The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-07
RAN AMUCK WITH A KNIFE.
j. ID. DensOn's Insane Fit Caused by
the Fires.

Considerable excitement was caused in
the neighborhood of State and Jefferson
streets last night by ]. B. benson, who
ran through the street with an open
knife in his hand, declaring that he in
tended to kill himself
benson is a clerk at Nicholas Lang's. He
is of very nervous disposition, and ex-
element of any kind sets him wild.
The fire on River street is supposed TO
have been the exciting cause which
brought on one of his attacks. He ran
through the house with an open knife in
his hand, and declaring that he would
kill himself.
After running through the streets he
returned and sat down in the front room
of the house, at State and Jefferson
streets, stlll holding the knife in his hand
The women in the house were terrified
Their screams attracted the attention of
Messenger of Council Isaac Cohen who
was passing. Learning the cause. Mes
senger Cohen telephoned the police bar
racks. Driver John Kelly passed with The
police patrol returning from the
fire. Messenger Cohen told him of the
trouble. Kelly drove rapidly to the bar
racks and shortly returned with Police
The people in the house were afraid to
enter the room where Mr.. benson was.
The officers were led around through the
dining room and came upon the man I'M
awares. In Selling him Policeman Muir
ply received the point of the knife In his
thumb, intiicting a slight wound A des-
perate struggle ensued. Although only a
medum-sized man the two policemen, as
sisted by Mr.. Kelly and two neighbors.
had all they could do to handle benson
He chung desperately to the knife and il
was sometime before it could be wrench
ed from his hand. Finally Kelly secured
the knife. The minute he lost his hold
upon the knife, benson fell back in a
swoon. He appeared to be perfectly
harmless after that. Mrs. benson, who
manifested a heroic devotion to her hus-
band, refused to allow him to be taken to
either the barracks or the hospital, saving
that she would be able to manage him
since the knife had been taken away from
him. He was accordingly left in her care
and a physician was summoned to attend
him.
A message was received later at the DO
lice barracks that man was attempting
10 commit suicide at the Western Union
telegraph office, and asking that an off,
Ger be sent there. Policemen Godbold and
Mansfield were sent to investigate. 1t was
learned from bystanders at the telegraph
office that it was Densen, and that he
had just sent a farewell message 10 his
mother. Word was left for the officers to
come to the Screven House when they
showed up, as the man had gone there
Before leaving the office, however, Po-
liceman Godbold obtained an accurate de.
scription of Densen, in order that there
might be no trouble in picking him up
Walking into the Screven House lobby,
Policeman Mansfield preceded his fellow
officer Godbold had no trouble in spot
ing his man. however. as he got him a.
first glance
There he stands by the stove" said the
officer
Densen looked melancholy and stood
gazing at the floor in an idiotic manner.
why, how are you, Mr. Densen? Seems
TO me l have seen you in Jacksonville"
said Policeman Godbold, walking up and
shaking hands with him.
Yes, I have been in Jacksonville Now
l remember l saw you down there. Where
have you been SO long?" replied Densen,
who probably never knew there was such
a man in the world as Godbold.
In the course of the conversation clev-
erly carried on by Godbold, Densen said
he was from Springfield, Mass, and
acknowledged he had been on protracted
merry-making the past two weeks. While
in an intoxicated condition, he frightened
up considerably, but had no idea
he was in the presence of an officer,
as both policemen were in citizens clothes.
1t was further learned from Densen that
he had threatened the lives of the people
at his boarding house short time before.
The report of a pistol shot was heard
near the Cathedral shortly after the fire
started there, and as the talk of Deusen's
contemplated suicide had become rather
general by this time. the first impression
was he had accomplished his intentions
An investigation of this also proved a
fake, as Densen was still among the land
of the living