The times., 1898-10-24
BROKE His NECK IN bed
James Woods Peculiar Death
at st. EliZabeth's.
INQUIRY NAY FOLLOW
His Widow Believes Her Husband
Met His Death From the Rough
Treatment of Some Attendants
The Dead Man Had been AZ Soldier
I'm the War Against Spain.

James Wood, an honorably discharged
private of the Fourth United States Vol
unteer Immune Regiment, died under pc
culiar circumstances Wednesday after
noon at st. Elizabeth's Asylum for the
Insane.
Wood was given his papers while his
regiment was encamped at Jacksonville,
Fla, on October 5, when he was on fur
Tough in this city. AT the time of dis
due him and he proceeded TO go on pro-
tracted spree. He was away from his
home, at No. 81 Pennsylvania Avenue
northwest, from early in the evening of
October u until noon the next day. When
he returned his wife, who is an invalid.
asked where he had been, and he replied
that he did not know.
81 believe | have been doped," he said,
land do not know where ! spent the
night"
He complained of feeling badly and
went to bed as soon as he could get to
his room. AT midnight the sick man
sprang out of bed, and, exclaiming that
some one was about to murder him, rush
ed from the apartment and out of the
house. He was only partly dressed and
his wife followed him as quickly as she
could. She found her husband in the
Vendome Hotel, on the corner of Third
Street and Pennsylvania Avenue north
west. talking to several persons who had
gathered about him as soon as he put in
an appearance. Wood had informed them
that some one was trying to kill him
at his house, and claimed their protec-
tion.
Policeman Newkirk of the Sixth Pre-
cinct, was sent for by Mrs. Wood, and,
after talking to the man for a few min
utes, he persuaded Wood to go home, the
fugitive conscnting on the condition that
the officer promise TO stand guard at the
door to prevent anyone from coming into
the house and taking his life.
May Have Been Den.cnted.
It was now very evident to Mrs. Wood
that her husband was demented, but she
thought the mania only temporary and
was satisfied that, unless he became very
violent, she could control him. Wood did
not require much attention through the
night. however, and it was thought by the
faithful watcher at the bedside that his
madness had passed off, when, at a. m,
the maniac sprang but of bed and again
ran out of the house. This time he gath
cred his clothing under his arm as he ran
and told his wife that he was about to
be killed and had only ten minutes in
which to get to the Metropolitan Hotel
Mrs. Wood again followed her husband,
and with the assistance of an officer, sue
ceeded in finding him at the St. James
Hotel. He was perfectly rational and ac-
companied his wife home without word
When the couple arrived at the house
the man seemed to know what had hap
pened and told Mrs Wood that he had been
drinking very heavily and was suffering
the consequences. He needed medical at
tention, he said, and he thought that he
ought to go to some hospital where he
could receive proper treatment.
During the day Wood was very docile,
but still evinced symptoms of the mania
which had attacked him twice before. He
seemed TO think that some one was irving
to kill him, and was always on the alert
to defend himself. Friday morning. Wood
left the premises and was gone some
time. When he returned his wife asked
where he had been. He replied that by
the advice of a friend he had consulted
a priest and had been absolved of all his
sins He said he had been told by the
divine to go to Providence Hospital and,
after bidding Mrs. Wood goodbye, started
for that place.
n, -.