Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-12-08
Former Well-Known Iowa Pol
itician, M m aer of Soldiers
Home, to independence
PROMINENT CEDAR FALLS MAN
In a Fit of Violence Colonel Sessions
Attacks Adam Lieberknecht, Help
less Hospital Patient, Clubbing Him
With Cane and stabbins Him in
the Thish-sessions Mental Wreck

Col. F'itzroy Sessions, at one time a
prominent republican politician Of
Iowa, the holder of many government
positions, man with a fine war record,
and for many years a respected citizen
OF Cedar Falls, went violently insane
Friday night, was arrested this morn
ing on an information charging insan-
ity, was given hearing by the COM
missioners, and ordered committed to
the state hospital at Independence
Colonel Sessions was taken to Inde-
pendence this afternoon. leaving at
H.: 80 in charge of Sheriff Hutson and
County Attorney Northup.
of insanity, made sudden and unpro-
voked attack upon Adam Lieberk-
necht, a Company K, Second Iowa in
fantry veteran, formerly of Rippey,
Greene county. Lieberknecht is help
less invalid in the hospital, and was
sitting in his chair when Colonel Ses-
sions without a word, struck him over
the head with heavy cane that he
carries, then stabbed him in the thigh
with his pocket knife, cut
ting deep cash one and one-half inch
es long. Fortunately attendants and
further assault Lieberknechts injur-
les are not serious. The information
was filed by DR.. H. P. Duffield, chief
surgeon of the home.
Once Prominent Man.
Colonel Fitzroy Sessions was at one
time one of the most prominent men in
Iowa. He had a personal acquaintance
with every man of political prominence
in Iowa. was warm personal friend Of
the late Speaker Henderson. Col. Ses-
sions held many government positions
in his day, was a United States mar
shall during the latter years Of the civil
war, a deputy United States marshal
after the war, and at one time was
sanitary commissioner of the national
capital, Washington, D. c. He also held
county offices in Black Hawk county
for several years.
A Fine War Record.
While Colonel Sessions service dur
ing the cival war was comparatively
short, owing to disabilities received, his
record was one of which any man
might be proud. He enlisted as pri-
vate in Company K. Third Iowa infan-
try, at Keokuk, on June II, 1861. 1t
wasn't long until his valiant service
led to promotions. He was advanced
from one position to another and dis
charged first lieutenant on October
16, 1862, at Billover, Tenn. Aside from
being first lieutenant of his company
Mr.. Sessions was adjutant Of his bat
talon, adjutant general of his brigade,
and judge advocate of the division.
Colonel Sessions is now a man rs
years Of age. Physically he looks
we'll man for his years Mentally he Is
a wreck For several years before
coming to the home he had been a VIC
tim of the dreared locomotor ataxia,
and while able to get around better
than most people suffering from this
disease the trouble was very noticeable.
He was admitted to the Home August
%, 1905, from Cedar Falls.
Colonel Sessions has two brothers
who are his only living relatives His
wife died several years ago. The broth
ers are A. B. and Frank H. Sessions,
both of Minnea polls. He was broth
er-in-law Of the late Frank Nicely, Of
Waterloo, prominent business man Of
that city, and man of statewide ac-
Quaintance.