The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-25
A MANAGES AIM.
A Bullet Meant For Superin-
tendent BedWell.
Fired by a Murderous Crazy
Man at His Asylum.
HIS LIFE is SAVED
By a Courageous Attendant at
the Asylum
Who Has a Fearful Struggle
With the Crazy Man.

An insane old soldier lurked in dark
room at Bedwell's asylum Saturday
evening, and when the proprietor ap-
peared shot at him with pistol. Bed
wells life was saved by an attendant
who seized the maniac. A terrible strug-
gle followed. 1t was a fight in the
dark.
The crazy mans name is James R
Gennett. He is of slight build and
weighed down by 80 years, but for the
few minutes that the fight continued af-
ter the firing of the shot, he struggled
with the strength of insanity.
superintendent BedwelI had just enter
ed the kitchen of the asylum about six
o'clock in the evening. 1t was dark and
he inquired OF the attendant there where
Geanetr was, as the man had had his
llberty during the day.
"4es, he is here" said the attendant.
AT this moment BedWelI heard the
click OF the revolver as the insane man
cooked it. Looking to the side he saw
within three feet OF him the dim outline
of the determined maniac
"Great God, he's got pistol!'' shouted
the proprietor as he jerked open the
door to escape. The next moment there
was d flash, d resoundlng report, aud the
pistol ball passed few incnes above his
mead. The attendant had reached the
crazy man just in time to prevent his
being ID murderer bv striking up his arm.
Supt Bedwell, however, kept on going.
Left alone with the maniac with the
weapon of death in his hand the at
tendant, Ralph Johnson, realized that
| his life was at stake. Back and forth
they struggled across the small kitchen,
johnson trying his utmost to get the
pistol, while Gennett held on with death
grip. Finally the attendant was sue
| cessful in jerking the weapon away from
his antagonist. Help arrived and the old
soldier was put III his room.
In one of his pockets was found the
following letter:
To Comrade James Chew, November
%, 1898: l have killed Bedweu today
and viii try to report to Grand Army
headquarters if l can get there. Please
call up the posts to protect me.
J. R GENNETT.
This was written on the front of
crumpled yellow pension document
called affidavit of Neighbors" The
reverse side revealed the fact
that the old man was a private in
company A, Fourteenth Kansas cavalry
He also had another letter on him saw
| ing he had killed Bedwell, and that
| Judge Wood and Poor Commissioner
Hale were on the list.
Gennett was adjudged insane last
April, and sent to BedwelPs asylum. He
was resident of the North side, and a
member of a local G. A. 4. post Some
of his friends have maintained that he is
sane, as he has always claimed to them
That is the reason that he is SO bitter
against the judge and BedwelL
He draws $12 "a month pension, and the
court appointed the poor commissioner as
guardian with Instructions to let him
have a little money as he needed it. One
day last week Mr.. Hale let him have SO
on representations that he wished to
| buy clothes with it.
A great deal of liberty has been al
! lowed the unfortunate man, and he
walked about the streets Saturday unat-
tended, Bedwell having taken him to
town. 1t is supposed he purchased the
revolver while going about alone.
The manager of the asylum had not
found him when he wished to return to
his home in the evening, SO he took the
| East Sixth street car home. Gennett had
preceded him and was quietly waiting for
him in the kitchen, as already told.
The probate judge today committed
Gennett to the state asylum, where he
can be better taken care of. The Judge
says that the state institution was full
when the trial was had last spring. and
consequently he was sent to BedwelIs.
Deputy Sheriff Dan Jones took the old
soldier out to DR.. Eastman this after
noon