Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-10-31
CARNIVAL OF CRIME.
THUGS RULE CHICAGO AND HOLD UP
CITIZENS AT WILL.

Police Question All Out After Midnight.
Melbs Robbed of sIoo-Armed High
waymen Hold Up Six Men-Member Q.
Union League Scared Into Insanity.
The fact that Chicago is at the mercy
OF thG highwayman and burglar was
made plain the other day, when Chief
of Police Badenocb issued an order to
the inspectors calling upon them to in
struct all policemen to stop and ques-
ton all men whse they might encoun-
ter after midnight
Chief Badenoch said: ''The order
means no hardship to any citizen who
desires cordially to aid the police de-
partment in expressing crime. This is
no a matter Of politics. While l have
cautioned the officers to use their best
Judgment, no honest man who is not
temporarily demented can be expected
to object to any fair question which a
police officer may ask him.
"In the residence districts, where
few officers meet any one after mid
night, the presence of several people on
an avenue or boulevard after that time
constitutes a just ground for suspicion
on the part Of the officer. He is war
ranted in finding out who those people
are and if they have a legitimate right
to be out"
1t leaked out recently that Mime. Mel
ba was robbed a few days since at the
Auditorium. When she arrived, she
placed her jewels in the First National
bank. Her room was entered the day
after Mrs. Walker was ''held up in the
same hotel. The thieves ransacked Mime.
Melba's apartment in search of the jew
els, and finally departed with less than
500.
At the corner of Kinzie aud Clark
streets eight men were held up the 9TH
or night by six armed robbers, and after
determined resistance were relieved of
their money and valuables. The thugs
got away with several watches, small
jewelry and about $25 in money. The
place was n of the most public along
the thoroughfare of North Clark street.
Jacobs Clark Street theater is on the
opposite corner, and there are saloons
and concert halls all around the neigh
borhood.
During I'd hours the police have made
800 arrests of criminals of each sex.
The most unfortunate event connected
with the scare id. the insanity of d. S.
Merwin, a member of the Union League
club. Mr.. Merwin, who is a merchant,
went daft on burglars. He secured a
rife and two revolvers and barricaded
himself in his house. He then began
shooting at every passing object. Mrs.
Merwin escaped from the house. The
maniac began shooting at passing I'LL
nois Central suburban trains. and when
his friends tried to reason with him
from behind trees, he would fire at
them. Ten policemen came along, but
they had to get under cover.
Judge Payne of the circuit bench,
who is an intimate friend Of Merwin,
tried to talk with him, but the maniac
shouted, Judge, can you stop a bull
let?" and fired at him. His aim was al
ways bad. He would peer cautiously
out Of the windows, yell, Burglars p
and shoot among the trees in the park.
He broke four windows with his bull
lets. A consultation was held, and a
physician suggested that sulphur fumes
be introduced in the furnace. ''They
will be conveyed to the rooms by hot
air pipes" said the doctor, land will
overcome but not injure him."
At this point Merwin appeared ON a
balcony in his nightshirt, a revolver
in each hand, and began firing a volley
in the direction of Cottage Grove ave-
nue.. Every person realized the danger,
and there was a simultaneous rush
south. Many were knocked down and
trampled upon. Several policemen and
a score Of citizens finally entered the
basement in the rear. The sulphur was
procured, q brisk fire started, md soon
the fumes were rising through the hot
air pipes. The sulphur was kept curn-
ing for nearly an hour. Il had no an
preciable effect for some time. The men
in the basement could still hear the
crack of the maniac's revolver. Then
the shooting ceased, and at the end of
an hour and a half a dozen proceeded
upstairs. kicked in the door and fonnd
Merwin unconscious on the floor.
He had two revolvers, u rifle and two
boxes of cartridges. He fred over 20
shots, but hit no one.
Mr.. Merwin has shown symptoms Of
arrangement for several years. and the
present highway robber scare has
completely shattered his mind. Anew
York World