The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-08-19
HAD TO FIGHT FOR LIFE
Policeman Ne Govern Has a
Desperate Encounter With
a Crazed Negro.

A desperate encounter occurred last
night between Patrolman John Meow
erff, of the Communipaw avenue station.
and a mad negro. The crazy man was
armed with an axe and a razor blade,
and the patrolman was forced to fight
fercely to save his own life as we'll as
the lives of the lunatic's intended vic
tins. McGovern finally succeeded in
overpowering the negro and landing him
in jail. Not until he had him safely be-
hind iron bars did McGoyern breath
easy. 1t was an experience that he will
remember to his dying day.
McGovern was standing at Jackson ave-
nue. and Atlantic street at nine o'clock,
last night, when a colored woman, wild
with excitement, ran up to him. and,
wringing her hands, said
"Fo' the Lawd's sake, cum quick.
David Thomas am tryin' TO to kill his
nanny
McGovern followed the woman into a
small frame tenement in the rear of a
Chinese laundry. at No. IS Jackson ave-
nue.. Directed by the woman, who re-
NAMED behind him, McGovern climbed a
pair of rickety stairs to the second story.
He passed through the front room, which
Is used as a parlor, and into the bed
room adjoining. In the doorway. be-
tween the bedroom and the rear room
or kitchen, stood a huge negro. A dim
light from a Pickering lamp in the far
corner of the kitchen was the only illu-
mination in the apartments. This light
showed the form of the negro in all its
horribleness. His giant frame trembled
and his features were distorted with rage.
In his hands he held a glittering axe.
From the kitchen came the piteous cries
of an old woman, who was begging her
son to spare her life. She was praying
and pleading by turns. The fiend had been
standing over her. axe in hand, waiting
for her to finish her prayers that he
might take her life, when his attention
was drawn from his work by the arrival
of the patrolman.
As McGovern advanced upon him, the
negro retreated several feet into the
kitchen and crouched as if for a spring.
McGovern saw that quick action was all
that would save him and two defence
less women from the fury of the mad
man. Rushing upon the half recum-
bent negro he seized his arm with one
hand and CAV him a vicious prod in the
abdomen with the other, just as the axe
was raised and was about to descend
upon him.. The blow and the sudden
ness of the attack dazed the negro, but
only for an instant. He recovered and
then a desperate struggle for the axe
ensued. McGovern is a strong man
and is counted one of the handiest fight
ers ON the force, but he was scarcely
a match for the negro. In the encoun-
ter the axe fell to the floor. Mccoy
ern finally succeeded in drawing his
club This cowed the negro and he APP
parently submitted.
He went peaceably with the officer as
far as the front stoop. when he broke
loose again. Siezing McGovern by the
coat, he nearly tore it from his back.
Then he drew an ugly looking razor,
without a handle, which he attempted to
use. A repetition of the scene upstairs
occurred, but it was of shorter dura-
ton, as a crowd collected and closed in
on the combatants.
Thomas was finally landed in the Com
munipaW avenue station. He is about 81
| years old. He was arraigned before Act
ing Police Justice Macs this morning and
held for examination by County Physi-
clan Converse. He ran amuck twice be-
fore last night and nearly committed
murder. The police consider him a dan
gerous lunatic. Captain Mckaig will use
| every effort to nave him put away per-
manently. The woman who secured the
officer and signed the complaint at the
| police station is Carter Dawes, who lives
with Mrs. Thomas.