
high fever.
IL TIE COURTS.
Mavor Maurice had quite a long docket for
his consideration. and clearly demonstrated
his ability TO mete out equity in bang-up
style.
A negro woman who WAS arrested Saturday
afternoon for being drunk could not give any
reasonable excuse tor her evil manner OF lly-
ing and paid q towards the further improve
ment of the fence around the courthouse
square.
Sidney Giles, a negro man. was before tho
court some time ago charged with trespassing
on tho premises of the Richmond and Peters
burg railroad. He was baiied for his appear
ance. but failed 20 materialize. A caplas was
isauad and vesterdav morning he be-