The herald., 1898-09-07
"a MURDfR0US MADMAN
HoLDe THE TOWN OF SIERRA
xADR1 AT BAx
He TERRoRlzep THE PEOPLE
Darricaded Himself in His Cottage and
Threatened to Kill Those Who
Game Near

madman terrorixed Sierra Madre fol
hours yesterday, and. armed with q re-
volver and an az. defied the entire com
munity. The sheriffs ofiice was appea led
to for aid. but not until late in the after
noon and by the greatest diplomacy waa
the maniac overpowered.
Aaron Levy. an old soldier. IS years OF
age, suffered from the dehision that people
were trying to deprive him of his pension
He became violently insane about noon
yesterday and without any warning
rushed into the yard seized an AK and ran
back to the house yelling, "Pll kill you for
trying to steal my pension" His wife saw
that he was insane and that he meditated
the destruction probably OF herself and
the entire family. She rushed from the
house. followed BY the others. Levy start
ed to pursue them. but returned to the
house and barricaded the place.
The screams Of the flying family aroused
the neighbors. and within a short time q
crowd had gathered about the house for
the purpose Of taking Levy into custody.
He. however. had now armed himself with
a revolver and together with the AK stood
ready to defy a regiment Of the peaceable
inhabitants Of the foothill section.
IT know who you are. know what you
want; but you shan't have It: you shan't
have my pension" he screamed at them
through the barricaded door. Several Of
the more daring in the crowd started to-
ward the house, but when Levy suddenly
opened wide the door and sprang out. -FOUR
shing his revolver In his right hand and
his AK in the other. they abruptly halted as
though facing a battery OF rapid-fire guns.
and retreated precipitously to equally
scared companions.
ITS no use: he's got the drop on us"
they exclaimed. Then q parley was sug-
gested. A couple Of volunteers started to-
ward the house and with honeyed words
endeavored to sooths the madman. Levy
replied by discharging his revolver. For
tunately the bullets hit nothing. His sally
effectually put stop to further descents
on the little cottage which for the time
being had been converted into a block
house.
Men. women and children hung about the
vicinity of the place. attracted by the
fascination Of a dangerous lunatic. No
one would venture near him, although va
rious plans for capturing the fellow were
suggested.
Finally the sheriff's office was commun,-
Gated with. Deputy Sheriff John Barnhill
can manage an insane person as easily as
a cat can handle rat, 80 he was dispatched
Immediately. When Barnhill reached Sierra
Madre he found the community in a terri
BILE state of excitement and apprehension.
His coming was received with as much de-
light as that OF an American commissary
by the Cuban army. Directing several Of
the most daring and strongest men to fol-
Lon, ~ V1S,r It'll ,aA h.
by different route from that taken by the
former attacks. and by stealth succeeded In
reaching the front door. Then began the
game OF parley. At first the madman was
obdurate.' and bent upon murder. but
Barnhill, with assuring words. told him
that he was a friend who had come to save
him from the crowds Of enemies. and asked
that he be admitted Immediately in order
that they could prepare to repulse the
crowd who were preparing to storm the
place.
Without suspecting the purpose of Barn
hill. and delighted with the arrival OF re-
Inducements. the madman removed the
barricade and opened the door, Barnhlll
sprang upon him. knocked the pistol from
his hand and grappled with him until the
men on the outside could rush up and help
to overpower the madman. Levy fought
and ragged like tiger and II was the work
Of several minutes 10 bind him securely.
Then with the aid Of several men Barnhill
took his prisoner to the railroad station
and brought him to the city without fur
ther trouble.
Levy was taken to the county hospital.
where he will be kept pending his improve
ment or until an insanity commission shall
have determined what shall be done with
him.