St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-27
WOMAN SUDDENLY BECOMES IN
SANE AND SHRIEkS "FIRE?
WHILE AT WORSHIP.
SCENE IN ST. LOUIS PARISH
PATHETIC IN IT'S DEEPER
CHARACTER.
MRS. TIMOTHY LAwLER,s MIND
Gives Way In the Midst of solemn
Lenten Service Near the Cap
itoI.

Mrs Timothy Lawler, living with her
husband and family at 633 Brewster
avenue. was taken violently insane
while attending the services at St.Louis'
Catholic church, Exchange and Waba-
sha streets. last evening.
The church was crowded at the time
and small panic ensued among the
worshipers in their endeavors to escape
from the building. Fortunately, no
one was injured, though the excite
ment for time was intense. Crowds.
attracted by the insane woman's cries.
gathered about the basement of the
edifice. where four strong men were
struggling to restrain her violence, and
barred the passage of the police, who
were summoned to remove the woman
to the county Jail.
Mrs. Lawler, accompanied by her Sis
ter, had left her home on Brewster
avenue early in the evening to attend
the special services at St.Louis church.
Mrs. Lawler was then apparently in
normal condition of mind. The sis
ters arrived at the church about 8
o'clock, and remained together until
the service had been partially conclud-
| ed Suddenly Mrs. LaWler, upon whom
| the exercises seemed to have made a
deep impression, jumped from her seat
/ and hurried from the church. A mo-
ment later a piercing scream and wild
/ cries of Fire! Firer' coming from the
! basement under the audience room
| startled the worshipers, and for mo-
ment interrupted the service. Several
choir boys left their places and rushed
to the basement, but returned almost
Immediately badly frightened. They
had found Mrs. LaWler running wildly
about the room below overturning
benches and chairs, and making a
fierce onslaught upon several lighted
candelabra, demolishing the stands
and extinguishing the lights. AS the
boys whispered a few hurried words
to the group of excited priests who had
gathered about them, q series of de-
moniac yells threw the congregation
into confusion and started it as one fol
the door All managed to make theil
exit with considerable crowding, anC
surrounded the door of the basement
where the raving woman continued hel
screams and Wreckage Of the furni
ture.
Deputy Sheriff. Courteau was among
those attending the services, and he
in company with three priests, entered
the room and endeavored to calm the
frenzied woman. His efforts were
vain, however, and she became more
excited.
Courteau grasped the woman's arm:
and aided by the priests, sought tt
hold her. At this the unfortunate
woman, who is of strong build, begar
a struggle which only ceased wher
she lay stretched upon the floor
screaming and fighting still, though
almost exhausted.
When the patrol arrived in charge
of Officers Gibbons and McEllistrom
Courteau and his assistants were al
most worn out.
Renewing her struggles at the eff
fort to move her, Mrs. Lawler wa
carried, screaming, to the wagon, il
spite of her stubborn resistance. OF
the way to the Jail her frenzy passed
all bounds. Down WabaSha street i
required every effort of the three po
licemen to restrain her, while he
cries attracted pedestrians severa
blocks distant Arrived at the jail
the woman, still madly calling for he'll
and struggling madly, was taken t
the Woman's ward and bound in
. pair of muffs.
Later in the evening she becam
somewhat quieted through sheer eX
! haustion
MrLawler was apprised of his wife
condition, and called to see her shortl
after her incarceration. He desire
: that she be kept at the jail until prop
er disposition could be made of he
O.