The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-22
SAW DEVILS.
Man Adjudged Insane Calls
At Station One.

William NJ. Coburn, a young mar
whose religious fervor seems to have
unbalanced his reason, created consi
derable excitement in the Waldo street
police station, yesterday afternoon.
His particular mania yesterday af.
ternoon was that he wanted to see
| Chief of Police brennan, to warn him
of the coming of the devil to Worces.
ter. His first call in the neighborhood
was at the Waldo House, where, after
inquiring of the clerk if he was sincere
asked to be directed to the police sta
ton.
The first person encountered by the
unfortunate young man was Capt
Matthews, After asking if the CHIEF
was about and being assured that he
was not, Coburn said that no one but
the real CHIEF would do. and
launched out in a religious exhorta-
tlon. Sergt. Drohan stepped into the
room at that moment and was at once
approached by the insane man. who
said that he recognized the twinkle of
sincerity in the sergenat's eye, a
twinkle that is bound to shine in a
crown that he will wear on the other
side of Jordan.
He was finally directed to the chief S
office and-told he could wait there until
the chief returned. This would not do,
however, and he returned to the cap
taln's office. 1t was finally learned
that Coburn and his wife formerly lived
at the corner of Quincy and Austin
streets, and a messenger was sent to
the house, only to learn that the family
moved into a house on Belmont street
some time ago.
About o'clock Coburn was taken
with violent spaSm and fell to the
floor, unconscious. The officers sup
posed that he was sick and hurried him
TO the City Hospital, where he recov-
cred consciousness, but his actions and
conversation indicated that his reason
was affected, and the police were asked
to come again for the patient and re-
move him to the police station
Chief brennan arrived a short time
afterward and DIR. W. IT. Clark was
summoned to examine the man as to
his sanity.
Meantime Coburn had been placed in
cell, where he was seen by Drs.
Clark and Gilman and Chief brennan.
During the conversation Coburn was
given a cup of water, which he refused
to drink and finally threw the contents
over the chief and Capt. Matthews,
saying it would do no harm to sprinkle
the devil with water. The man was ad-
judged insane and immediate steps
taken for his commitment to the Wor-
cester insane hospital.
Coburn came to Worcester a little
over year ago, at which time he pur-
chased an interest in what was sup
posed to be a lucrative glue manufac-
turing business. Coburn formerly lived
in Gardner, where he was employed in
one of the chair factories of that town.
and at one time had considerable ready
money.
His health failed him, however. and
he was obliged to give up his work.
He finally saw an advertisement in a
Worcester paper, Offering an interest in
| a manufacturing business. This was
the chance he had been looking for
and the trade was made. His partner
borrowed various sums of money from
! him, in addition to the amount origi-
! nally paid for an interest in the glue
business. which was hardly what it was
represented to be. A short time after
the partner disappeared, and Coburn
applied to the police for assistance in
locating him, but without avail.
Coburn has suffered from epilepsy
for years, resulting from an attack of
scarlet fever, and this ailment is
thought to have had much to do with
his enfeebled health. He has taken a
deep interest in religious work for some
time past, and with the giving way OF
his reason, religion is the one subject
that occupies his thoughts and he talks
of nothing else. Coburn has a mother
and one brother living in Gardner.