The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-07
A FIGHT WITH A MANIAC.
The Struggle Takes Place In KIauer's
Cigar Store.

The Struggle Takes Place In Klauer's
Cigar Store
Sheriff David Burdge and his three
deputies had a terrific struggle with
maniac armed with a keen knife this
morning, and it required the combined
strength of all of them to overpOwer
him.
The maniac is John Newcomb. a cigar
maker at klauer's factory, whose head
injured IN a fall several years ago.
Since then he has been subject to fits and
his last one about three weeks ago was
almost fatal. Since then his brain
has been worse affected de
went to work as usual this
morning and although he had been
queer for several days the other en-
ployes noticed that his insanity today
was more pronounced and violent He
could with difficulty talk coherently and
called common articles by wrong names,
insisting that tobacco was paper he
was irritable and appeared anxious to
fight with the other men, and handled
his sharp cigar-maker's knife in way
that made the others decidedly uneasy.
AT about IL o'clock II. A. Klauer went
out and notified Sheriff Burdge and the
necessary papers were drawn up for
trial in the probate court Mr. Burdge
was accompanied by Deputies Tom
Wilkerson, Dan Jones and Dee
Wilkerson. Mr. Klauer informed
them IN advance that the maniac
had a knife and 10 be cautious in
approaching him.
Accordingly Tom Wilkerson entered
first and began conversation with New
cOmb-on business affairs and succeeded
in picking up the knife unnoticed. Then
Sheriff Burdge entered and Wilkerson
remarked, "Here's man who wants to
see you Oh business" The sheriff had
commitment papers in his hand and tie
ha
peared to understand what was up and
made grab for his knife. only to find it
was gone Then he made a vicious
effort to grab WilkersOn by the throat,
but failing in this attempted to take the
knife away from him.
This effort was resisted, but the
maniac might have been successful had
not Sheriff Burdge caught him about the
waist. The other two deputies rushed
in and Dan Jones caught Newcomb
about the legs, while Doc Wilkerson
held the arm and Tom WilkersOn took
away from him the heavy cigar presser
which he had picked up from the table.
Then the maniac fought and tussled
with superhuman strength, but the four
officers. all Of them strong men, over
powered him and at last succeeded in
putting strong pair of handouts on
him.
The handouts appeared to take all the
resistance out of him for the time being.
Sheriff Burdge said after the capture:
Il would rather fight with four desperate
Criminals than one maniac Then L
could fight back. but an officer is not
justified in fighting crazy man except
in case it is absolutely necessary to save
his own life. Ou the other hand, the
crazy man fights with desperation, and
his madness seems to give him new
strength. l am satisfied that two men
could not have captured Newcomb to-
day. without someone being hurt"
At Newcomb's trial DR.. Eastman and
Dr. Grubbs, both of whom have attended
him, were the principal witnesses. They
agreed that his ailment was sOftening Of
the brain and was incurable, growing
worse instead of better. Newcomb him
self was put on the stand. and demon
strated himself incapable OF understand
ing the simplest Questions
s.How old are your" he was asked.
ssThere were three of them, and they
all work in the Mines" was the unfor-
tunate mans reply.
sAre you marrIeds"
"Yes, / know several people who can
take these things of Cmeaning the hand
cuffs). Who put them onE"
'sWhere do you livef"
Eyes. Iii fight If you fellows want to,
but | can't fight with these on"
Newcomb resisted being taken out OF
the court room, but he was finally hus-
tied into an express wagon and driven to
the insane asylum guarded by three de-
putty sheriffs.
Newcomb is a man about "a years old.
of fine appearance. He is an Intelligent
man with intelligent eyes and wore
neat suit Of gray clothes. His wife lives
at 1909 Fillmore street lie has lived IN
Topeka seven or eight years