The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-02
A REAL CRANK
Enters the Governors Office
and Draws a Revolver
Believing That Lynchers Are
Seeking His Life.
Executive Clerk Fleharty De-
vines the Mans Condition.
GETS HIM TO TALKING
While He Sends For Chief of
Police.
The Insane Man, Who Is Joseph
Healy,
OF LINCOLN, KANSAS.
Is Taken into Custody and
Locked Up.
GETS HIM TO TALKING
While He Sends For Chief of
Police.
The Insane Man, Who Is Joseph
Healy,
OF LINCOLN, KANSAS,
Is Taken into Custody and
Locked Up.


was being pursued and with brace of
heavy revolvers strapped to his waist,
invaded the office of Gov. Leedy yester-
day afternoon. Fortunately, the gov
ernor was in his private office and Ex-
ecutive Clerk Fleharty adroitly man
aged the man and avoided trouble.
1t is the duty OF Maj. A. P. Shreve to
watch the door to the private Office. He
never allows a stranger to enter the in
ner room until he has received his Gre
dentials. Maj. Shreve was outside in
the corridor when a stranger approach
ed hurriedly.
Can you tell me where to find the
governors office ?" said he.
Yes; 1 am going there now" said
Mai. Shreve.
Il will go with you said the
stranger. Il want to see the governor
on very important matter. I want
protection"
Shreve did not suspect anything.
When the men entered the office Mr..
Fleharty was with the governor. He
soon came out and Maj. Shreve said:
Here is a gentleman that would Like
to see the governor"
Mr.. Fleharty walked up to the man
and asked: You wish to see Governor
Leedy, do you?"
Just sit down. said Mr.. Fleharty.
THE governor is engaged now, but he
will be at liberty in short time
But cannot wait" and the man be-
gan to grow excited. They are after
me, and I must see the governor right
away cannot wait, tell yG1I.'
Instantly it flashed over Mr. F1eharty
that the man was insane. and his man
ner changed to one of careless familiar
ity.
THAT Is too bad,'' said he, Just come
over here and sit down and tell me all
about it,
The man complied, though he looked
behind him cautiously as he sat down.
Who is after your asked Mr.. File
harty to open the conversation.
Five counties are after me and they
want to lynch me-
why are they after you?"
''They say there is a girl in it, but it
in court but that is all there is to it,
when did you get here?"
''At 2 o'clock this afternoon"
where did you stay last night?"
81 slept in a shock of fodder near
Minneapolis. They were after me all
night. I could hear the poole in fine
all night looking for me to kill me, and
l kept as quiet as I could. But they
saw my tracks in the snow and found
where I was. When they saw the shock
I was in, they piled some more on top
of it and set it on fire. Then [ jumped
out and shot three men and got away,
but they are still after me"
That is too bad" said Mr.. Fleharty,
''but 1 will see that no one hurts you.
1 will order out a company of soldiers
to protect you. Just wait here until
can go and telephone
Mr. F1eharty left the room and went
to a telephone and called up Chief Steele
and requested that he send two or
three men to the governors Office at
once When he returned to the room
he noticed that the man had a belt full
of cartridges buckled around him.
ct see you're armed" said the execu-
tive clerk.
T 10. =
I had to hide THREE or four men came
out of a house to take my gun away
from me, but hid it in the grass and
got away. But they did not get all of
them 1 have this"
The man reached down under his coat,
and drawing out a large Colts revol
yer, pointed it directly at Mr.. F'leharty
while his eyes glared and he said under
his breath:
"Oh, 1 know my friends
1t was a critical moment for the ex-
ecutive clerk.
Mr.. Fleharty was equal to the emer-
."That's right" said he. clapping the
man on the shoulder. I'VE are your
friends, all right"
have another here that will keep them
off US if this fails" and he slipped the
pistol back in its hostler and drew an
other from his trousers pocket. He
placed it in his hand and patted it fond
ly.
1T has killed lots of men, and it is a
fine gun When 1 have this they had
better keep away from me"
He then put the gun away at the re-
quest of Mr.. Fleharty, and in moment
the door opened, and Chief of Police
Steele entered
How do you do. governor said Mr..
FIeharty turning TO the chief. This is
the man you want"
Chief Steele walked up to the man
and put out his hand. The stranger
took the hand of the CHIEF and was held
in the iron grip of the officer
Chief Steele then told him that he
had come to arrest him and told him
that he must take his guns The man
pushed back his coat and the officer
disarmed him and took him to the po-
lice station without resistance.
From letters in his pockets it was
found that the name of the man is
Joseph Healy and that he lives near
Lincoln, but there the Information
about him ends. He had over SIG on
his person
Governor Leedy was in his private
office during the entire time that the
insane man was in the main room. Ma
jor ShreVe slipped in and told Governor
Leedy what was going on a short time
before the officers arrived.
Let the police take care OF him."