Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-26
CRAZED ON A TRAIN.
BANKER BECOMES VIOLENTLY IN
SANE WHILE TRAVELLING.
THROWS COIN At THE PASSENGERS
Terrifies the Train Crew With a
Cooked RevoIver-FinaIIy SUBJ
dued and Put Under Re-
straint.
straint.

CHICAGO. august 25.-John ID. Tollant,
the president of the Tollant Banking
Company. of San Francisco, is confined
in the East Chicago Avenue Station, a
raving maniac. Locked in a compart-
ment of one Of the cars of the overland
limited train which arrived at the North
western depot at $50 o'clock this morn
ing, the demented banker paced TO and
fro, in the greatest excitement, OCCASION
ally throwing himself against the walls
OF the car and crying out in mental agony
until the train slowed up on the depot
tracks, when he was removed to wait
ing patrol wagon and taken to the sta
tion.
During his compulsory ride through the
North Side streets the bank president
was held, struggling. On the floor of tbs
wagon, the strong arms of two police Of
flcers being required to prevent him from
escaping Constantly endeavoring TO
tear himself loose from the grasp of the
officers, he was carried to a cell in the
statkon-house, where. exhausted from
his efforts, he lay on the floor. mumblng
incoherently about the efforts he imagined
were being made TO advertise him as a
notorious criminal.
ON A VACATION.
Saturday evening the California banker
left for vacation i'm Europe. He was to
meet his wife in Paris, and the two ex-
pected to spend the autumn months in
tour of the Continent. On Sunday morn
ing, after the train had progressed far on
its journey across the mountains, Tollant
began to act queerly. He would stare
bankly into space for hours at a time,
refusing his meals when they were Of
fesed 10 him. Occasionally he would
twitch nervOusly and start in his seat.
His fellow passengers were alarmed by
his peculiar actions. and notified the con-
ductor of the train. 1t was decided to
keep a close watch of the man, but it
was not expected that he would become
dangerous. THIS state of affairs con-
tinued for three days.
When questioned "a TO his health, Toll
liant would vouchsafe a short. curt reply,
to the effect that he felt well. He was
very tacturn i'm shis manner, occasionally
bordering on incigility when some service
was offered HIM
THREW $40 GOLD-PIECES.
Yesterday. soon after the limited train
pulled out Of Council Bluffs, Ia, the
passengers lin the coach where Tollant
was seated. were alarmed by the fact
that he was muttering loudly. Suddenly
he drew a $40 gold-piece from his pocket
and threw It with great force at his
nearest neighbor. This was followed by
a vOlley of gold coin. which was hurled
at the fleeing passengers. Tollant pulled
a revolver out of his pocket and flourish
ed IL when he was approached Dy the
train hands. Waving his weapon, the
man started running down the aisle of
the car.
Suddenly he drew his watch from his
pocket and threw II at the persons VINO
were crowding each other TO gain exit
through the coach door. Closer he APP
preached the few who were still i'm the
car. and who were expecting momen-
tarilv that the maniac would pull the
trigger of the pistol, which was levelled
i'm their direction. However, the man
did not fire his revolver. He would
stoop and pick up his watch and throw
it again and again against the now
closed door, which prevented him from
following the men and women whom he
had chased from the car.
SEIZED BY THE CONDUCTOR.
Suddenly, while he was bending to
again pick up his timepiece, his arms
were seized from behind and he was
thrown struggling 10 the floor. Con-
ductor T.. II. Clark had silently stepped
down the aisle from the other end OF
the coach and leaped on the maniac
The conductor was followed by a brake
man and two passengers, and the four
succeeded i'm fdisarming the unfortunate
man and confning him in an apartment
When in the apartment the trainmen
found on Tollant two razors and s533.
Five $50 gold-pieces which he had car
at the passengers, were also recovered.