The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-02-01
Mann Became enragsd and Seized Mr..
Page by the Throat With Great Force.
HE COULD NOT DEFEND HIMSELF.
Sank 10 The Floor After The Assault and nIed Sew
sraI Hours Later The Assailanl In Gus
iody Of The PoIca.

Amesbury, Mass, Feb. 1-Charles u.
Page, superintendent OF the town poor
farm. was savagely attacked by Edward
Mann. one OF the inmates. Monday night,
and died just before noon yesterday.
Mann is in custody Of the police, who say
he has not as yet been arrested on the
charge OF murder.
The trouble is alleged TO have been
started Monday night while Superlnten-
dent Page anc a number OF the inmates
were enjoying an after-supper smoke In
a room OF the institution. While those
in the room were conversng, one of the
inmates, named Cropet. went out Of the
room toward the shed, leaving the door
open as he made his exit
Page closed the door. whereupon Mann
demanded that il be left open. and as he
made move toward the door Page told
him that the door must be kept closed.
and in order 10 enforce his wishes, he
placed his back against the door. 1t is
alleged that Mann became enraged and
sprang at the superintendent, grasping
his throat with both hands, securing
such "A firm grip that Page was almost
helpless and unable to act in his own de-
fense. Fred Hooper. a neighbor, who
happened to be in the room at the time.
succeeded in relinquishing Mann's hold
upon Page and separated them after con-
siderable difficulty.
Page then sank into chair in an ex-
hausted condition. He was assisted 10
his room by his wife and Hooper, and
was In a weakened condition during the
evening.
After the alleged assault Mann left
the building and went down town, n
distance OF about two miles. He re-
turned TO the institution at about III
o'clock Upon his arrival il is claimed
that he stood under Pages window and
asked him to come down. informing the
superintendent that he (Mann) was in
good condition TO finish him then and
there. No particular attention was paid
To Mann by the members Of the family.
and he was finally allowed to enter the
building. Mann partook Of breakfast at
the usual hour yesterday morning and
soon after disappeared, but returned for
dinner.
Pages condition alarmed his wife, and
Or. Murphy was summoned. but the
patient died shortly before Mann put in
his appearance for dinner. The attend
ing physician is OF the opinion that death
was caused by shock sustained from
injuries received in his encounter with
Mann Pages widow is OF the opinion
that Mann is responsible for her hus-
bands death.
After Mann had finished his dinner he
left the farm, and was taken into Gus
tody "a short distance from the institu-
tion. He is now in the station house in
Amesbury. but Chief OF Police Osgood
said that he is there for safe keeping. and
has not been arrested on the charge OF
murder
Superintendent Page was about 81
years OF age. and had been I'm charge Of
the town poor farm for nearly IL years,
and was a most trusted servant. He is
survived by widow.
Mann is about 40 years Of age, and was
taken to the farm about two years ago
upon the complaint of his neighbors in
the ferry district, SO called, 1t being
claimed that he was troublesome. 1t
was not supposed that he would cause
any bodily harm to anyone, especially TO
superintendent Page .ha-Aad- always
been respected by the inmates in his
charge.