The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-23
RAZOR IN HAND.
Insane Negro Creates Havoc in
Topeka.
SIashes Mr.. and Mrs. E. E. COOns
in Hand to Hand Fight.
LIKE A KILLING Pen.
Room Spattered With Blood
From One End to Another.
Mr. Coons' Automatic Revolver
Failed to Work.
FINDS A THIRD VICTIM.
David L. Brewer Cut in Attempt
ing to Capture Negro.
He Surrenders to Members Of
Street Force This Morning.

An insane negro. who gave his name
as Cyrus Haygood of Kansas City
committed three attempts to murder
in Topeka last night.
Under the hauucinaton that people
were following him to do him bodily
harm he broke into the roOming house
of Mr. and Mrs f. E. Coons at 719
Van Buren, street about IL o'clock for
protection. He cut both of them badly
about their faces ana arms upon their
attempt 10 capture him. Escaping ne
wandered about the streets and about
z.30 O'Clock asked for protection at
the home of David Brewer at 815
West Tenth street. The latter called
the police. and then tried to detain the
negro until the officers arrived. Hay
wood made his escape from this place
by slashing Brewer about the neck
and chin. though he himself received
bullet I'm his wrist
The negro started back towards the
heart of the city. The officers were
searching for him. and he saw Chief
Goodwin with his automobile loaded
with policemen pass him several times.
About o'clock he voluntarily sur
rendered himself to member of the
Topeka street department. He was
pareheaded and barefOoted, and
begged for protection He was taken
20 the police station. Tomorrow he
VIII be tried for his. sanity.
The Persons Assaulted.
+. T. CoOns. 719 Van Buren, street
slashed and stabbed about neck. face
and arms. Taken to Christ hospital.
Mrs. f. z. Coons, 718 Van Buren,
street slashed and cut about neck and
fzce
David Brewer, s15 West Tenth ave
nue., cut about throat and chin.
About 4:30 o'clock this morning.
David Brewer was sitting I'm his kitch-
en at Sl5 West Tenth avenue. reading
the account in a morning paper of the
attack OF Mr. and Mrs. Coons. Mr.
E9feWer Is newspaper carrier and
mad Just returned from making his
rounds.
Just as he had finished the account
some one knocked at his door. He
opened It, and negro stood there
Say. mister said the colored man.
IKE to come in and sit down a
while Somebody is after me"
ed him to a seat
Brewer made up his mind at once
aat THIS was the man who had made
the murderous assault on the Coons
LaLlllF. - he went into the other
room and telephcned the police to
come at once. Before going back to
the kitchen, he took small 8 . revol-
yer from drawer.
/, When he retuned to the kitchen
the negro got up as If to leave. Brew
ef tried to detain him. The cOlored
man pulled out razor and made
eiash az Brewers neck. The knife
passed over the chin making wound
about four inches long He cut sec
ond time. and reached Brewers throat
t7ut rortunatelv the latter pulled haolr
Nltle 7oe an ugly cash but did
Hot sever the 1ugular vein though it
Pased inst over 1t. Then Brewer
brought his revolver into pIav. He
snot the negro IN the left wrist and hit
MIN tn the forehead with the butt end
ne eouia not infict enough damage
aud growing weak from his wounds
escape.
The police arrived shortly. and DIR
%. E2n Horn police surgeon. looked
after Brewers wounds He dressed
them. and seid that Brewer wo11Id he
around again IN a few davs He is
oeing cared for 1T his home. where the
murderous assault occurred.
me negro was wounded ba+1ass and
Anoeless when he surrendered.
At the COOns Residence.
1ne scene of the attempted murder
last night is rather con-modio11s resi
oelce located at 719 Van Buren street
e,ll,,.'l - useo as rooming house by the
"pailtS- me room in which the cut
ing TOOK place is well to the rear Of
Nne building and resembled the killing
Iuom IN a packing house rather than a
llNlng room. The front entrance leads
through long hail then there Is q
L9ali sleung room and directly back of
ms is me room occupied last night bv
-af- ana Mrs. CoOns as a sleeping apaVt-
Ine-l' IL was In this living room that
ele ponce found the indications of the
desperate struggle between the injured
man and the burglar
MI Coons retired rather early last
nlsht and had been asleep for some tfma
Wnen his wife who was lying on the
side Of the bed reading. not having pre-
pared 10 retire, heard a noise in the
Kitchen as though some one was opening
ooor. She aroused her husband who
opened the door to the kitchen and saw
negro In the opposite corner Of the
room he closed the door and rushed
20 closet In the opposite side of the
room and secured an automatic revolver
which was lying in the tray of the trunk
The fact that this revolver was one OF
the new tangled affairs with a safety
catch on the side of he handle probably
accounts for the fact that there was a
second cutting affray last night by the
same negro Mr.. Coons returned to the
kitchen and opening the door command
ed the intruder to throw up his hands,
which he not only failed to do but began
advancing on Mr.. Coons. After warn
ing him to stop Mr.. Coons attempted to
shoot but in his excitement he had fall