Evening journal., 1897-08-24
MAD WOMAN'S ACT.
Mary Adams Would Have
Killed Maggie Smith.
SHE WAS SAVED JUST IN TIME

onh WAC oAfbD JUST In IlME
THE GIRL WAS UNCONSCIoUsLY
DRAGGED DOWN A FLIGHT OF
STAIRS BY A ROPE TIED
AROUND HER NECK-AN UGLY
LOOKING HATcHET HOLDS A
MOB AT BAY.
Mary Adams, colored was the
principal In a scene at Fifth and Or
ange streets yesterday that would have
ended In murder had not John Patton
and James Walker rescued from the
infuriated woman's grasp little Maggie
Smith, also colored.
The Adams woman occupies the
house No. $40 TaI.nall street. The wo-
man has been a terror TO the other
residents of the neighbOrhoOd owing
to her peculiar habits and eccentricl-
ties. She was feared by all OF the chill
dren in the neighboraood, and when
going to any OF the stores in The neigh
borhood they would pass on the other
side OF the street rather than pass the
woman's door. Her home Is a mark
for the children, and II is often pointed
out as the crazy wOman's house"
On numerous occasions Mary Adams
has chased the boys and girls OF the
neighborhoOd for squares, and for no
other reasons than that she disliked
"nigger babies"
MARY'S WILD ACT.
Yesterday little Mamie Johnson and
Maggie Smith called at the home OF
Mrs Adams and were admitted into
hf. 1,tr In
called there Is not known but II is
said that Mary had sent for the John
son girl TO do some scrubbing at her
home The Johnson girl was at work
In one OF the second-stOry rooms. and
with her was Maggie Smith. They were
cleaning the floor together. when Mary
Adams came upstairs and told them TO
hurry on with The work as she expect
ed company some time or other during
the day. She went downstairs. but
quickly returned. having a rope In her
hands. She screamed that someone had
to be sacrificed and, so saying, she
threw the rope around the neck of
| Maggie Smith and began ITO pull the
| girl downstairs. The child resisted, but
the brute strength Of the maddened wo-
man was too much for her.
OUT ON THE STREET.
When the bottom of the staircase
was reached the woman seized a new
hatchet. which she evidently had put
i'm a handy position before going up
stairs, and, brandishing this. SHE dart
ed for the street Down Tatnall street
went the woman and the child, one
screaming for vengeance and the other
for someone to save her. The screams
Of the woman and child attracted the
attention OF scores OF spectators, but all
were awed ait the sight OF the hatchet.
e Women shouted for someone TO save
- the child, but no one volunteered to be
E a victim to the maddened woman 3
thrusls of the hatchet. The woman and
5 child were followed by at least 100 per
sons When Orange and Sixth streets
I was reached the mob made an attempt
to surround the woman, but the poised
5 hatchet warned them that Mary was
still master. The crowd made a frantic
+ rush toward the woman but she yelled
1 whoever should lay hands on her would
{ be killed. The woman then dragged
the girl down Orange street TO Fifth
where she was OverpOwered by Walker
b and Patton and disarmed. Just as
Walker rushed ON the woman she
3 raised the hatchet in the air, and was
I about to strike the girl in the head
when Walker caught her by the arm
o The men released the girl and took the
woman to the police stallion.
3 ONE BUTTON Is LOOSE.
When Mary was placed in a cell DR.
Joyce. who happened to be present
when the woman was brought to The
! hall, made an examination and judged
her insane. Maggie told a Journal mar
that she thought her time had come
Deed" she said, Use skeered yet.
Maggie is years of age and lives IN
|, Whitechapel.