The morning times., 1895-10-21
MANIAC USED His RIFLE
Stood Off the Chicago Police for
Nearly a Day.
Wealthy Mr.. Merwin Stopped All
Ira fife on Street and Made Things
Lively for Officers.

Chicago, Oct. 20.-Armed with a repeat
ing rife and doabie-aCtion reyolvers,
Gaius S. Merwin defied the police aud
everyone else for sixteen hours, from IL
O'Clock last night until this afternoon.
Mr. Merwin is a man who grew wealthy
in the iron trade and retired some time
ago. Yesterday an iufirmity OF the mind,
which has been eaieuing for some time,
came upon him with renewed force, and
he locked himself in one of the rooms of
his home at Woodland Park, where the
sensational events of to-day were enacted.
II was IL 80 o'clock last night when
the mars insanity took really violent
form, and he attacked his wife, who is
in extremely delicate health. He elected
her from the rear door. Her neighbors
cared for her and sent word 10 the near
est police station.
Lieut. Eonfield with four officers went
at once to the house and they found all the
doors Tucked and the windows fastened
They could see Merwin in one of the upper
rooms marching backward and forward
with tn riileoyerhis shoulder. Theytlluught
best TO leave him unuil this morning, and
when day da wned they were astouDded at
seeing him approach the window overlook
ing the street and after raising the sash
take aim with his rifle ana fire directly
at a pedestrian across the street.
Before the street could be cleared he had
repeated the dangerous performance sew
eral 5iE,es, bat his aim WAS bad and 10 one
was hit. A police officer was stationed
at each end OF the block and the way was
barred TO all fo,t passengers.
The occupants OF houses on the opposite
side OF The aristocratic park drew the
curtains and shutters OF their windows and
closed their front doors and used the rear
doors the remainder of the day. The Ques-
lion as to the method 10 employed insecur-
ing the man without iniuring him or per-
niiiiing him to hurt any che was a hard one
TO solve
Every few minutes throughout the day the
police wouid hear a shot from the gun of the
crazed man, hut nothing could be done.
Several years ago similar case cost the
life of one of the best policemen on ftse force
and Lieut. Bonflel1 did not care TO risk q
sacrifice OF thai kind.
1t was finally decided that an ATTEMPT to
overcome him with fumes OF sulphur might
result successfully. Accordingly the heat
was shut out of the ruoms OF the house
and sulphur was burned in the furnace.
A small amount did not have the desired
effect. and as theydid not care to cudapger
the mans life the plan was abandoned.
Finally it was arranged that an entry
should be made to tie roam from two
DOORS simultaneously Two Officers were
to enter at each door. Each man had a
small hair bed mattress for n shield.
The plan worked perfectly, The crazed
man not having an opportunity To fire
before being overcome aBd manacled. He
was then taken to the insane hospital.
Mr.. Merwin is thirty-five years old.
About a year ago he was kicked on tie
head by horse. and il is known the in
jury affected his brain. The supposiiion
is that the attack of yesterday was the
result.
coherently about buying wheat at 4S
cents per bushel. From this 1t is believed
he has been either making OF losing money
in grain speculation.