The Monticellonian., 1895-10-25
SUDDENLY INSANE.

 A Wealthy Citizen of Chicago BarrIcades
 Ills Doors and Dafles the Police unicials
 While He 4muses Himself Shooting
 From the Windows at Passing Pedes-
 trians-Cap,ared by a Successful Buse.
 CHICAGO, Oct. 2l-Armed with re- beating rifle and double action re- volver, Gaus s. Merwin defed the po- lice and everyone else for sixteen hours from II o'clock Saturday night until | o'clock yesterday afternoon Mr Mer- win Is man who grew wealthy n the i iron trade and retired some time ago. Saturday an indrmity of the mind which had been threatening him for some time came upon him with re- newed force. and he locked himself in one of the rooms Of his paIatial home at 35 Woodland park, where the sem sationaL events of yesterday were enacted.
 It was 11:3o Saturday night when the mans insanity took q 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 ejected her from the rear door.
 Her neiphbors cared for her and sent word to the police station at Thirty-ffth and Rhoades avenue Lieut.. Bonfeld. 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 one of the upper rooms marching back ward and forward with the rifle over his shoulder
 They thought beat to leave him until morning, and when day dawned they were astoanded atseeing him approach the window overlooking the street and, after raising the sash. take aim with his rifle and fire directly at pe- destrian across tine street. Before the street could be cleared he had re- peated the dangerous performanee sev- eral times; but his i'm was bad and no one was hit. 4 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 aristoeratie park drew the curta ns aad 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 hard one to solve. Every few minutes during the day the police would hear q shot from one of the weapons in the hands of the erazed 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. Bonaeld did not care to risk sacrifice of that kind.
 It was finally decided that an at tempt 10 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 1t was arranged that entry should be made to the room at two doors simultaneously Each man had a small hair bed-mattress for 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.
 Mir Merwin is 85 years of age. About year ago he was kicked on the head by horse and it is known the injury affected his brain. The supposition Is that the attack of yes terday wus the result After he was rescued Merwin talked incoherently about buying wheat at forty-eight cents per bushel. From this 1t is be- lieved he has been either making or losing money in grain speculation.