The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1902-07-28
DEATH TO HIS RELIEF
One Of HopkinsviIle's Most Violent
Lunatics no More.
He Had Been an Inmate for go Years
-Passionately Fond of
Music.
THE HISTORY OF HIS CAREER

One of the most interesting, as well
as violent inmates of the Hopkinsville
asylum, J. E. Woods, better known
as Bug" Woods, is dead, after con-
finement lasting over go years. He
was known as the most desperate and
dangerous lunatic, with the exception
of PONY" Ashby, Of Hopkins coun-
ty, ever confined IN the asylum there.
He was holy terror, the attendants
dreaded him above all the men they
had to deal with and superintendents
regretted his presence in the institu-
ton.
For many years the safety of the
other patients as well as that Of the
attendants demanded that Woods be
kept in q straight jacket-that is, a
canvas body fitting close with the
sleeves sewed to the body from the
shoulder to the elbow, so that little Of
the arms could be used, and laced be-
hind from the neck to the waist so the
patient couldn't possibly undress him
self. In addition to this he was fire.
quently so desperate that even the
easy going and humane Drs. Rodman
and Stone foand ID necessary to place
MIN in solitary confinement in what
is called lodge-that is, small cir
cular room with the walls padded so
he couldn't hurt himself by butting
his head against the wall, method
of suicide frequently resorted to by in
sane persons.
One night about 16 years ago. while
in lodge room, Woods, in some mys-
FERROUS way, secured a piece Of iron
and with il picked out the brick and
plastering from the wall until he had
made hole large enough to permit
the passage of his body through it.
He then strapped his violin to his back
for crazy as he was, he was passion
ately fond of . violin and in the asy-
lum played on one day and night-he
then tore up into fine strips all the bed
clothing on his bed, and making a
rope of it, he lowered himself to the
ground, q distance Of about 1876.
Arriving in Bowling Green at night,
he went straight to the home OF his
brother in law, W. II. Hinkle, found
the family asleep, and rushing into
the house stabbed Hinkle to death,
leaving the knife sticking in the mans
body through one of his lungs.
The alarm was given and he was
soon captured and was at once return
ed to the asylum.
Woods reason for killing Hinkle
was that Hinkle had been instrument.
al in having him placed in the asy
lum. From the day he was placed in
the asylum he always swore he'd Kill
Hinkle if he ever got out, and a lun
atic's memory is good, excellent or
such things, as all asylum records
prove.
Woods love of music was the only
thing that ever had soothing effect
upon him. Sometimes he would be
wild all day and at night when asked
70 play his violin for dance that the
patients have once week he would
grow calm and play well, but when hi
returned to his ward would grow wild
in q short while.
The story of his insanity is most
thrilling one. IL was caused by
friRhtful experience he had Just about
the close of the war. He lett Bowl
ing Green one day with man nam
ed Manning, driving two handsome
bay stations. Manning was selling
suit patterns over the country and
Woods went along as driver.
At q barrel house near Louisville
some toughs got Manning intoxicated
aud robbed him Of 9 large amount OF
money. Woods got him out Of their
clutches and started towards Louis
willie, when the robbers gave chase on
horseback and shot Manning and put
several holes In Woods clothing. The
latter whipped up the horses at break.
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