Evening star., 1897-08-25
Banker Tollant Becomes Violently
Insane While Travelling.
THROWS COINS At THE PASSENGERS
Terrified the Train Crew With a
Cooked Revolver.
PUT UNDER RESTRAINT

CHICAGO, August G3.-John D. Tollant,
the president of the Tollant Banking Com
pany of San Francisco, is confined in the
East Chicago Avenue station, raving
maniac. Locked in a compartment OF one
of the cars of the overland limited train
which arrived at the Northwestern depot
at $50 o'clock this morning, the demented
banker paced to and fro in the greatest
excitement, occasionally 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 4 waiting patrol wagon and taken to
the station.
During his compulsory ride through the
North Side streets, the bank president was
held, struggling, on the floor of the wagon
the strong arms of two police officers be-
ing required to prevent him from escaping.
Constantly endeavoring to tear himself
loose from the grasp of the officers. he
was carried to cell in the station house,
en- the floor, nlumbling incoherently about
the efforts he imagined were being made
to advertise him notorious criminal
Started on II Vacation.
Saturday evening the California banker
left for vacation in Europe He was to
meet his wife in Paris, and the two ex-
pected to spend the autumn months i'm
tour of the continent. On Sunday morn
Ing, after the train had progressed far ON
It's journey across the mountains. Tollant
began to act queerly. He would stare
blankly into space for hours at a time,
refusing his meals when they were offered
to him. Occasionally he would twitch
nervously and start in his seat. His fel-
low passengers were alarmed by his pc
culiar actions and notified the conductor
of the train. 1t was decided to keep a
close watch of the man, but it was not
pected that he would become dangerous.
This state of affairs continued for three
days.
When questioned as to his health Toll
liant would vouchsafe a short, curt reply
to the effect that he felt well. He was
very taciturn in his manner, occasionally
bordering on tncivility when some service
was offered him.
Threw SO Gold Pieces
Yesterday, soon after the limited train
pulled out of Council Bluffs, Iowa, the
passengers in the coach where Tollant
Was seated. were alarmed by the fact
that he was mutteripg loudly. Suddenly
he drew a so gold piece from his pocket
and threw it with great force at his near
est neighbor. This followed by vol
ley Of gold coin, which was hurled at the
fleeing passengers. Tollant pulled a. re-
volTer cut of his pocket and hourished
II when he was approached by the train
hands. Waving his weapon, the man
started running dow n the aisle of the car.
Suddenly he drew his watch from his
pocket and threw it at the persons who
were crowdihg each ether to gain exit
through the coach door. Closer he aD-
preached the few who were still in the car
and who were expecting momentarily that
the maniac would pull the trigger of the
pistol, which was leveled in their direc-
uon- However, the man did not fire his
revolver. He would stoop and pick UP
his watch and throw il again and again
against the new closed door, which pre-
vented 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 tin.epece his arms were seized
from behind and he was thrown strug-
Cling 10 the floor. Conductor f. H. 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 brakeman and two passengers. and
the four succeeded in disarming the nm
fortunate man and confining him in an
apartment. $50
Nhea In the apartment the traiunen
Iouni on Tollant two razors and s5y3 Five
W gold pieces, which he had cast at the
passengers, were also recovered