The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-02

SAD ne. DO not care 10 nave any GX-
perience with a craeZy man.
The revolverS which Joseph Healy
had with him were fine ones The large
one was a Colts of modern pattern.
volver. Healy talked freely to a State
Journal reporter. Standing inside the
bars at the city jail and leaning his
shaver head against them and extend
ing his arms above him to grasp the
bars he told of his prosecutors, the
lynchers. His eyes had that glare sup
posed to be peculiar to insane persons.
I got here yesterday afternoon, said
Healy. Il came in on the Santa Fe. I
caught the train on the go at Mime
apolis- tried to catch the engine, for
l wanted to make the engineer give
her steam. But missed 1T and had to
get on a freight car. They were hot after
me-
why did you go to Governor Leedy's
office with those revolVers?"
Il went up there to give up my guns
and ask Governor Leedy for protection.
/ know he will see that 1 get fair
trial No, have nothing against Gov
They were after me to hang me. Sat
urday night they came to my house in
Lincoln to hang me. I shot at them
and ran away. I don't know whether
1 killed any one or not 1 didn't go
back to see. 1 drove to Minneapolis
and tried to give them the slip. I slept
out in a fodder stack and they came up
after me thereI shot through the stack
field and roast me alive Then stole
a mule and got away from them
who is it that is after you?'
20, it's a kind of international relig-
ious scheme to hang me- replied the
deranged man. 1T is something like
the A. P. A. I am a Catholic and they
want to get me in trouble. Three of
my children are with the Sisters in
Kansas City, and two of them are at
home in Lincoln, if they're alive now.
I'm a farmer"
Why are they after you?"
well, there are two cases in court
against me. One is 70 disturbing rht
peace of a girl there and the other one
is for assault and battery. Her broth
ing supper and wanted to make trou-
bic. l went for them and one of them
was beaten up The papers had an ac-
count of it. 1 had a copy in my pocket
but hid it, They can't get it now. I
hid my winchester on the south bank
Of the river at Minneapolis. They can't
get that"
What were you going to ask Cover
Il was going to ask him to give me
fair trial. They will hang me if they
get chance. L had the worst kind of
a time getting away from them. Once
they almost hung me. / don't know
how many of the lynchers have kill
ed
IF Governor Leedy had refused to
have done?"
We'll. 1 don't exactly know. I sup
pose 1 would do like did in the fodder
stack-I'd sit down and think. I'm not
crazy 1 was pretty nervous when they
were after me though. told them that
I fought with my guns. 1 can't stand
off a whole world with my fists. I
think I could use that small revolver at
200 yards. You see, I had to disguise
myself the best I could. shaved the
hair off the top of my head and cut my
mustache short. Then I,,put ink on it
to make 1t darker. My nat, you see I
can wear either turned up or down.
When 1 caught the train had my coat
on inside out. 1t was only by Gods
grace that got away from the lynch
ers. I came down from Minneapolis
yesterday morning. The sheriffs down
there have to stand in with the lynch
ers. L saw two of them in the mob
that was after me. Anybody who lives
there has to stand in with them. I ex-
pect some of my friends to stand in
with them"
Healy often laughed as he told of his
prosecutors. 1t was a maniacal laugh
which alone gave evidence of his insan-
ity.
The man is about five feet ten inches
in height. He weighs about IT'S pounds
and is muscular. He has small blue
eyes which appaer like beads and shine
with an unusual glare. His hair is
rather long, except where he has shaw
ed it off the top of his head His mus
tache is short and smeared with dark
substance. He had on coarse clothes,
and wore a rubber hat. He speaks
freely, but is an ignorant man. He is
being held a police headquarters until
word can be received which will de-
termine what shall be done with him.