The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-05-18
INSANE AND cLUEBED TO
DEATH.

Thursday. 5th inst. died at that institution
the following Monday. The evidence taken
at the ooroner's inquest Tuesday indicates
that McClarren's death was due 10 The beat
ing be received while in the custody Of the
Cambria county officers.
The Pittsburgh papers say there IS strong
evidence that the immediate cause OF Engi-
neer John McClarren's death Monday at
Di1mont Insane Asylum was blows infiict-
ed on his bead by the officers of Cambria
county IN the Ebensburg jail, whence be
was taken to the Asy lam last Thursday.
The following is what the TSmes says:
partial inquest was held by Deputy
Coroner Grant Miller upon the body We'd
nesday afternoon, ard was continued until
Saturday afternoon at 3 O'Clock, in the
Coroner's Office, on account of a lack #
material witnesses, but the proceedings went
far enough TO develop a most shock ing
story.
AcCiarren was a railroad engineer by
occupation, and had been slightly demented
for about ten years. He was forty five years
old, and resided with his aged parents at
Summerhill. He was not kept constantly
confined, as mis- condition was not consid-
cred dangerous, and on April 3Oth he got
possession of a bottle of whisky in some
manner and in short time was terrorizing
everybody within reach. he imagined he
was pursued by White Caps. His relatives
succeeded in securing him, and he was con-
fined in a second-story room in the house.
He was quiet for little while, but just as
| his friends had about concluded that be
would makeno more trouble, they were
startled to hear crashing of glass, and Nc
| Clarren was seen to leap out of his impro-
yised prison to the ground, twenty feet or
more below, carrying the sash and glass of
| the window with him. He escaped and was
at liberty day or two before being run
down and captured.
| The maniac was finally overtaken, and
was found in q worse condition than when
be made his flying leap from the house.
He was now apparently violent at ali times,
and was sent to jail at Ebensburg. On
May 9Th an order of Court was issued COM
mitting him to Dixmont. The Sheriff and
his Deputy repaired to his cell to take him
into custody and proceed with him to the
asylum.
According to their statements, made to
officers at the Dixmont Asylum, be resisted
being taken from his cell, and to subdue him
he was beaten over the head with a heavy
club until he complied with their orders.
The names Of the officers were not learned
by the Dixmont authorities, but the man
who said he gave the blows, it is believed, IS
the Deputy. The prisoner wss also beaten
on his way to the hospital. He sank rapid
ly after reaching there, and died Monday
afternoon.
McClarren's body showed several bruises
and his head several cuts. One on his head
was shaped like the letter n, and was only
a scalp wound. Il was received when he
jumped out of the window, as he fell on his
head. Another was eight inches long, di-
rectly across the crown, extending almost
from ear to ear. Another was on the right
side, near the ear, and still another on the
left side. Both of theseiatter were wounds
which cut the scalp.
Immediately on McClarren's death the
authorities of the institution telegraphed 10
his friends, telling them of his death, and
they went TO the city Thursday morning to
receive the body. But DIR. George G. Gra-
ham, Assistant Superintendent of the Asy-
lum, was not satisfied to let them have it
under the circumstances, until be could
hold post-mortem examination. They
gave him permission and his investigation
showed McClarren's skull to te fractured in
three places, the brain clotied at the wounds,
and his body showing evidences Of severe
beating. The skull was opened, and one
fracture eight inches in length, from the
right to the left side, was :ound. Two
brain clois were found on the lei, side above
the ear, and one clot on the right above the
ear. These injuries had caused death, and
in DR.. Graham's opinion the case was one
for investigation by the coroner. So he sent
word to the office of that official, and Mr.
Mcdowell being absent, Deputy Miller went
to Dixmont and conducted the proceedings
as stated
DIR. Graham and Alexander Morrow,
head nurse, testified to the statements made
by the Sheriff and his Deputy. James Nc
Clarren, a cousin of the deceased, testified
to the facts regarding his escape from his
fathers house Dr. Graham said the wounds
in his head were evidently made by a
blunt instrument.
James T. Young, Warden of the all, in
whose charge the man was most of the time
was interviewed at Ebensburg and said sub =
stantially as follows
"McClerren was brought here the even
ing of the 81 of May by the Constable of
summerhill Township, accompanied By two
other men. His head was bandaged, and
when asked why, the Constable replied tina;
McClarren had jumped out Of window and
attacked man, and could only be gotten
off by striking him, which had wounded his
head.
1.-The insane man was kept until Thurs
day morning, when Sheriff Shumaker an
took him to Dixmont. Il required the uni
ted strength Of FIVE men to pat the straight
ia ket on him, but he was not struck in the
operation,
He was strapped in a chair, both on the
Ebensburg Branch and the main line, and
by the time we reached Pittsburgh was so
quiet that he was put in a smoking car
along with other passengers, to be taken out
to the Asylum.
Whatever injuries the man received
were given before his arrival at Ebensburg,
OF after his delivery to thc Asylum authori-
ties, as be was never struck blow while in
my care. also emphatically deny telling
DIR. Graham thatI was compelled to use a
club upon the patient to subdue him
THE SHERIFF ExoNERATED.
The inquest into the death of John Nc
Clarren was concluded Saturday and a YER
dict rendered exonersting Sheriff Shumak-
er, of C .mbria county, and also the manage
ment of Dixmont Hospital Il was found
his death was due to beating by Charles
Topper and James Bunting. Topper testi-
fed MoClarren had at night broken into the
house of Bunting. who is TOppers fsther-in-
law, and demanded to be allowed to marry
Bunting's daughter at once. He became vi
lent and tried to make his way to the girls
room. Topper struck him with a potato
mssher. A struggle ensued and Bunting al
50 used the potato mssher upon McCiarren.
Action in the matter was left to the Cam
bria Authorities, but it is likely no arrests
will he made