New-York tribune., 1899-11-21

DOHTS DANGEROUSPRLSONER
orrEENs CoUNTY'S JAIL WARDEN HAS A
WONDER IN HIS CARE.
LIGHTWEIGHT INSANE MAN WITH PIE
SoMENAL STRENGTH MAKES THE LIFE

SONENAL STRENGTH MAKES THE LIFE
OF THE OFFICIALS A BURDEN.
r-nen keepers from the Kings Park Asylum take
- Heselschwerd out OF the Queens County Jail
80. morning Sheriff Baker, Warden Don't, Under
sh,-iff Methven and the whole official force OF the
nnsens County Jail and Courthouse will breathe
- than they do now or have for the last two
KS Although weighing only lS5 pounds. he
,..rs endowed with superhuman strength. He is
~ssne according 10 the physicians who examined
~, His commitment has been signed. and the
sor,.v authorities are anxious 10 get rid OF him.
u.selschwerd is twenty-eight years old. On the
,,o-r,ng Of November he entered the saloon OF
r Frankels at No. 2s9 Flushing-ave.. in the As
-. district OF Queens Borough. and wrought de-
s.-n,,ion in the place He smashed seven plate
,ass windows broke the mirrors behind the bar.
-~.shed the beer glasses. and in doing this broke
- bo,tles OF whiskey. Then he took thirty-fve
,,r6-e5 cigars and went away.
IT, cigars he left at bakery not far away and
- bs,ns arrested said he was a Deputy Sheriff
"a displsyed a badge issued by former Sheriff
pIa sss he had learned that an attempt was to be
- N rob Frankels's saloon, and. he q
st.,5 he entered 10 prevent the robbery. and took
.,,sv the cigars that they might not be stolen
re was committed by Magistrate Smith for
or,,nation as 10 his sanity and Drs. Plstt and
strong declared him insane.
s,,ca he was placed in the jail he has given the
,ss,ers all sorts OF trouble His first feat was a
s,-1-,se The jail has an inside court. around
,bioh the cells are placed in five tiers. To prevent
,-isoners leaping from the galleries. there is an
ton grating reaching 70 the top Of the building.
I'm this the prisoner climbed like a monkey. and
ns-ched himself at the top He was induced to
come down after some trouble.
His next escapade was TO turn on the water in
the third tier OF cells, in one OF which he was.
The water flooded the jail and ran down upon the
urlsoners in the first and second tiers BY thls
time the water turned off there was hardly
dry spot below the third tier and the prisoners had
10 dry their bedding and clothing before they
could them.
After that he was unable TO get at the water
when alone. but. being deprived OF water. he tried
FIRE A few days ago he started a fire in his cell
and 3, was blazing merrily when It was discovered.
Fortunately the jail is built entirely OF steel ana
stone and there was no real danger to any one
except the insane man. who narrowly escaped
suffocaton.
Then followed an exhibition Of strength. There IS
81 nterlocking system OF closing the cells operat-
Cd by a steel lever the ground floor, ana any
cell be operated separately by It's own ieVer as
well He got hold Of one OF these and wrenched II
of Yesterday ne repeated this performance. break
q stout steel bar with his hands Yesterday morn
ing the guard between the administration oullding
and tho iail corridors heard some one Work-
ing ct a heavy chilled steel door ana founo
Heselschwerd there. The man had been locked
IN q cell. and how he got out was mystery loI
s time Investigation showed that he had wrenched
the steel door from its fastenings. The door was
hung on rollers and the bottom fitted down INTO
a slot in which track on which the WheeIs
on the bottom Of the door run. This track Is
bolted into the stone floor with bolts three inches
lorg When the door is closed these are supposed
10 be out of reach from either inside or OUT
side In some manner impossible TO learn the insane
man pushed out this door after puilns Up me
track. To do this he ripped up the ooIts ana NUS
have done II before pushing out the door, LtCII
The track was out the door swung back and fortn
On its top wheels. After leaving his cell ne had
started 10 do the same trick with the door !eaolhs
into the guard room go, -, sr o, all
since few days ago he dumped Ducket OF 81 cIio I
wafer down the wardens back. The TRUSTEES IN the
mN dislike him because day or so ago ne causht
NJ of them with a broom. took II away ana oroke
re handle of close 10 the broom portion ana mus
armed himself with a club. He told the rustle
he would break him IN the same manner Il Ho
iid not do he said ,, -. 49,
He boasts Of his strength. and claims TO have
whipped sharkey, Corbett and a number, OF one. otner
,ri1eS eSghters an at once. He threatened yester.
isv to down Under Sheriff Methven If he attempted
"a take him away. Although Captain MethVen is
sDdoved with great strength he admits he has no
jee,rs 10 test Il against the insane man.