Morning journal and courier., 1893-02-17
STATE NEWS JoTrINGs.

STATE NEWS JOTTINGs.
 Events of Interest Here and There
 The Grand Encampment, G. A. R.
 queer Acting of Religious Ma.
 ntac-Murderou Attack by Masked
 Burglars-More Dime Novel Heroes
 -ExPfess Companies-A L1tchheId
 Club House.
 WnL1MANTIc, Feb. 16-At this morn tng's session of the annual encampment of the Connecticut G. A. R. the only business was the election of officers. Wilbsr F. Rogers of post 8, Meriden, was chosen de- partment commander; D. G. Blakeman of post 26, Birmingham, senior vice com mander; John M. Brown of Sedgwick post l, Norwich, junior vice commander. The first two were promoted one step. MT. Brown was elected after a long contest, several strong candidates being in the field against him.
 ACTS sTRANGELY-sAID TO BELONG IN
 NEW HAVEN.
 STAMFORD, Feb. 16.-The inhabitants of Long Ridge, a village ten miles north of here, are excited over the strange actions of Cavery Ferris, religious maniac. Cavery is machinist by trade and about thirty years of age. His parents live in New Haven. He was sent to the Middle towh insane asylum last September and was recently discharged ss cured. He left New Haven Friday and travelled on foot to the house of cousin in Long Ridge. On Sunday night he read the scriptures and sang hymns, and after returning told his cousin that he must ohastise himself &C., oording to the literal interpretation of the scripture. He therefore went out upon the stairway and tried to cut out his eye with penknife. The blade was dull and made two cuts, neither of them serious. The Monday Ferris visited an aunt in the neighborhood. While there he went out to cut some wood and tried to chop off his right hand, according to the literal com- l mand of the fifth chapter of Matthew. The hachet was also dull and he only eev- cred 8 few arteries, bleeding profusely. Other relatives then took charge of him and he is now closely watched. He will be returned to the asylum this week.
 MASKED BURGLARS MURDER oUsLY ATTACK wATcHMAN.
 HARTFORD, Feb. 16.-At 3 o'clock this morning as Alexander Wilson, b watch man in the employ of Smith, Northam & Co.,, was making his rounds, he was hit on the head by slung shot. He fell on the stairs and quickly turning saw two masked | burglars above him. He drew his pistol | and fired at them both in succession and | believes he hit them as they cried out with pain. They escaped while Wilson went out on the street to find policeman. l FIRE IN THE ALFRED KNAPP PLACE. | SOUTH NoRwALK, Feb. 16-Shortly after 5 o'clock this evening fire was dis covered at the large, unoccupied residence on Flax Hill, known as the Alfred Knapp place, and owned by Nathaniel Whitman of New York. The place was for years the finest residence in this vicinity, but | for about three years has been vacant. It is insured for $10,00O. A man was seen | in the rear of the mansion late this after noon, and neighbor noticed him running ! over the hill toward the swamp about 5 o'clock He went to the house to investi- gate and found the stoop in the rear on fire and the flames rapidly spreading. The
 fire department responded promptly to the alarm, however, and the fire did about $100 damage. The police have as yet been unable to obtain any clew to the identity | the fire cannot be explained.
 THEY HAD BEEN READING DIME NOVELS | NoRwALK, Feb. 16.-James Mulligan
 thirteen, and Edward McMahon, fourteen
 are wanted for burglary here. They have
 been reading dime novels and have started out to emulate the example of some of the
 heroes in the stories they read. Last night | hay hr0H int fhn nS 10h
 who lives next to McMshon, and stole {
 revolver. Later the boys entered the Nor
 walk opera house, where the Peoples Theat rical company Is now playing an engage } ! ment, and stole two revolvers more anc several wigs. Then the boys stole wha money they found in McMahon's hcus,
 and fled. It is believed that they hay,
 gone to Danbury, and the police there hav' F been asked to lookout for them. A war rant has been issued charging them witl
 having entered the opera house.
 ANOTHER CHAPTER IN LONG FIGHT. T NORWICH, Feb. 16.-Another chapter t, , the long fight between the Adams ant 5 American express companies was begu, to-day. For the past few weeks the Adam
 company, which was driven out of this cit!
 by the American, has been carrying e1
 press packages between New London ant this city with six-horse van, making tw, trips a day. To day this van ceased run ming and the little steamer Skipjack cam, , up the river. She will make two trips ,
 day and can easily carry all the expresl
 packages. This is considered quite blow
 to her rival, and 1t would occasion no sur
 prise if she should do better business
 than the company who has routed then
 out.
 Il IN A PITIABLE STATE.
 HARTFORD, Feb. 16.-Chsrles E. Wood . ruff of New Britain, who is serving out four years sentence at the state prison, ii
 critically i'll and 1t is feared he will lose hi
 mind. Woodruff was at one time one O. the leading business men of New Britain
 and owned several daily papers. About {
 week ago he was stricken with spoplexy
 and he Is in bad way. There are severa
 additional charges of forgery hanging ove
 him, and it is supposed that worry ovel
 the thought of being arrested again upor
 the expiration of his term of imprisonment next April brought on the attack.
 LOOKING FOR sIMoNs.
 DANBURV, Feb. 16.-The police of thit city are looking for George Simons, who jumped from a moving train last night while in the custody of Constable Sher man. Simons is charged with burglary. He asked his custodian if he might go to the closet in the car, and the officer grant ed the request He hasn't seen his prisoner since. Investigation showed that Simone had opened window and had jumped from the train. It is believed that he went to Hswleyville and that he stole team with which to make good his escape. NEW HAVEN PEOPLE IN IT.
 Many New Haven society people who summer at Litchfeld have taken stock in the new casino of the Litchfield club, now under construction. The capital stock of $20, GOO was all taken in about two hours. The building is a copy of the club house at Quogue, L. I. It was planned by a leading New York architect, and will be handsomely furnished. It will contain a dancing nall, reading and billiard rooms, bowling alleys and tennis courts, and will T.