Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1904-04-06
TREED BY A MANIAC.
Linenan Had . Telephone with Him
and That Saved His Life,

tu1es IA Inlh WORTH, guess, oal0 IN
old nneman, but think had an *
perisncs that beats many q one. While
engaged with the Bell Telephone Com
pany I was sent out one day to md
the trouble between the once and the
insane hospital at Indianapolis. shoot.
ing trouble 10 what We call It fol.
lowed the line all the way ont, and
found the difficulty lay between
40.foot pole and the phone In the
mems building.
place to place, but while I was in
the hall examining the telephone he
was called away. I was busy with
my work when hand was laid on
my shoulder and voice at my elbow
said:
"'say, is that the safe where you
put my money!
"Astonished, I looked up and into
the face Of an elderly man. who look.
ed every inch the gentleman, being
neatly and carefully dressed. For a
moment was too much surprised to
answer, for his appearance at first be-
lied the inference 1 drew from his
question, but closer observation re-
vealed an unnatural expression in his
eyes; SO, remembering where I was,
knew he was a maniac. Thinking
to humor him, I said:
Eyes, put it there; 1t 10 a good
place for it.
"Quick as a flash he caught up a
heavy stool that was standing near
and brought 1t down with all his
might on the telephone, crushing 1t.
"'Give it to me, Quick-Quickr he
gasped, but I didn't stop to give him
anything, but just started on run for
the door and there met the attendant,
who soon quieted the poor fellow and
led him away.
II had to make another trip to the
city for another telephone, and as it
was late by this time I didn't 60 back
until the next day. When got there
l found several TRUSTEES guarded by
their keepers working in the garden.
I saw my friend of the day before
busy with a large knife topping tur-
nips. He glanced up at me, and l
saw a quick, angry CLEAN shoot into
his eyes.
II had to climb tree in an isolated
part of the yard to unfasten a wire
that had in some way caught on a
limb. I connected my test set and
called up the wire chief and explained
the case to him, so with the work
had done and talking to him twenty
minutes must. have passed. I started
to get down, and when 1 reached the
lower limb looked for a place to drop,
But I didn't drop, for there, standing
at the foot of the tree, stood my crazy
man, the knife still in bis hand.
"'Come DOWN. he yelled. 4 know
you. You are the man that stole my
FIVE thousand. Give 1t up to me or
will kill you, you thief! Come down or
I will come up there and cut your
heart outv
But I didn't come. I scrambled
higher and yelled for help. though
none came.
1.-THE maniac found a heavy board
near, and, placing it against the tree,
started to climb up but in his hurry
and excitement he did not place 1t
securely, and when he was about half
way up 1t slipped and he went sprawl
Ing to the ground. He got on his feet
and tried 1t once more. Again and
again the tried 1t, but 1t would slip
and throw him. Several times, how
ever, he came within an inch Of reach
Ing the lower limb, from which he
could have easily climbed up to where
I was.
"About this time another inmate
came sauntering along and at once
took hand in the game and held the
plank for my friend, who soon made
good Roadway, and I saw in a few
he would reach me.
Il yelled again, but no one came.
At that instant an idea flashed into
my brain. l quickly attached the test
set and called the wire chief at the
office.
For heavens sake, call up the
insane hospital and tell them to send
help to me, or l am a dead man.
There are two lunatics after me, and
one of them 10 coming up the tree
with a knife foot long. Hurry,
hurry, for Gods sakev
with a surprised exclamation he,
cut me out l looked down and
found the man was in the tree and
was coming toward me. snarling like
q wildcat ..
"Closer he came, until he was Just
below me when he seated himself on
a large limb and Hourishing the knife,
yelled:
"'Look at this. Amt It a beaut7
Won't 1t cut you, thought 1t is
sharp. sharp. will cut you up like
a steak
HE started toward me, and had one
hand on my foot and l had Just
raised the other to kick him, when
several keepers rushed up. Two Of
them climbed the tree. and Just as he
raised the knife to strike they reached
him and threw a rope around him. 10
Intent was he on going for me that he
did not see them, and was easily
taken.
ut IL safe to say that whenever
there was work to be done out there
didn't ro n-CinciAnati Enuuirop 4