The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-01
DESP 1E FIGHT
WITH CRAZY MAN
Insane Negro Holds Off
GERS at Bay.
HATCHET AND POKER.
Though Equipped With Both, the
Black Suddenly Siezed and Bound.
GUNS HAD NO 1fRRoRs FOR HIM
After n Hand-to-Hand Struggle
Pilgrim Fanatic Is Landed Be
hshd the Bars and adjud.cd
Insanc-Will Be Semitic
Petersburg as Soon
as Possible.
GUNS HAD NO TERRoRs FOR HIM.

A life and death struggle ensued early
yesterday morning between Deputy-Ser-
seant Noble and an assistant, on one
side, and William Brown, a crazy negro,
on the other But for the dexterity with
which the deputy seized Brown and PIN
;oned his arms with yice-like grip to his
body the negro would have been able to
hold his would-be captors at bay or force
them to shoot him down. With hatchet
in one hnnd and a heavy bar of iron in the
other, Brown invited the officers to take
him if they could. and half a hundred
fr;ghtened negro spectators made dash
for other parts, when Noble and his as
s!stant drew their revolverS and started
for the madmaE.
Brown is religious fanatic, and has
gone crazy over his church. He breaches
constantly about the power of Jesus and
Mary and the evil influences of Satan,
For many nights he has made the second
story window of his home. No. sos Cath
er.ne Street, his pulpit, md has preached
from .tdewy eve till early dawn" disturb
ing his neighbors and making himself u
nuisance in the community. Complaints
were made by a number of persons living
IN the neighborhood of Browns house,
many of the complainants declaring that
Brown. by his harangues, had prevented
them from getting any sleep for the past
week.
THE OFFICERS ATTEND.
About 2 O'Clock yesterday morning the
City Sergeant was informed that Brown
was breaking UP the peace and dignity
of that section of town and had a great
Z crowd of negroes around his dwelling.
Deputr-SRseant Noble and another off
Ger were dispatched to the scene with
warrant for the arrest of Brown, charging
him with being of nnsound mind.
When these officers got within three
blocks of Browns house they could hear
the nesro's exhortatiors. On nearing the
dwelling they saw the bent form of
negro man, who appeared to be about sew
enty years old, standing at a window of
the second story, Bible n hand, preaching
TO fifty or more coored persons in the
ctreet, while IN all directions co!ored
men, women and children filled the win
dows of houses in the vicinity. Noble
and his assistant lost no time reaching
the room from which Brown was doing
his eShorting
You'll have to go with me- said
Dsputy-serseant Noble, as he sized up the
decrepid-looking negro preacher.
IN DESPERATE BATTLE.
II will: Will I2'' enqutred Brown in a
sneering way, as he bounded across the
room and seized a large hatchet in one
hand an an iron bar in the other.
Take me if yo' kin. De Lawd IS on my
SIDE, the crazy preacher yelled defiantly
The nesro's eyes flashed fire and he
showed that ne was determined. The
crowd in the street below could both see
and hear what was going on The crowd
expected TO witness tragedy when the
Two officers drew their revolvers and
stepped toward the irate i,reDcher.
lone. come, old man. said the Deputy
Lieao!ns4S, We don't want TO hurt you.
fut down those things and come along
with u.s.
souse put down dem things youse
soI, retorted Brown, ..or de Holy spirit'll
come down heah an devour yo Dis am
SWine be q free fight
PRAYERS FILLED THE JAIL
Sergeant Noble realized that he must
act and act quickly, or he and his assist
ants would either be hurt or be forced to
shoot the negro. Suddenly Brown cast his
eyes outside the window, as If to say some
thing TO those below, and. quick as a
1iasl. Sergeant Noble sprang on his back
and pinioned The negro,s hands 20 his side.
The other officer rushed upon the preacher
also. and although Brown tried like q
Wild tiger to fight off the deputies. shout
ing and calling down the curses of high
heaven upon them and the law, he was
soon bound securely placed in a convey
ance and carried 10 the city Jail.
he was locked up in cell No. II, where
he prayed, preached and cursed the offi-
Gers of the law at intervals all during
yesterday and last night. Both of the Off
GERS and the negro preacher received
many scratches during the struggle,
commission of iunacy was held to in
quire into his case yesterday afternoon,
and he was found to be suffering from a
most dangerous form of insanity. He Will
bessent 10 the Petersburg asylum as soon
as possible.