Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1906-05-23
MANIAC's ATTACK WITH A BEER
BOTTLE.

and O. II. Pomeroy had . frightful
struggle on the road between Ajo and
ella Bend. A lucky blow with the
butt Of sil shooter over the maniac =
head brought him down and saved
the lives OF tho two men, who were.
however. painfully hurt In the strug.
gle, says the Tucson Citizen.
The maniac was Tom Leonard, o
hosting engineer at one Of the Ajo
mines, who became suddenly insane
about q week ago.
Mr.. Barron 10 manager Of the mine
Of the ella Monster Copper company
and Mr.. Pomeroy 10 the storekcepsr at
Ajo. They arrived in the city yester.
day. Leonard, the insane man, wss
taken TO Phoenix by Constable vii.
liams, Of ella Bend. Leonard 10 six
feet tall, and weighs 2l0 pounds.
Apparently without cause, Leon.
ard went insane suddenly at Ajo. He
barrieaded himself In q house and In.
vited the camp TO come and take him.
Alternately he prayed and ravcd.
lie was finally gotten out Of the
house, taken to the edge Of the camp.
and told to disappear. Ajo 10 located
In . mountain district, and on every
side for miles there 10 nothing but a
scorchcd desert, with no water or
food.
Leonard's madness returned on the
following night, which he spent
walking about the desert in . cir.
Gle just . short distance from the
camp.
He WAS seen by sumo miners and
brought back TO camp. While no one
was looking 10 took the jagged I'D
Of can and cut horrible cash In his
neck, which just missed the jugular
vein. Then hs attempted TO tear the
wound with his fingers. lie Was IN.
ally overpowe'sd and tied up.
II was . puzzle what TO do with
Leonard. According to Mr.. Barron,
the Rescue Copper company, BY whom
he was employed, TOOK his wages for
board, and then offered to give $3.50 to-
ward . pure TO take Leonard TO the su.
thorities at ella Bend. This ineensed
the miners, Mr.. Barron stated, who
declared that they would receive SINH.
lar treatment should they become III
or insane without funds.
A solution Of the trying situation
was reached when NJ. Barron and
Mr.. PomeFoy stated that they would
take the insane man 20 Ola Bend
and turn him over 10 the authorities.
The road 10 0ils Bend 10 . sixty
mile drive through Q country where
the only signs Of life are rsttlesnakss
and CHA monsters. No human beings
live on that desert country and there
10 but one water hole on the entire
drive.
The story Of the terrible encounter
with the mailman. which nearly result.
ed In the death Of the two men who
were endesvoring TO aid the insane man,
10 best told In the words Of Mr..
Barron,
"we left Ajo for Ola BEND In the
morning, with Tom Leonard In the
wagon" he said. "He seemed quiet
and rational, and We did not taks the
preesution Of binding his hands and
feet.
1--WE had gone along several miles,
keeping . watehful eye on Leonard.
He seemed 10 be growing quictcr, and
even laughed at . humorous story that
was told.
eve took our eyes from Leonard
for just . few seconds 10 look after
the horses. Leonard, who had evi.
IDENTIFY been waiting for just such an
opportunity, reached quickly under
the wagon seat and pulled out q bottle
Of beer.
"when We turned around n horrible
sight greeted our eyes. There stood
the mailman, wildeyed and staring
with the beer bottle appraised, ready to
rush uPon AZ. vowing that he would
kill NJ both. lie rushed forward and
the bottle descended on my head,
sending me whirling out Of the wagon.
"Pomeroy threw down the lines and
Qrappled with the maniac. but Leon.
ards strength wss such that Pcmeroy
was hurled over the side Of the wae
on. striking bic hips on the Wheel The
maniac then jumped out Of the wagon
and the hosss then ran . short dis
tsnss dows ~. road and stopped.
"Ths maniac then came for W on