Omaha daily bee., 1899-08-31
OFFICERS LASSO A MADMAN
Catch a Lunatio Who Runs Amuok with a
Sharp Razor,
SOME DIFFICULTY IN MAKING CAPTURE
Dernneed Individual Drives n Family
from Their Home md Threat
ems Two Policemen, Rat is
Finally Captured.

An insane man armed with a razor which
he threatened to use on the first man who
came near him, kept officers Weir and
Stochdale at bay for nearly two hours yes-
terday morning near the bridge over Mos
quito creek on the road to the Iowa School
FOR the Deaf. The man, who gave the rem
Of Tom Ward, was finally captured by Officer
Stookdale throwing a lariat over his shout
ders. He proved to be q stranger here
and was placed for safe keeping last even
Ing in st. Demands hospital.
Word was received at the police station
atpout 10 o'clock yesterday morning that a
crazy man had taken possession of a small
house near the Rock Island tracks and
Mosquito creek after driving the occupants
out with a razor. Deputy City Marshal
stockdale was detailed to 20 out and bring
the fellow in. On his way to the place he
met Officer Weir, who accompanied him.
Reaching the house where they were told
the mailman was the officers divided, one
entering by the back and the other by the
front door. The house, however, proved to
be empty and a search Of the immediate
vicinity was made. Believing that the fell
low was possibly hiding in the creek, on
Ger Stockdale crept along the bank, which
is covered with willows, until he came to a
point where he discovered a newly beaten
path. He had made but a few PAGES down
the path when he suddenly came upon the
mailman crouching by the bed Of the creek.
AS soon as he saw the officer the fellow
fiourished his open razor, made a rush at
him exclaiming: you are after me. I
will kill you"
Stockdale tried to draw his revolver. but
failed to do 80 before the man was within
a few feet OF him, and not wishing to be
a1aEhad Stppkdala dacI6ad 70 rotraot uhtch
he did as hastily as possible. climbing
through a barb-wire fence in his flight.
Seeing the officer had taken to flight the
CRAZY fellow went back to the creek.
The officers and some Of the residents in
the neighborhood then held a consultation
of war and decided that the only way to
capture the mailman without doing him
personal injury was to lariat him. Accord
inSly a long rope was secured and a loop
made with a running knot. Going back to
where the fellow was the officers found him
, dipping the gravel from the bed of the
creek and washing 1t in a small tin pan
as II he was working a placer mining
claim. Every once in awhile he would
stop and, taking up a handful of gravel,
exclaim: 81 got a color that time The
mans actions evidently showed that he la
, bored under the Authorization that he was
eNe' ~ ooAN AN AZ llSCl Cdlut W
the conclusion that he was some miner who
had become mentally deranged.
Officer Weir decided to engage the fellow
in conversation while Stockdale emf
to throw the lariat over him.
What are you doing there, shaving your
self?" said Weir.
The fellow replied: Don't you believe It.
We pay two bits for shaving In these dig
gings."
Let us look at your razor said Weir,
and to his surprise the fellow climbed up
the bank OF the creek and handed him the
razor. AS he did so Stockdale, who had
crept up behind, threw the rope over his
shoulders, pulled it tight, pinioning his arms
and In a second the two officers were on
the top OF the mailman. They threw him to
the ground and handcuffed him. AS soon
as he saw he was trapped the fellow fought
like a demon and 1t was some time, even
with the assistance Of several men, before
the officers could tie the mans legs so as to
keep him from kicking. He was placed in
the buggy and taken to the county jail and
placed In a straight jacket. DR.. Barstow OF
the Board OF Insanity Commissioners ex-
amined the man and found that he was
suffering from fever and ordered him re-
moved to st. Demands hospital.
The man, who appears to be about 35 or
40 years OF age, was dressed In a neat suit
of black with a large. black soft hat. II
is thought possible that he may be some
returned Klondtker, this impression being
given from his actions at the creek. There
was nothing about his person to identify
him, but in answer to n question from the
officers he said his name was Tom Ward.
He would not or could not give any informa-
tion as to where he came from.
IT Is possible the fellow is the same person
who two nights ago jumped from a RocR
Island train between the transfer and the
local depot. The razor that the fellow had
with him bears the name of a Portland,
Ore, firm, which increases the belief thai
he is possibly some returned Klondiker,
whose failure to secure a fortune has caused
him to become insane. The insanity CON-
missioners will investigate the case today.
PriZes 90 with Domestic soap.