The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-09-19

South Side, occupies cell In the county
jall. and, acc. ding to Tailor Mccormick,
acts in as sane and entirely rational
a manner as any other prisoner in the
big pile of brick on EOft street. yet ne
stands charged with an act, or series Of
acts that stamp him as either a maniac
or a degenerate. This morning in the
court Of Justice Rogers there will be an
INQUIRY INFO the mans sanity, and the
question will be decided. II the verdict
Is insanity, Elias will escape acocunta-
blIlty for his misdeeds by sojourn in
the state hospital for the insane. at
weston; II he is found to posses an IN
diseased mind, on the other hand, he
will figure in the docket of the next
term Of Ohio cuunty's criminal court.
1t was about O'Clock yesterday morn
ing when FIRE alarm box S5 brought out
the are department south of the creek.
Almost in the next minute there came
another alarm, this one from Box dt2,
three squares from the location of the
first alarm. The second alarm brought
out the entire FIRE department.
The scheme of the trouble was at No.
10 Forty-second street, across the street
from the power house of the Wheeling
Railway Company, and on the river
front The'little brick house owned by
Louis Elias was on fire. and going at
merry clip. when the police and fire
department put in their appearance.
To the establishment of Police officer
Dudley and the Eighth ward iremen,
Elias, who stood on the front porch OF
his house, shouted to the firemen and
the police officer to stay away, and let
the house burn. 1t was evident that the
man was out of his mind, and Officer
Dudley walked toward him, with the
intention of taking him away. Elias
opened Are on the officer and firemen
with a revolver, which he held in his
hand. but fortunately none OF the shots
took erect. Dudley acted in most
courageous manner, closing in on the
maniac, and endeavoring to dIsarm him.
Elias. however, continued his resistance.
and used heavy club with some eff
feet, thrice striking the officer over
the head, and inhIctIng three severe
wounds. Dudley, despite the blood that
poured from the wounds and nearly
blinded him, closed In with Elias, and
.,i.h ,bA assistance OF License Ohicer
Dave Hahne, succeeded in landing his
man.
In the meantime, the hremen were
preparing to subdue the fire, which was
not great undertaking when they final-
" got to work. Before this, however.
the boys had some trouble, in which
Chief KlIeves played the star engage
ment. The chief, always foremost when
his department is at work, entered the
building at the front, closely followed by
his men. In the darkness and smoke,
however, the chief disappeared COM
pletely, and although his voice could be
heard somewhere 1t was a matter Of
several minutes before the hremen dis
covered that their chief had tumbied
through a hole TO the cellar below. He
was brought up on ladder, after some
difficulty. a few minutes later. in the
rear room Of the house, the chief was
again precIpltated to the cellar. For
tunately he escaped on both occasions
with nothing more serious than severe
bruises.
In the meantime. Elias was taken to
the city building in the patrol wagon.
officer Dudley having first taken the
revolver from the man. AZ the police
station Lieut.. supler started to search
the prisoner.
"He's been disarmed," remarked
Councilman Bachmau. who had accom-
panied Officer Ingram In bringing the
fellow up town.
"Wen, we'll see what he's got, any
how" said the lieutenant, and 1t was
well that the search was continued, for
another revolver and two murderous-
looking knives were found, one OF the
latter being Of the folding dirk pattern,
so often carried by thugs and despera-
does. Elias was quiet enough at the
station. his only remark being, II don't
want to hurt anybody" when supler
took him rather firmly by the arm.
He was committed to the county jail
on lunacy charge, secured through
Justice OF the Peaoce Rogers.
oGlcer Dudley's wounds were dressed
by Dr. Ford. after which he went home,
and changed his blood-stained clothes.
Then he plucklly returned to his beat
in time to answer the a. m. roll by
telephone. He declined to take rest,
and was on duty again last night Good
boy, Dudley-you're all right.
Elias alteration OF mind is said to
have come from severe Siege of tho
grip. through which he passed about
year ago. lie Is a bachelor. about
forty years OF age. and has resided at
the home Of his sister. Miss Annie Elias
The latter retired about II o'clock Sat
urdny night. and It Is supposed that
ELIAS arose after that hour, and set fire
to hls little brick house, adjoining the
one where they resided.
SOCIETY.