Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-01-13
THE CRANK ARMY GROWS
A Lunatic Closeted with Judge
Gresham in Chicago.
WANTED $1,000 PROM THE JURIsT

DAY Gould Had Sent AIm the Money he
Said and He Invited the Judge 20 Get
1t for HIm--It Took -Four Men 60 over
power Him After a Hot Struggle.
CHICAGO, Jan. fa-Juage Walter o.
Gresham, tho well known jurist, had an ex-
citing experience with lunatic in his cham
bers at the government building The man,
whose name Is Martin McCon0ha and who
is about tifty years old, asked to see the
judge privately. His appearance and man
ner We're favorable and the request was
granted. He had been closeted with the
judge but few moments when the latter
saw that he had to deal with dangerous
crank. Judge Gresham treated him cour-
teously and with great tact and appeared
to believe the fellows rambling tale. At
its conclusion he accompanied the mad man
70 the United States marshals office, where
the judge demanded in peremptory 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 ia
astonishment.
''rhe marshal is not in just now, sir, 2 re-
Piled a deputy.
"Well, sterniy continued Judge Gresham,
''here is a gentleman who says Mr.. Hitch
cock has 5000 which Jay Gould has sent
him, and that you are keeping it from him,
Tell the marshal that wish to see him when
be returns,n
Attacked by the Maniac.
The deputies saw al once that something
was wrong.
"Aa soon rs be comes in, said a clerk, we
win look into IT,
Very well" said Judge Gresham, and
left tho room followed by his companion,
who during the interview did not speak, but
gazed at the officials with blazing eyes,
Realizing that Judge Gresham was in
danger said Deputy Marshal Hitchcock,
I'VE went out for two policemen, and when
they arrived | went to Judge Gresham's
private chambers, IN which the man sat
alone. Judge Gresham had got away bv "A
ruse and the man sat waiting his return.
! walked up to him, and taking him by the
lapel Of the coat, said.
lyon must get out Of here
'He looked SO threatening that / called
for help, and in came Deputy Marshal
George Q. Allen and George Steitz and
Policemen Foley and O'Connen. The mo
ment tho lunatic, whose name we subse-
quently learned was Martin McConaha, saw
the men he spat at as several times and
raising heavy cane which he held in his
right hand he struck at me with an his
force. The blow was a glancing one and
only broke the stiff hat 1 Wore. Then the
officers jumped ~ and we had a lively tiino
Tor few minutes
Eye witnesses OF the struggle tell thrill
ing tale When the officers sprang upou
him. McConaha sprang backward with a
yell that made tho gloomy old ruin echo
and re-echo Then he smashed away with
his cane in a vain attempt to break the
skulls Of his assailants.
He kept the five men at bay for fully
three minutes before they closed in upon
him. A blow from a policeman's baton mad
knocked the bludgeon from the lunatics
grasp.
Captured After Vigorous Fight.
AS the officers jumped at him, McConaha
fought more iiercely than ever with both
hands and feet, Foley caught stinger on
the nose that felled him TO the floor O'Con.
nell and the Others also got severe raps. but
they struck no blows in return Finally il
came TO a clinch, and stin the man fought
on yelling ike q demon. Deputy Hitch
cock got his hand too near the madman's
mouth, for MoCoDaha's teeth closed down
upon the little finger, inflicting slight but
painful wound.
Judge Greshamln Judge GTsshalnl'
shrieked tho maniac They're killing mel
Helpi helpr
The government employees came rushing
up the stairs and looked with wondering
eyes on the strange battle. Out into the
hall came the struggling quintet, the four
officers almost exhausted, but McConaha
seemed az strong as ever
As he was plunging from side to side his
foot caught on an obstruction and he fell.
Then the officers pinioned him, but not
without another vicious fight The lunatic
bit and scratched and kicked but finally he
was carried 70 the patrol wagon, screaming
a. the top Of his voice At the Harrison
Street station McConaha said he was from
Cincinnati Later in tho day he was taken
70 the detention hospital.