The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-08-15
'PARDRIDGE'S PLIGHT.
The Chicago Plunger Confined in
an Inebriate Asylum.
FOUGHT ATTENDANTS FIERoELY

1t Required the United Efforts of Fou,
NMon to Install the Multi iiiIonairs In
One OF the Cell Rooms Reserved for the
Worst Patients.
lCHICAG0, Aug. 15,-Strapped down 70
his bed, imprisoned by barred windows
and locked doors, in barren room on the
fourth floor of the Washingtonian Home,
Plunger Ed Pardridge, who on Monday
threw the Board of Trade into a turmoil
by fighting with doorkeeper, is under.
going most rigorous treatment for al
coholism. He was taken to the home by
his son, who was assisted by several
friends. The nervy speculator was placed
in charge of tho doctors only by main
force. He became violent when he was
being searched preparatory to protracted
stay, and 1t required four attendants to
carry him up stairs and install him in one
Of the cell rooms which are reserved for
the worst patients.
Pardridge is one of the most prominent
of the Chicago Board Of Trade operators
accounted a multi-millionaire, the pro-
prietor of one of the largest dry goods
stores in the city and an operator Of re.
markable nerve. For months he has
been on the boar side Of the wheat mar
hee, uud LIB winnings Ou CnHURe lOF tne
last year are said to reach into seven fig
ures. Pardridge has frequently Of late
worshippod freely at the shrine Of Bac.
chus and has created several scenes on
change. A few days since he appeared
on the floor in an unsteady condition and
threw money broadcast about the pit,
raising such an uproar that ho was sus
pended for sixty days. On Monday he at
tpmDtpd ba uft
fierce fight with doorkeeper was finally
carried from the building.
At the Washingtonian Home Mr.. Pard-
ridge succeeded in creating as much ex-
citemcnt among the inmates as he did on
change. Immediately upon his arrival
he was handculfed and placed in box
like apartment, with three blank walls
and a grated window left to his gaze.
When tho physicians and guards left him,
however, he put at naught their efforts TO
tie his hands and feet. One little article
on his person was overlooked by the Gus
todians in searching him-a large locket
attached to his watch chain. When the
guards left him he managed to squirm
around so rs to reach and unfasten the
locket. This contained small knife, with
which he proceeded to cut his bonds. He
soon parted the leather handouts and
next broke the leather strap tied around
his jcet.
Pardridge jumped up to the window aud
yelled down at the crowd: ~ am Ed Pard-
ridge; you know me- they are trying to
rob and kill me; I'll give $500 to the man
who will get my lawyer. For Gods sake
help me-" As he continued his entreaties
he grew more and more excited, and said:
"lf none Of you will get my lawyer for
I will frftra gpn
81 ,00o Hurry up, for the love of Heaven
They are going to kill me. III give any
one half my fortune if he will get my law
yer" .
The attention of the guards was at
tracted by the fearful yelling and two of
them went to the ''plunger's" room to
subdue him. The latter, when he heard
steps in the hall, made ready to brain
some of his captors. He stood with a
heavy wooden chair uplifted in his hands.
As the door opened and the head of the
first guard appeared he brought his
weapon down with a crash. The guard
lodged just in time to escape the blow
Pardridge was then bound in his bed.
The employees say that Pardridge's is
the worst case they have ever had to han
die, and they were all much relieved when
he had been finally strapped down.
superintendent Summerville was not
inclined to be reticent about his patient.
tfes," said he, MIR. Pardridge is suffer
ing from severe case of alcoholism"
docs his mind seem at all affectcd?"
'les. Iu fact his trouble now seems to
be due more to II temporary arrangement
than anything else"
Last evening Attorney j. Il. Deakin ap-
peared before Judge Dunno with petit
tion for writ of habeas corpus to compel
I. Summerville, manager of the Wash
ingtoniun Home to produce Pardridge in
court. The petition recited that the noted
plunger was being held prisoner in the
Wa,hingtonian Home against his will.
Mr.. Deakin handed the court a crumpled
scrap of paper, on which was written:
Go to Judge Prendergast and get me
out OF here ut once. Give the bearer Of
this Sl00. Ed Pardridge."
MIR. Dcakin, who is law partner of
Judge PrenderSast, explained that this
note had been picked up by man who
saw II thrown from a window of the
Washingtonian Home. The note was
taken to Judge Prendergast's office and
turned over to Mr.. Deakin. Judge Dunno
granted the writ and made it returnable
today.
Purdrldge left the home last night in
charge of friends. Manager Summeryille
says his treatment was that usually ac-
corded patients. He said he would an-
swer in Judge Dunne's court