The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-03
WEST SIDE EVENTS.
Two Demented Persons Cause Excite.
meat ID the Vicinity In Which
They Reside.

Evidences Of insanity in two persons.
16-year-od girl and middle-aged
man. has for the past few days created
great excitement in the neighborhood
of Boone hill, where the unfortunate
people reside.
The girl is Katie Smith, daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Smith, of 20l6
jackson street. She has been affected
for a month past. The insanity is
shown by incoherent and meaningless
speech. Last Monday night the girl
was sitting on the porch Of John Nc
Namara's residence. across the road
from the Smith home. She held in her
arms a babe and the air was rent with
cries from her lips as she swung the
infant about. A crowd collected In
front Of the house and the efforts of the
girls relatives to pacify her only in
creased her demented frenzy. Finally
she was taken into the house. The
poor unfortunate has shown signs of a
weak mind for the past month. The
mother has suffered greatly from her
insanity Is continued suffering from
catarrh. 1t may be necessary to have
the girl taken to an asylum. This fact
has confronted the parents for a time
past. but they are loath to take the
step. The girl was somewhat calmer
than usual last evening
The spectacle of bare footed man,
hatless and only scantily dressed. run
ming about the streets. was shown yes
terday to people near Fillmore avenue
and adjacent streets. He is John Sill
cox, aged Al years, and his home Is at
lQ9 North Fillmore avenue. Several
months ago SilcoX, who is a miner at
Briggs colliery. was injured by fall
OF top coal. One Of the resultant in
juries was wound on the head. This
may have caused the present dement,
ed condition Of the man.
Recently he suffered paralytic
stroke and for many weeks past strict
confinement to his home has been or
dered by the attending physician, DR..
Beckwith. Shortly after noon yester-
day Silcox ran out from the house and
began his mad run down the avenue
He went up Jackson street as far as
Van Buren, and from thence to Price
street and down the hill to Grant ave-
nue.. where the pursuers. who amounted
to crowd, caught up to the man and
held him. In answer to questions he
said he wanted to work and was on his
way to Briggs mine. This answer gave
rise to the report that SilcoX had
Jumped down the shaft.
When Tribune reporter entered the
mans home last evening he was sit
ting in q chair with coat thrown over
his shoulders. Around him were sever
al men who were present to prevent
further demonstration. Silcox has
every appearance. of q semi-demented
person. He smiled in an idiotic way
and from his eyes there glared an un-
natural look. He spoke but once during
the period and then it was a senseless
\ expression. Silcox Is a widower. He
has worked at Briggs mine for the
past twenty-three years.
rROUBLE ON JACKSON STREET.
A young man astride horse called
Atrolman Martin Gurrell to the Main
fenue curb last evening at o'clock
ID whispered mysteriously in the Of
hter's ear The information was that
~some one, presumably a burglar, was
at work in the Reynolds home on jack
son street, between Fillmore and Gar
field avenues. Officer Marker was has,
tily dispatched to the scene. He
found the house surrounded by all the
Der of those who would have passed
by but for the appearance Of the ex-
cited group. Before the arrival Of the
officer some one had brought forward a
lighted lamp and with this in the van a
crowd Of young men essayed to assail
the affected house. But there was a
noticeable dread in all these brave
knights, and for some reason the
burglar" was allowed to ply his trade
uninterrupted. One young man tried
tae front door, 1t failed to open i'm
mediately. The young man pushed and
the lock obligingly sprung. Then the
crowd thought that the burglar was
surely inside. The young man solemn.
ly swore that he found the door OPEN
He actually believed that he had. Head
ed by Jack Neat an entrance was
stealthily made-after the arrival OF
the police officer. Every room was
searnHd: Guf~po burglar appeared to
. eJoxoborate the rnpor. When most oi
the crowd were maj ling an effort to re.
There II he soes." White a form was
seen vaulting the feAce at the rear OF
the house. After awhile tn form re.
turned. 1t was a woman, Mrs. Jack
Neat. and the crowd wfe again dis.
appointed. During the interim while
the woman was between9 the vaults q
rumor was circulated that the form
was that Of son Of the woman that
gave the warning scream, She had
screamed as bluff. so said rumor
= How they ever thought that some