Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-08-07
AT BAY
Prisoner Lynch Held officers, But
They Subdued Him.

A turmoil of excitement was created
at the City Hall last evening by an in
mate of the prison becoming unruly
and defying the officers.
While the Board of Health was hold
ing its regular session in the Mayors
Office last evening, the report was cir
culated that an insane, or temporarily
deranged man, had secured a formid-
able weapon and was standing guard at
the door of his cell, refusing any one
admission and threatening death to all
who approached in close proximity to
his cell door.
This report, on being investigated,
was discovered to be only too well
founded for the contcntment Of all the
city officials and members of the fire
department. who make the hall their
headquarters for a greater or lesser
portion of the time. At first it was
not considered safe to open the door
and so recourse was had to step lad
der by means Of which the transom of
the cell door could be reached and a
view OF the interior obtained.
The sight that met the curious investi-
gators eye was one that he will not
forget for some time. Standing in a
cell of the womans' department stood
man of fine physique, holding a
piece of tubing between 10 and II feet
long. This he was moving at right
angles to the closed door and watching
for an an opportunity to repel any one
who would have the bravery to enter
the door
Several officers and city officials were
summoned and efforts were made to
pursuade the man to lay down his for
midable weapon, but with no avail. He
refused to allow any one to enter the
door alleging that the people were
trying to kill him, that gas was es-
Gaping and that the food which had
been furnished him by the jailor had
been drugged. The officers and officials
at the hall endeavored to reason with
him and clearly demonstrate that no
harm was intended for him from any
person. The man talked incoherently
of all kinds of fancied dangers, and
savagely threatened the bystanders
with his improvised lance. Several
times he charged these standing by the
prison door, but the bolt was either
quickly drawn to or the threatened
person escaped by lodging.
1t was evidently impracticable as
well as dangerous to attempt to seize
the man, as he was possessed of great
bodily strength and had numerous
other advantages over his would-be
captors.
Finally it was decided to turn the
hose on the man and endeavor by this
means to capture him. This was oc-
cordingly done and he was overpower-
ed by Officers Putnam and Goerlitz and
Chief Davis.
He was then taken to a secure cell
and chained so that he could not again
become dangerous. The bath of cold
water which he received seemed to So
Der him, and when questioned by the
officers his answers were fairly rat
ional.
He gave his name as Ed. Lynch and
his residence at SO Freeland street,
Pittsburg. He also stated that he had
A mother, father and wife living in
Pittsburg at the address given above
He said that he had left home to es-
cape crowd of men who wished to
hound him to death Many other
statements, all equally incoherent
were made by him, but these referred
chiefly to his actions on yesterday af-
ternoon. By his own confession he
has been drinking presumably con-
stantly, for two weeks, hence his con-
dition. Money to the amount of $2.S3
and watch were found on his person.
He came to Officer Roney about p.
m. Monday and requested to be locked
up to escape all sorts of fancied dang
ers. These preyed upon his mind with
the result mentioned above. Inquiries
will be made at the address given by
Lynch and his relatives will be in
formed OF the occurrence.
Meanwhile the man is detained at
The city prison until some other dispo-
iltlon OF him can be made.