The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-11
BIT The POLICEMAN.
Rev. Jacob Kellers Taken te
Morris Plains Asylum
After a Struggle.
CASE is CONSIDERED HOPELESS
Would Pray and Sing for
Hours at a Time--Insarlity
Caused by Grippe.
CASE is CONSIDERED HOPELESS

The condition of the Rev. Jacob Kellerrs
who was formerly pastor of the Salem
Evangelical Church of Greenvilie, and
who about two months ago became vio-
lently insane, is no better, and it ID
thought that his is a hopeless case PAS
tor Kellers became insane after a very
severe attack of the grip This was
late in the winter and since then he act
ed strangely. Two months ago he be-
gan to show symptoms of insanity. He
prayed for hours on his knees and sung
part of the time at the top of his voice.
He could not be quieted. In the pulpit
he acted very queerly and his family
finally thought 1t would be best to have
his condition inquired into.
About three weeks ago ne became so
violent that his family would not let him
out OF the house, in fact he showed no
desire TO leave He occupied the whole
top floor of his residence, adjoining the
church on the Boulevard, which consist
ed of three large rooms, for three weeks
He never went down stairs and his FAM
lily could hear him praying and singing
all day long. The neighbors, toos soon
became accustomed to the loud praying
and singing of Mr.. Kellers. His food
would be placed on the top of the stairs
when he was in one of the rooms pray
ing, as his two sons and wife were afraid
of him, so violent did he become.
The afflicted pastor weighed three hum
dred pounds before his illness, and when
he was weighed in the Insane Asylum il
was found that he had lost thirty-five
pounds during the time he stayed in the
house.
He was about ten days ago that his sons
determined to have him taken to the asy-
lum. A coach was procured, and on mid
night of June 20, Policeman Merrity. Of
the Ocean avenue police station. was sent
to the house to help in case the afflicted
man became violent. The pastors sors
told Merrity to be careful with their
father: but the policeman told them that
he could not handle him carefully II he
became violent. Merrity then called IL
Policeman Donnelly. who went half way
Up the stairs and started to talk TO the
minister to attract his attention Mer-
rity dashed passed Donnelty and grabbed
the minister by the arms. The deuented
man was taken wholly by surprise. but
he recovered in a second and fought the
policeman. He bit Merrity in four places.
and so wrenched his left arm that it was
useless for three days. Finally with the
assistance of the coach driver and the
other policeman. they succeeded in hand
cutting him. He then begged permission
to be allowed to pray which he did on his
knees for fifteen minutes. He sang. but
ia few minutes became quiet. He then
went TO the coach very quietly. Police
man Merrity and the pastors son accom-
panied him in the coach but the hand
cuffs were kept on him all the while.
When the coach reached the Passaic
River the minister attempted TO escape
from the coach. He wanted to. jump over
board and commit suicide. he said AL
through Newark he was very bad. and
kept saying that they wanted to burn
him up. The asylum was reached about
eight the next morning, and the insane
pastor was turned over to the authorities
of the Morris Plains institution.
Policeman Merritty, in speaking about
the trip and the handcuffing of Mr. kel-
lers, said that he thought his time had
come when he attempted to put the nip
pers on him In the house.
He would have crushed me to death.
he said, had not assistance arrived. No
more jobs like that for me, for I did not
know what minute he would do some
damage TO the coach"