The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-11
Is zOLLER INSANE s?
The Wandering Cateleptic
Becomes Violent in the
Station House.
TWICE ATTEMPTS SUICIDE
Hospital Authorities Dress His
Wounds But Refuse TO Keep
Him Chained in
q Cell.
TWICE ATTEMPTS SUICIDE

About half past seven o'clock on Sat-
urday evening Il tall. broad-shou1dered
man entered the Webster avenue police
station n began at once to gfbber In
a most outlandish fashion. Sergeant
Cannon, who was at the desk, ordered
him out and he left The Sergeant is
new to the precinct and aid not recog-
nize the man as G.. e. lZoeller, a danger
GUS ~lunatic, Of No. 155 New York ave-
nue..
When he reached the street Zoeller be-
gan to rave in such a manner as to
attract a large crowd, and a policeman
was sent out to drive him away. Zoeller
was brought in and locked in a cell. The
lock had hardly turned in the cell door
when Zoeller's shrieks and cries could be
heard a block away. After an hour or
two he became so quiet that suspicious
were aroused n an investigation show
ed that he had attempted to commit sui
eide. He had gashed his wrist with the
cover of a tin can that was In his cell
and was fast bleeding to death when
found. The City Hospital was notified
and the ambulance was Immediately sent.
When it came. however, to take the at
tempted suicide from his cell, trouble at
once arose. He struggled fiercely to be
let alone and it took the united strength
of four policemen to overcome him and
strap him In the ambulance. He became
quiet on the way to the Hospital, and
there had his wounds dressed. AS a pre-
caution. however, his legs were strap
ped and handouts placed on his wrists,
after which he was returned to the sta
ton house. He was placed in a cell,
y began to rave again and in no time
ne had burst the straps n snapped the
heavy chain of the handouts. AS soon
as ne had done that he once more tried
to kill himself. this time, however, by
buttfng his lei against the brick walls
and stone floor of his cell.
AS he wa bleeding profuseiy from his
injuries he was once more sent to the
Hospital for treatment. The Hospital au-
thorities refused to keep him after his in
juries a been dressed, and the police
refused to take the responsibility of
watching him through the night. 1t was
then suggested that he be committed to
the County jail. This was lone after a
long search for a committing official. JUS
tice Macs finally consented to go to the
Hospital, where DR.. Martin F. Byrnes
swore to the formal complaint and the
man was taken to the jail.
Once inside that institution he be-
came more violent than ever, but six
sturdy keepers finally succeeded in lock-
iit6 ilAii 1A q pdQuCQ I'LL.
Zoeller, while only twenty-five years of
age is over six feet tall, and to use an
old expression, is .as strong as an OK"
The county physicians had such a guess
ing match several months ago. At that
time he was found unconscious near the
Snake Hill Asylum and was taken at
once to the medical ward, where all sorts
of r~estoratives were applied. None, how
ever could arouse him from his catalep-
tic state. Needles were stuck into his
flesh and hot irons applied to his feet
without any sign of feeling from him.
This sort of thing kept up for several
days, and the doctors were at their wit
n when Zoeller suddenly completely
recovered. He was shortly afterwards
discharged, and a week or two later was
found unconscious in Newark, and about
a month ago was picked up in the same
condition In Hoboken.
His insanity, which at first was mild,
was noticed about six years ago His
mother has spent a small fortune in try
ing to have him cured, but despite all
that has been done for him, his attacks
AVE steadily grown more violent. OF
late he has been very dangerous when
suffering from his attacks, and today he
will be examined by the County Physi-
clan and will probably be sent to the In
cann q cylurp