The morning call., 1892-03-07
A LUNATIC IN CHURCH.
How Lawyer Brady's Nerve Save d
DIR. EaStOn's Life.
An Unbidden Guest at Calvary CLUB Repeats
His Visit at Calvary Church With
Pistol in His Pocket.

At the close of divine service at Calvary
Presbyterian Church last night, while the
pastor. DR.. t. Chalmers Easton, was pro-
ouncing tie benedicton, wild-eyed man.
In seedy attire. made his way abruptly and
aggressively to the front row of seats and
sat down without any further demonstra-
tinn.
1t was noticed, however that DIR. Easton
paused and changed color as his eyes fell on
the man. The benediction concluded, DR..
Easton stepped 10 the side aisle 10 confer
with one of the leading men of the A. o.
U. W., for the benefit of which society
special sermon had JUST been preached.
Meanwhile the sexton had approached
the wild-eyed man and endeavored to get
him to follow the congregation, then passing
out of the church. The fellow became
angry. and while the sexton was endeavor-
ing to get him dewn the aisle, put his hand
in suggestive way to his hip-pocke'. There
were about half a dozen ladies and gentle
men remaining in the church. and among
them was Matt Brady. the Chicago attor-
ney. who has been conducting tie motion
for new trial in the celebrated Sidney Bell
case.
SOOTHING A LUNATIC.
Mr.. Brady is man of prompt judgment
and exceptional nerve. He saw that the
sexton had tough job on hand, and at once
asked to be allowed TO talk with the stranger
who now made no secret that lie had pistol
in his pocket and intended to use ii. He
said he was bad man, and knew ii, but it
was necessary for him to kill somebody.
That's all right" said Mr.. Brady, falling
into tile fellows humer according to the
common-sense method of dealing with dam
gerous lunatics. "Rut don't you think this
is the wrong place?"
"pm bad man; I've got to kill some-
body persisted the Iunatic.
.'All right" said Matt Brady, soothingIy,.
"but now sit down here" and the lawyer
smiled in kindly way as he got the man
seated in pew and closely watched the
hand which still wandered in the direction
of the hip pocket. Mr.. Brady saw the pistol.
It protruded Enthusiastically.
" on are man; SO am l, )" said Brady.
Lets 81. down and talk this thing over
like men. Now, what's the matter? Tell
me-. I'm going to try to be your friend"
Then the lunatie told Brady that the
night before he had gone to the Bella Union
! Theater with $500 in his purket and walked
up On North Beach In the morning on the
SAND without cent. He felt be had been
badly treated and somebody had got to suf-
fer for it.
ACCEPTED THE ADVICE.
Look here said Brady. who saw that
the man was suffering from maniacal delt-
sion, "see this half-dollar piece? / want
You to take it and 60 right home to bed.
Come now, right along. like good fellow"
1t was all done In tive minutes so quietly
that not half of the half-doZen people in the
church knew what had happened, when
Brady came back with a quiet smile of
assurance to tell DR.. Easton he might 90
home without fear. The latter, however.
knew more than Mr.. Brady, for the lunatic
had been after him before.
1t transpired that the same man had
forced his way into the Calvary Club the
preceding evening. demanding money and
making threats Of killing DR.. Easton and
others.
Mr.. Brady and DR.. Easton waited bali an
hour before leaving the church, not wishing
to have any trouble in or outside the struc-
tuTe. The members of the congregation
who remained expressed regret that the
lunatic had been allowed to depart armed,
and think that something should have been
done to insure his arrest.