Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-12
He SHOOTS UP A TOWN
Crazy Man Runs Amuck in
EdgeWater, N. J.
HE STARTS TO REFORM IT
Holds Up Saloon and Empties Bar
Till of Money.
FIRES ON PURSUERs AND CAR
Clips Ear of Gray Mare-Sends
Crowds to Cover-Is Wounded
and Captured Finally.
|E STARTS TO REFORM IT
FIRES ON PURSUERs AND CAR

NEW YORK. December 13.-Ed walshs
customers We're easing their MONDAY
drink into their systems IN the bar OF
Mr. Walsh's hotel over in Edgewater
j., across the North river from Grants
tomb. yesterday. when the swinging doors
admitted Il big. queer-looking fellow. who
elbowed room for himself at the brass rail
and called loudly for drink OF whisky
Mr.. Walsh dove under the counter for
quart of his best Bergen county private
stock. When he came up he was sight
ing along the wrong end of the strangers
pistol.
Look al me-" shouted the big man II
am John the Baptist. Do you believe it,
You bet!' said Mr. Walsh, hurriedi,.
edsins toward the bungstarter.
Mission Of Reform.
stand still, them" ordered the big fell
low. And you. too
He threatened Mr. Walsh's nervous Gus
toners with the gun.
I'm going TO reform this town You
are wicked. You are sinners. You are
damned
His voice. unsteady from excitement,
rose to a shrek. Walsh didn't dare Il
move while the lunatic walked around
back OF the bar and yanked open the
drawer OF the cash register He swept
up the loose silver and the few bills in the
TILL threw handful OF nickels, dimes
and quarters at the men In the room anu
then ordered them all to get out
You let my money alone"' said Walsh
ansrily. You're a thief
Co! shouted the big man. Run OF
III Nil you I'm John the Baptist
Walsh went, and SO did his customers.
eager enough to get out OF the glare OF
the strangers eyes and the range of his
pistol.
Rest Of Hotel E,nptied.
A minute later the restaurant OF the
hotel was discharging patrons as fast as
the door would let them through. Folks
at luncheon took one look at the six
footer. who was waving a pistol careless
ly. and left the room to him.
He marched through to the back of the
house and invaded Mrs. Fiynn's domain.
the kitchen. Mrs. Flynn left by the win
dow. Save for old friend of Ed
Walsh's. who was sick in one of the up
stairs rooms the hotel was as empty as A
politicians promise.
Presently the crowd which had gathered
around the indignant MIR. Walsh on the
other side of the street was reinforced by
Giuseppe Ravesc. the butcher, clad i'm his
apron and waving cleaver. Signor Ra-
vese had been chased out of his own shop.
anu It leu arrangement.
They saw the man leave Ravese's and
go into Isaac Blaustein's tailor shop, next
door. Mr.. Blaustein joined the crowd in
less than two minutes. He made time
because he sprinted out of the back door.
Crowd Runs to Cover.
Then they saw the disturber of Edge
waters serenity heading for them full tilt
and as they turned and ran for cover two
or three bullets went over their heads.
One smashed a window in the tonsoriai
parlors of the town. narrowly missing
customer who was playing checkers with
the barber.
The big man emptied his gun at the
scenery. which happened at that moment
to be devoid of natives. and jumped into
a delivery wagon which d driver for the
Palisade Supply Company had left at the
curb Before he whipped up the horse he
broke his revolver. refilled 1t with car
tridgeS, fired three or four times. let out
a yell and then started up the road in the
direction of the Horseshoe cave.
a trolley ear was approaching the cross
ing when the luuatic arrived there and
he banged away at the motorman, Grant
Owens. The bullet went far over the
car and he shot several times more. scar
ing the wits out Of dozen Jerseyites.
He didn't stop to worry them longer,
but Whacked his horse and kept on out
the road.
The police force of Edgewater was
asleep after a hard nights duty along the
Palisades so PoStma ster John McGarry
with his pistol and young Livingston
Mallory. who owned a shotgun. started
after the big fellow with dozen of Edge
waters leading citizens trailing behind.
On the way they met indignant
garden truck farmer who wanted to know
why the police permitted such goings on.
\ bullet had clipped an ear of his old
gray mare and he was seriously annoyed.
Big Man Was Waiting.
Half a mile up the road in patch OF
woods McGarry and Mallory saw the big
man. He was standing by tree waiting
for them apparently. The postmaster
showed his pistol and called on him TO
surrender. but he yelled and blazed away
at the crowd.
McGarry fired and Mallory loosed Tire
shotgun. The big man ran and as he
started to cross little wooden bridge
over ravine they shot at him again. He
tumbled off the bridge, recovered himself
and started to pry loose cartridge
which had got damned in his pistol.
Before he could get the gun in working
order Mallory and McGarry grabbed him.
He was bleeding from slight wounds in
the face and head caused by the small
shot from Mallo-y's shotgun and he was
strong enough to give his cdptorS pretty
much of a tusSle.
DR. s T. Hubbard of Edgewater and
DR.. Max Wyler of Fort Lee examined the
prisoner and tried TO get IA coherent story
from him They couldn't get much OF
value. Plainly the man was crazy on the
subject Of religion.
He insisted that he was John the Bar-
fist ard that he had been sent by God
to reform New Jersey. Occasionally lie
seemed 20 he claar-minded and insisted
that 1t, had been a nurse at DR.. Burns
sani:arium at STAN ord, Conn. He told
one of the doctors that he had served in
the army in the Philippines and in one
Of his pockets was found discharge
naner from the .gtn Infantry.