The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-04
MADMhN CAUSES PANIC
IN WAR DEPART ENT AND
SHOOTS TWO EMPLOYEES
Seriously Wounds a Messenger,
Wings a Clerk and Barely
Misses Killing Woman.
LIEUT.. GEN. A. r. CHAFFEE
And Other Officers Assist in Over
powering the Maniac and
Taking Revolver Away.

WASHINGTON. March S.-Armed with
revolver, William j. O'Brien, alias VII
liam Duffy, an insane discharged soldier.
to-day entered the War DEPARTMENT. and
going to the mail and record division, shot
Robert J. Manning, messenger, and
Arthur Wicker, a clerk Miss Emma
Saxton. another clerk. barely missed being
shot through the head. The injury TO
Manning is near the kidneys and is re-
garded as dangerous Wicker was shot
in the arm. Before the maniac could fire
a third time he was overrowered by James
j. Dawson, a messenger. 1t required the
strength of half a dozen men finally 10
subdue the man. Prominent among them
was Lieutenant General Chaffee, chief Of
staff The lunatic still held the smoking
weapon in his hand, when General Chaffee
noticed it and with his left hand on the
mans throat, took the weapon from him.
and also the papers in his pockets Majors
Kean and ireland, of the surgeon generals
staff, were hastily sent for and aided the
injured men before they were taken to the
hospital.
O'Brien or Duffy came to the War Depart
meDt early and hung around the building
for over hour. He then went upstairs
and was escorted to the mail ana record
division by Charles Cannon, a clerk. The
man was introduced to Charles Brandt. the
chief of the division, aud expressed dissat-
isfaction with his discharge papers. Then
without warning, he drew the pistol and
aimed a Mr.. Brandt'S head. Brandt ducked
and the bullet entered the arm of Mr.
Wicker. He then turned the weapon on
Miss Saxton and fired. She, too lodged and
the bullet struck Manning. There were
five other clerks in the room, and but for
the Quckness of Messenger Dawson, the
maniac would undoubtedly have shot them
all Dawson, however, grabbed him and
held him until assistance came.
CONSERVATION prevailed in the department
when the sound of the shots was heard.
Women rushed from the rooms screaming
and soon were Joined by a number of the
male clerks. From every quarter came
army officers and vast throng clogged the
corridors where OBrien was struggling
to break away from his captors The man
was taken to the police station. it requiring
four men to get him out of the building.
OBrien was admitted to st. Elizabeth's
asylum in 1893 He later was paroled, but
was returned in 1897. He served in the
Sixth Cavalry and Third ARTILLERY.
This was diplomatic day and half a dozen
diplomats were in the reception room,
scarcely hundred feet from the scene Of
the shooting. Curiosity led some TO look
around the corner but they speedily with
drew from range of the excited man waving
his pistol in the hall.
officials of the War Department were
incensed at the officials OF ST. Elzabeth's
Asylum for permitting O'Brien to go at
large. AS far back as 1897. IL is stated,
O'Brien was paroled and came to the de-
partment a number of times. He became
so abusive, however, and his manner was
so threatening that the War Department
officially notified the then superintendent Of
the asylum that the man was dangerous
character and should be confined.