The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-07-31

Dr. Britton d. Evans, Medical
Director of the Morris Plains State
Hospital, had a narrow escape from
death while examining a patient in
Westfeld last Sunday. Dr.. Evans
had been called in as an expert by
the New Jersey Central Railroad to
decide upon the sanity of John L..
Johnson, of Westfeld, this State,
who had been injured in a wreck on
that road several months ago.
DR.. Evans made the examination in
the presence of DR.. Edgar B. Grier,
of Elizabeth, DR.. Sherman Cooper, Of
Westfield, and DR.. Sinclair, of the
same place. When the physicians
visited the home of Johnson they
found him on the front stOop Of his
residence. He seemed rational in his
greeting but under questioning became
very cratic. He claimed to be a
great wrestler and demanded that the
physicians produce Admiral Dewey
as a asubject upon which he could and
would display his powers. After
some considerable conversation Mr..
Johnson was invited to go into his
own home where more complete
examination could be made. He
acceded to the request OF the physi-
clans, walked quietly into the room,
followed by DR.. Evans and the other
medical gentlemen When he entered
he calmly walked to corner of the
room and grabbed a revolver from a
shelf and turning quickly pointed it
at Doctor Evans and demanded that
he fall upon his kness. The Doctor,
who had been in trying positions
before did not lose his nerve, and
looking the patient in the eye re-
marked that it would be undignified
to ask a physician to do thing like
that and then wanted to argue the
question with the lunatic. A short
verbal argument followed, the doctor
meanwhile edging closer to Johnson
until he was within the length of an
arm. He then quickly grabbed the
man by the wrist of the pistol hand
and threw his arm about him in such
way that the other hand was help
less. Then followed long struggle
which, with the assistance of the
other physicians, ended in overpoWer-
ing the patient and relieving him OF
the weapon.
During the struggle Dr. Evans
received several severe scratches on
the left hand. The wounds are of
that class which may be very Slight
or may be very dangerous, depending
upon whether they have become in
fected or not The doctor dressed the
scratches antiseptically and then
proceeded with the examination of
the patient He also examined the
revolver which he found was of small
calibre, but was loaded and capable
Of doing considerable damage at short
range Naturally there was great
excitement for time and the other
physicians warmly congratulated Dr..
Evans not only upon his display OF
nerve but also upon the delicacy with
which he handled the situation while
looking into the mouth of a small
pistol The Doctor himself admits
that the barrel Of the pistol looked
much larger to him while the scene
was being enacted than the actual
measurement Of the hole would seem
to Justify. The measurement was
taken in moments of calmness after
the exciting experience.
Johnson is a powerful man physi-
cally, but has suffered considerably
since the accident which has caused
him to become both mental and
physical wreck. His case will prob
ably be tried in November when Dr..
Evans viii probably be called upon to
give expert testimony