Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-11-01
CHASED
Into Akron by
Farmers.

An old man, lilened in appearance
to the French painter, Melssonier, was
chased into Akron early Friday morn
ing by five Portage township farmers.
who accused the classical appearing
one of stealing chickens. The man
| was arrested and II hennery forthwith
established in one Of the lockers
under the pavement in front of the
city building. All day Friday Growing
and cackllng mingled with the usual
hum about headquarters.
The license to compare the ply
slognOmy OF Il French painter with
that OF an alleged chicken thief is at.
tributed to an article published in Il
Youngstown newspaper few months
ago. The description in the article fits
the man arrested precisely, and he was
Immediately slated as Major A. B.
! Harshman, who was once arraigned
! In Youngstown on charge Of horse
! stealing. He Is also accredited with
being n famous chicken thief. Harsh
man Is apparently 60 years old. and
seems to be fairly well educated. He
has n large head high forehead, and
wears full beard, His story is Il
peculiar one. He claims to be an
epileptlc and says his stealing Is done
while he is temporarily insane. Judge
Pickering, OF Warren, is said to hay,
once ordered him taken to the asylum
for eplleptics at Gallipolls. The aged
prisoner wears an Odd Fellows badge
and n g. A. II. button. He says he
was wounded in the head during the
suit has since had to wear piece Of
silver plating In his skull. Another
statement was that he Is able TO con-
trol himself II months In the year,
but that during one month he Is i'm
PEELED by an insane desire to steal.
While In this alleged condition he
drives over the country in Il wagon
| equipped with cooking utensils, and
eats and sells the chickens he steals.
II Is said his home Is nt Lenvttsburg.
Hnrshman was arrested Friday morn
ing at 2:30 by Officers Duffy and Gal.
|
Hill in n covered wagon, in which was
II coop OF chickens, He was locked
up In the city prison, and the chickens
taken to headquarters. Closely follow
ing Harshman We're @. w. Bower, j.
w. Frank, VIM. Sprankle, David Shel.
don and sherman Harris farmers who
live near Falrlawn. Mr.. Bower said he
had head some chickens squawklng,
and upon investigation found Harsh
nam, with number of chickens In
his wagon, In the road, near the
Bowers home. The alleged thief
didn't answer satisfactorily, and even
offered TO shoot Mr.. Bower II he at
tempted to Interfere or follow him.
The farmer aroused his neighbors, and
they chased Harshman into Akron,
whore they Identified the chickens
stolen, To Mr.. Bower, Harshmnn
said, my name liz Tom Carter and
/ live at Ghent"
When arraigned In Mayors court
Harshman gave the name John
smith," and declined to answer the
i"'''''''' - hiiuN syphl i'ui
He pleaded not guilty, II don't want
TO he imperlnent," he said, "but you
must appeal to my counsel for ex-
planation of the course | will pursue
He was represented by E. IL. Otis,
Esq, who was in Court In another
matter, and who was drafted into ser.
vice only few minutes before the
arralgnment,
Later llarshman changed his plea
to guilty, and was fined $40 and costs
and sentenced 30 days To the work
house. Before being sent away his
case win be investigated by physic-
ians. 10 determine whether the peculiar
stories about his being insane are
Justified by facts.
RANNER