The Indianapolis journal., 1897-08-26
BANKER TOLLANT MAD
BECAME A RAVING MANIAC ON THE
OVERLAND LIMITED TRAIN.
Threw Gold and His Watch at Other
passengers and FIOurished His Re-
vOIver-Put OF at Chicago.

CHICAGO, Aug. 25-John D. TolIant. the
president of the Tollant Banking Company
or san francisco, is confined in the East
Chlcago-avenue Station a raving maniac
Locked IN compartment of one of the
cars of the Overland limited train which
arrived at the Northwestern depot at $3.50
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 de-
pot tracks, when he was removed to a wait
ing 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 were
required to prevent him from escaninp
Constantly endeavoring to tear himself
loose from the grasp of the officers. he was
carried to the cell in the station house
where, exhausted from efforts he lay on
the floor mumbling incoherently about the
enorts he imagined were being made to
advertise him as notorious criminal
Saturday evening the California banker
left for vacation in Europe He was IN
meet MS wife in Paris and the two expected
to spend the autumn months in a tour of
the train had progressed far on it's journey
across the mountains, Tollant began to act
queerly. He would stare into space for
hours at time, refusing his meals when
they were offered to him. Occa sionalIv he
would twitch nervously and start in his
seat Ills telloW- passengers We're alarmed
by his peculiar actions and notified the con-
ductor of the train. 1t was decided to lCe,ar
a close watch on the man, but it was not
expected that he would become dangerous
This state of affairs continued for three
days When questioned to his health
TOllant would Vouchsafe a short curt ,.e,,iI,,
to the effect that he felt well. He was Vary
taciturn in his manner, occasionally border.
ing on inciVlllty when some service was of
Yesterday, soon after the limited train
pulled out Of Council Bluffs Ia, the passen
gers IN the coach where Tollant was seated
were alarmed by tne fact that he was mutt
tering loudly. Suddenly he drew two goId
pieces from his pocket and then with eTeat
force threw them at his nearest neighbor.
This was followed by q Vollev OF goId
which was hurled at the fleeing PASSENGERS
Tollant pulled revolver out of his p0cket
and fiourished 1t when he was apDr6ached
by the tralnmen. Waving his weapon tht
man started running down the aisle of tbe
car. Suddenly he drew his watch from his
pocket and threw 1t at the persons who
were crOWding each other to get into +bo
other coach door. Then he approaches ~
few who were still in the car and who were
expecting momentarily that the maniac
would pull the trigger of the pistol whicb
was leVeled in their direction HOwever
the man did not fire his revolver He would
stoOp and pick up his watch and throw il
again and again against the now closed
door, which prevented him from following
the men and women whom he had chasa5
from the car. Suddenly while he was bendI
ing TO again pick up his timepiece his arms
We're seized from behind and he was thrown
struggling to the floor. Conductor F II
Clark had silently stepped down the aisIt
from the other end of the coach and leaned
on the maniac; The conductor was fol-
lowed by a brakeman and two PASSENGERS
and the four succeeded in disarmfng the nn9
fortunate man and confning him i'm an
apartment. When searched in the ana
ment the trainmen found on Tollant two
razors and 1888. Five 500 gold pieces. wbicb
he had cast at the passengers were also
recovered.