Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-10-24
PISTOLS IN THE PULPIT
How Maniac Emmons Kept @
 Church All to Himself.
NARROW ESCAPE OF AN OFFICER.

A Lively Time in a Congregational
 Church at Springfi cid Captured Only
 When He sIept--The Pastor Had Re-
 fused to Let Him Preach, and He Wa.
 Determined d to be Heard.
 SPRINGFIELD, Mass, Oct. 24.-It is probable that Charles M. Emmons, after his crazy doings of yesterday, will now DC put where he can make no more
 trouble.
 The spectacle of a wild-eyed man stand
 ng in the pulpit of Olivet Congregational Church, with cooked revolver in his right hand and another lying on the pull pit. greeted the early arrivals at that church yesterday morning. The pastor, Rev. L. A. Cone, had exchanged with L. H. Dorchester, another city pastor, but Rev. MT. Dorchester was not able to get into the pulpit, as the madman held it against all corners at the muzzle of his revolver.
 He was Charles NJ. Emmons, member of the church, and an empIoye of the government at the United States Armory. Emmons gained admittance to the church at an early hour, and had his position we'll fortified before any one else arrived. Around his body he had wrapped sofa cover and had black veil over his head and face The janitor tried to eject him, but as he approached the pulpit the madman fired three shots in rapid suc- cession. All of them lodged in the ceiling.
 In the meantime the congregation had begun to arrive, and the news spread throughout the city. In less than fifteen minutes the church had a congregation larger than ever in it's history, but all kept tt respectful distance from the lunatcs gun.
 Then the janitor, reinforced by Deacon Adams, other church members, and four policemen; re-entered the church, but they were unable to capture the pulpit. Emmons, a revolver in each hand, warned them not to advance
 "Come a step nearer and I will shoot, J he said.
 Several persons who knew him tried to persuade him to leave the pulpit, but he answered their entreatieS by pointing his revolvers at their heads and warning them to retire. The police attempted in various ways to attract the attention ot | the crnZed man, when it was planned to rush upon and overpower him. But this was only the signal for more shooting, two bullets grazing the helmet of the of | ficer who made the attempt. The officers then held a council and it was decided that, as Emmons was so wei, | armed, it would be more prudent to await events.
 Emmons held the fort until after $ | o'clock, when he fell asleep in his chair. Then Detective Atkins and Patrolm al | Haynes crept carefully up to the plat | form and bounced upon him. Emmon. struggled desperately but was soon over powered, disarmed and handcuffed. A: l they started for the police station Elm | mons begged hard to be allowed to pu l on his overcoat. The handcuffs were taken off for this purpose and before he | could be prevented the madman brought l out another revolver and fired again, but < hit no one.
 l At the police station Emmons claimed ] that he had been bounded by enemies fo1 1 twenty years and had written a sermon
 entitled ''The Truth" which he had asked
 Pastor Cone to preach. Mr. Cone had re
 fused and he had deter mined to take
 possession of the pulpit and preach il l himself.
 Emmons has shown signs of insanit. | for several weeks, but was not considered | dangerous. He created a scene at Trini t. | Church last Sunday, when he entered tn pulpit, sat down and removed his shoes l at the same time ordering all others to d. | the same, as they were on holy ground | He was removed without any trouble an,
 the affair was kept quiet. He had wei l worn copy of the Bible and the neatl
 written manuscript of his sermon whe | captured.