New-York tribune., 1902-03-17
POLICE BATTLE WITH MANIAC.
WITH FLAMING BRAND HE TRIES TO BURN UP HIS
HOME AND MANY HORSES.
TRIED To FIRE A STABLE.
THOUGHT ST. PATRICK TOLD HIM TO
DRIVE OUT HORSES AND SNAKES.

Three policemen had a desperate battle with
a maniac who tried TO set fire to his home and
stable last night II was only after they had
dubbed him almost into Inconsistencies that
they able 10 put him in a stTaitjacket
and take him to Bellevue Hospital in a patrol
wagon. Armed with long club and flaming
brand. the lunatic fought desperately. One Of
the policemen he nearly killed with blow.
The madman John Cawley. thirty-twO
years old. a Iaborer who lived with his wife.
Lizzie. and two children at No AL West Fifty
fourth-st. Seventeen horses were on the ground
floor, which is a stable. II was there that Cav
ley wanted to start fire first.
Mrs. Cawey noticed her husband acting
strangely last night but at first thought he
was intoxicated.
st. Patrick appeared TO me last night, Liz
zIe," he suddenly said. and he told me 20 set
fire to the stable and to the house. He wants
to drive out the snakes and the horses. and
I must obey his commands
'In start the fire first in the stable he added,
as he stuck long stick in the kitchen stove. 1t
quickly ignited. Flourshing the brand over his
head he yelled: And If you don't help me- Liz
zie. I'll kill you and the children. You start the
fire here"'
Terror stricken, the woman fed from the
room. dragging her children after her. Run
ming to the street. she called loudly for a po-
llCeIHGu. lHtIt were NONE III Slbll Slle EuSilcu
to the West Forty-seventh- station
Breathless and terribly excited. Mrs. Cawley
managed to celI the sergeant that her husband
crazy and threatening 10 burn their
home. The sergeant sent Policemen Stuel. Glib
son and Maun to the house in the patrol wagon.
They broke in the door and beheId Cawley al
most naked, marching around the stable and
waving the brand above his head.
When Cawley saw the policemen he brushed
past them. dashed upstairs to his rooms.
slammed the door and locked the officers out
1 1GeNr rV0a0 nd nal ma
grab for the maniac. AS he approached him he
received a violent blow across the shoulders
which sent him TO the floor. Cawley then
sprang at him and beat him over the head with
a long heavy club. Stuel covered Eis head
with his hands. saving his skull from being
broken.
Meantime Gibson and Maun were trying TO
get hold of Cawley. but he fought them of with
his club. Every time they came toward him he
swung his weapon over his head and struck AT
1 them with terrific force. Stuel managed TO
crawl along the floor until he was out OF reach
| Of Cawleys club. and then the other policemen
made dash for the maniac. He had Just
swung the club and brought II down on a table
| This toppled over and tripped him Before he
| had time to recover himself Gibson and Maun
\ were him.
! They had drawn their clubs and with these
/ they attacked Cawley. Though lying the
| floor the maniac managed to fight desperately.
| and IL half hour before the police
| men could put him into a straittacket. He
/ seemed to have superhuman strength
! Last September CawIey fell from a building
! where he was working. His skull was fractured.
| He in Roosevelt Hospital until a few
| months ago. when he discharged cured.
/ 1t is thought that his brain was affected by his
| injury.