New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-07
HE WANTED TO KILL A PRIEST.
THE CRANK WHO SAID HIS MISSION Wa
TO STAY FATHER LOTUS CAPTURED.

At last the "cr INK" who for several months a.
more has been sending threatening letters to
Father Martin j. LOTUS, pastor OF the
Roman Catholic Church of the Lady OF Our
Angels Seventy-fourth-st and Fourth-ave, Bay
Ridge. is locked up. Father Lotus. who y
one Of the most popular cergymen In Brook
lyn began to be annoyed by the crank last
September when he received letter signed SOL
der OF the Cross" and which was decorated with
skulls and bones The letter declared that the
writer had been comma nded from Heaven to XIII
the priest and that his mission must be performed
before the week was out He asked the priest In
what way he preferred TO die, and offered the
choice of a slow death by strangulation or quick
death by the knife
At first Father LOTUS paid little attention TO the
note, and went attending to his duties or look
ing after the spiritual welfare Of his parishoners
Several days afterward the pastor received another
letter from the fellow, in which the language was
more threatening. AS this was followed by many
more violent letters. Father LOTUS decided that IL
would be best for him 10 place the affair in the
hands OF the police.
The letters all sent 10 the Eighty-sxthst
police station at Fort Hamilton. and It was de-
cded that the writer needed looking after. A
policeman was stationed the clerygman's house
In hopes that the fellow would soon pay a visit
The policeman not disappointed In this. for no
had hardly reached his post when the man turned
up at the house. Seeing the policeman, he became
frightened and ran down the street. and he was
not seen or heard Of until last week when another
letter was received stating that the priest must
be prepared TO die before shutdown on the following
day.
Much to Father Ioftus's surprise the crank
called at the house yesterday morning. For
while he laid down on the ground In the yard and
afterward knelt down and prayed. After he had
finished he rang the bell and the servant. not
thinking for a moment that anything was wrong,
admitted him. .
He had no sooner entered the house shan no
began talking the servant In a wild way Al the
anne time commanding her to show him TO Father
I.oftus's The priest told the servant 10 en-.
gage him in conversation and detan him unul NJ
could get policeman.
Father Lotus then quietly slipped out by rear
door and on his way TO the Eighty sixthst. police
sta ton met Policeman Brown.
on their arrival the house they found the
crank" seated in the paror Uron seeing Father
LOTUS he made spring for him and tried TO
grab at his throat. The priest, who is we'll builS
man. grappled with him. and after a severe strug-
gle succeeded In subduing him. Policeman Brown
then placed the handouts on him and marched
him the police station, whore he gave his name
George Busby forty-ffve years old. OF No. %
Flushing-ave.. Brooklyn. He afterward taken
before Justice Rhodes in Town Hall who held him
FOR examination on Tuesday next. a charge Of
sending threatening letters through the mails and
a second charge of assault with attempt kill,
The man. the police say. is insane religion, and
he still persists In saying that he has been sent
from Heaven to kill Father LOTUS.