The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-10-26
A

4 Wealthy Citizen of Chicago Barricades
His Doors and Dedes the Police Officials
While He Amuses Himself Shooting
From the Windows at Passing Pedes-
trians-Captured by a Successful Ruse.
CHICAGO, Oct. 2L.-Armed with a re-
peating rifle and a double action re-
rolver, Gaus $. Merwin defied the po-
ice and everyone else for sixteen hours
from IL o'clock Saturday night until 3
o'clock yesterday afternoon. Mr.. Mer-
win is a man who grew wealthy in the
iron trade and retired some time ago.
| Saturday an infrmity of the mind
which mad been threatening him for
some time came upon him with re-
newed force, and he locked himself in
one of the rooms of his palatial home
at 81 Woodland park, where the SEN
s~ational events of yesterday were
enacted.
1t was 1880 Saturday night when
the mans insanity took a really vio-
lent form and he attacked his wife,
who is in extremely delicate health.
He forced her to leave the house and
in fact elected her from the rear door.
Her neighbors cared for her and
sent word to the police station at
Thirty-ffth and Rhoades avenue.
Lieut.. Bonfield. who is in command of
that district, with four officers, went
at once to the house. They found all
of the doors locked and the windows
fastened. They could see Merwin in
n of the upper rooms marching back
ward and forward with the rifle over
his shoulder.
They thought best to leave him until
morning, and when day dawned they
were astounded atseeing him approach
the window overlooking the street
and. after raising the sash, take aim
with his rifle and fire directly at a Pc
destrian across the street. Before the
street could be cleared he had re-
peated the dangerous performance sew
eral times; put his aim was bad and no
n was hit. A police officer was sta
toned at either end of the block and
the way was barred to all foot passen-
gers. Then the occupants of houses in
the opposite side of the aristocratic
park drew the curtains and shutters
at their windows, closed their front
doors and used the rear exits the re-
mainder of the day.
The question as to the method to be
employed in securing the man with
out injuring him or permitting him to
hurt any one was a hard one to solve.
Every few minutes during the day the
police would hear a shot from one of
the weapons in the hands of the crazed
man, but nothing could be done.
Several years ago a similar case cost
the life of one of the best policemen
on the force. and Lieut.. Bonfield did
not care to risk a sacrifice of that kind.
1t was finally decided that an at
tempt to overcome him with the fumes
of sulphur might result successfully.
Accordingly the heat was shut out of
the other rooms of the house and
sulphur was burned in the furnace. A
small amount did not have the desired
effect and as they did not care to en-
danger the mans life the plan was
abandoned.
Finally it was arranged that entry
should be made to the room at two
doors simultaneously. Each man had
a small hair bed-mattress for a shield.
The plan worked perfectly. the crazed
man not having an opportunity to fire
before being overcome and manacled.
He was then taken to the hospital for
the insane.
Mr.. Merwin is IS years of age.
About a year ago he vas kicked on
the head by a horse and it is known
the injury affected his brain. The
superstition is hat the attack of yes
terday was the result. After he was
rescued Merwin talked incoherently
about buying wheat at forty-eight
cents per bushel. From this lit is be.
lieved he has been either making or
losing money in grain speculation.