The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-19

Constable Stephen A. Gilby made
ihrcc attempts to end his life last
night, while a prisoner i'm the city jail,
and was as many times prevented by
the watchfulness of William killeen,
the custodian of the city Jail. He was
so nearly successful at the last trial
that he hai lapsed into unconscious,
and the services Of a physician were
necessary. Then he was removed to
the hospital.
About o'clock yesterday afternoon
Gilby was arrested by Policeman
Frederick Huddy, Oh Belmont street,
while in an advanced state of intONi-
cation. Twice before during the after
noon be had bCeen warned To go home
or Off the streets. as he was very
drunk and was making a big nuisance
or himself. After each warning he
would start toward home, but did not
go far on his journey ON Belmont
street he was followed by large
crowd of school children, who alter
nately chased him and We're pursued,
greatly To the youngsters merrimcnt.
The giant constable would feign to
draw on imaginary revolver out of his
hip pocket and pretend to point it at
the little ones but he was unarmed.
Then Huddy took him in charge and
after a good deal of trouble landed him
at the city prison. lie was then quite
submissive aud Just before he was
usherod into cell No. he gave Chief
McAndrow pair Of handouts that
seemed almost large enough for an OK
Shortly after I o'clock Mr. Kilecn
took look into the cell and was as
founded TO sec Gilby preparing to put
his head into a moose suspended from
the top Of the cell bars and formed of
pair of suspenders, just the same as
Peter Mccain had done so fatally on
Friday. He rushed into the cell, cut
the suspenders down and gave Gilby "a
good talking to. Then he went into his
apartments with the suspendcrs and
told some of the police about it. They
thought that Gilby was shamming, so
that he might win his release from the
cell.
Then kiIleen and Patrick Fox, mail
clerk in the postoilicc, tiptoed to the
Jail door and peercd III to see what
Gilby was then doing. They saw him
hard at work fixing something to tho
top of the cell. They waited breath
lesslY and the next minute saw Gilby
put his head into another moose. They
rushed in and Steve sank back on his
cot. lied TO the top bar was SteVe's
Dluc neCktle, with a neat moose made
IN 1t and shaped by the pressure Of
the weight of his head into a round
rope. IN the presence of a number of
spectators killeen climbed up tn the
Top ot the cell and united this second
moose, If Gilby had been left alone Il,
would probably have accomplished his
purpose.
Gilby cried in maudlin way when
he saw the crowd surrounding him and
begged to be let loose, solemnly prom-
Using he would not take another drink
III two years. To quiet him all left the
Jail, pretending to hunt up the mayor
so he could be set at liberty. lie wa,
lett alone SO as to see if he would NOT
forget his troubles and fan into a quiet
sleep, There nearly fatal error was
committed.
Five minutes had elapsed when
NlllCon went back again to the iail.
US he opened the door he saw the
Inns in the air This time there was
no question of his shumming. lie had
taken off his undcrshirt tied the
sleeves together over the rop cf the
grating AID put his head in the loop
lie was hanging limp, nearly nude.
with a white face and arms down by
bis side, ami was motioulcse. Killc n
rushed into the cell and tried to re-
lease I l,,I
much for him TO move. H. rushed up-
stairs into the common council room,
where that body was holding a session.
ana implorcd Councilman Fred
Thompson To- come quickly. Thorp-
son followed without question and
rushed down stairs. Mrs. Killeen had
also rushed after help and cncoun-
tered city Treasurer Connor. TO whom
she appealed. she WAS 50 excited h,
lid not understand her but followed
or a run into the Jail As soon as he
entered he saw the suspended man,
The iail door was Open left SO by
is .ilcen in his haste aui ConnOr open-
cd his ucnkrira and ran in. lie did not
Try to release Gilhy, hu, hacked ut the
rndorshirt and pulled on the body with
all mis- strength.
In a second the sleeves We're cut
loose ana the body fell with a crash
,on the cement floor There it lay,
limp and still. \ reporter was dis
patched on the run for a doctor ana
got Or, Kelley
- Th" rescuers did not wait for him,
however, but set hard at work to re-
NiNe the almost dead man. Water was
soused over him and Thompson, Con-
nor and Killccn vigorously chafed his
almost naked body. Just before the
doctor arrived a long-drawn sigh sig
nihed returning life and under the
physician's treatment Gilby returned
20 consciousness. He was weak as a
kitten, showing how near his escape