New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-15
KILLED BY A MADMAN'S BLOW
THE HEAD BAKER AT WARD'S ISLAND
STRUCK DOWN.
"HE MADE ME MAD. AND KILLED HIM" THE
LUNATIc QUIETLY REMARKED WHEN

'HE MADE ME MAD. AND KILLED HIM" THE
LUNATIc QUIETLY REMARKED WHEN
TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
Wards Island was the scene yesterday after
noon of horrible occurrence. in which Theo-
dore Meyer the head baker If the Manhattan
State Hospital. was instantly killed by blow
from in the hands of irfuriated in
sane The killing occurred about 4:3O
o'clock in the afternoon. The insane patient
who committed the deed was Russian. thirty
five years old. who had been an inmate of the
institution since 1904. The facts Of the case
were Immediately reported by Policeman Nc
Carthy. who is on duty through the day at the
island. to the One-hundred- nd-fcurth-st po-
lice station. The police Informed the Coroner
The entry on the blotter at the police station
rea as follows: AT 4:40 p. m. Theodore Meyer,
thirty-four years old, married. German. residing
at No. 2.319 Frst-ave.. employed at Manhattan
State Hospital. Wards Island. as head baker.
was instantly killed by being struck on the
right side Of the head with an axe In the hands
Of insane patient. Durant. thirty-five years
old Russian. in front of the bakeshop. Coroner
notified. Body at Wards Island"
DR.. w. A. Macy. superintendent Of the male
department Of the hospital. when seen by Trb-
une reporter last night, had just finished maxi
that he had made careful examination Of the
facts Of the affair. and had taken the testimony
Of those who had witnessed the deed. According
to his statement Meyer who had been employed
for a number OF years in the institution, called
upon two or three Of the patients. who by rea-
son. of their peaceful dispositions. were assigned
to help around the place to go with him to the
woodpile which Is only short distance from
the bakery They had been gone only few mo-
ments when one of the patients came running
back trembling with excitement. and told one
Of the other paid employees of the shop that
there had been n quarrel and that he thought
the baker had been badly hurt. Several Of the
men rushed out and found Meyer lying full
length on the ground. covered with blood and
his head cut open. Standing near him. with
the bloody still In his hands. was Durant.
He was perfectly calm. and gave no indication
Of frenzy. He permitted the men to take the
axe away from him. He seemed to realize fully
what he had done. for he said: 'He made me
mad and killed him
When his assistants came upon the scene OF the
crime Meyer was unconscious and died soon
afterward. The blow which must have been
dealt with great force. had made the sharp
blade OF the penetrate through the skull.
According to the testimony Of the other Insane
patients although their statements may be worth
little or nothing Meyer and Durant had some
words. and before any Of them realized what had
happened the blow had been struck and Meyer
had fallen covered with blood The paid men.
who in the bakery at the time. say that they
heard no sound or noise OF any kind 10 give
warning that any trouble going on. The
distance from the bakery 10 the woodpile was 81
short that II any serious trouble had occurred II
would certainly have been heard Durant and
the patients who had been at the woodpie were
at once placed in confinement by the keeper
None OF them appeared violent and seemed to
take the matter in quiet. stolid way.
DR.. Macy said t.iat Durant had been commit
ted TO the hospital I'm the fall Of 1894. He SUI
fered from chronic me olancholia or dementia lie
considered perfectly harmless. and up 10
the present time had never shown the least ten
dency to be violent. DR. Macy said that II was
the fiji ST time In years that such a thing had oc-
Cured the island He added that Meyer had
been connected with the institution for such a
long time that he was perfectly familiar WIN
handling Insane patients. He had been OF an
even. peaceful disposition. and had never peen
known to irritate or annoy "A patent. NO one
could explain what had induced Durant TO com
nit such deed II might be that II was sud
den fit of frenzy. or. again that he had tor q
long time been harboring delusionary 'atrch for
Meyer. which. with the cunning OF madmah
he had thoroughly concealed.
The body Of the dead man was placed IN one
Of the outside buildings to await the action oi
the Coroner Meyer n married man ana
leaves a widow and several small children
Having been assured by DR. Macy that the XIII
ing had been done by an insane man. the
Coroner Informed the police that there was no
need Of making any arrests. AT the Coroner
Office last night 1t was given out that the body
of the murdered man would be taken 10 inc
Norrue this afternoon and afterward to his
home in FIrst-ave A careful investigation OF
the case will be made.
r.TlL WRECK on THE FLORIDA CENTRAL