The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-12
AN ARIZONA PYRoMANIAC.
Wins whole Town at Poker and
Celebrates His Luck.

WINS Whoie AOWh AT FORer anu
Celebrates His Luck.
From the Arizona Republican.
John Bush Ellsbury was examined In
Probate Court yesterday was adjudged in
sane and committed to the asylum. Ellis
bury is the man who was brought down
from Mesa last Tuesday night under the
name of John Bush. Ellsbury's hallucna-
ton is that the world is dirty and that he
has been commissioned to clean it. He
knows of no more effective way to do il
than to burn off al much of the surface as
possible. He was asked by DIR. Cameron
from whom he had received his authority.
He replied, From God" That he tried to
inaict the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah
upon Mesa was no sign that he thought
that town was any dirtler than others, but
that was where the Lord told him to begin
the missionary work.
William Barnett testified that last Tues
day he was in his house at Mesa Ellsbury
came in, shook hands with him, and after
a brief conversation asked for a match.
He gave it to him and Ellsbury went out
the rear door, telling Mr.. Barnett to hold
himself in readiness TO move suddenly as
he was going to be burned out. Mr. Bar
nett thought he was joking. E,llsbury re-
'
warning TO Mr.. Barnett to get out and
avoid the confagration. There was this
time something in Elsbury's eyes that at
tracted Mr.. Barnetts attention, but said
he, describing the incident II didn't tum-
BILE" A moment later, however he tumbled
hard when he went into his back yard,
where he found a growing blaze which
threatened to sweep his house and all the
rest of the buildings off the earth. He eX-
tinguished II with difficulty. and from that
moment regarded Ellsbury with suspicion.
While this recital was going on Ellsbury
laughed and told what he would have done
if his plan of reformation had not received
a check.
An interesting story came out during the
inquiry into the probable cause of ELS
burys insanity. He related it in a straight
forward and coherent manner and was cor
roborated in part by Mr.. Barnett, who had
his information from various sources. Ellis
BURY is a Mississippian and an adept at
poker About a month ago he went 10 Riv-
erside, in Pinal County, broke. A man who
knew him staked him to a seat in poker
game which was going on in a store and
saloon, He won all the cash about the sta
ton, amounting to more than $780, He
played then against various articles in the
store until he had won everything He con-
oluded by winning the saloon, and as there
was nothing else to play against, the game
ended. He had also played against and
won notes from persons who had neither
merchandise nor saloons to put up. The
extent of his winnings outside the cash
was $i00 or $500. and he was practically the
owner Of Riverside. But he was unpopular
A row was kicked up and the air was filled
with bottles, one OF which hit Ellsbury on
the back of the head and another on the
left ear, the marks OF contact being still
plainly visible.
In order to regain the affections OF the
Rversideites he began giving away free
drinks. merchandise and whatever was
wanted. Under pressure he sold the sa-
loon for S75 and spent that and a consider
able part of the $500 over the bar of which
he had been the late owner He sun had
large sum left when he started from Riv-
erside back to Florence, but the stage driy-
er said that he didn't seem TO regard If
as OF any value. Mr. Barnett believes that
Ellsburys insanity dates from the disturb
auce with which his victory at poker was
celebrated.
lllsbury is one Of the most jovial insane
men the world has ever seen. He is more
over a man of unusual intelligence. has a
magnihcently shaped head and good fea
lures. His mouth is particularly strong
with the thin lips drawn straight across.