Evening journal., 1908-12-03
ASYLUM CELL
FOR TALLEY
Man Who Assaulted Family
With BrOadaxe Committed
To-day By Court
FOUND GUILTY BY
REASON OF INSANITY

Pierson Talley. who on the night OF
September horribly hacked his wife
Emma their adopted daughter, Mrs.
Ewith NJ. Johanson. and her husband,
Andrew. with broad axe was COM
mitted to tho Delaware state Hospital
for the Insane at Farnhurst by General
Sessions Court this morning after a
jury. upon tho recommendation Of At
torney- General Richards. had found
that Talley was not guilty OF a charge
OF murderous assault upon Johanson
because OF insanity. This was the only
charge on which he was indicted. Tai
ley appeared 10 take no interest I'm the
proceeding. He sat In the prisoners
box with his gaze fixed on the floor
while the formality Of his commitment
was gone through and when he left the
room he observed no one. The mem
bers Of his family were not In court
Taney. who Is about 65 years old
was brought In from the workhouse
early this morning by Chief Warden
Crawford J. Frank Ball. his counsel
was at the Court House TO meet him
Mr.. Richards at once Informed tho
court that the state was prepared Ia
consider the case against Talley No
arraignmant Of the prisoner was made
however. both the state and Mr. Bal
expressing the opinion that Talley hac
committed the omense Then Mr
Richards outlined the story OF the as
sault 10 the Jury and concluded by say
| ing that four physicians had iouna lhl'
( lev 20 be insane and asked that a YER
| diet Of not guilty be returned agalhs
/ the prisoner IN order that he conlu p'
committed to the state Hospital MI
Ball made no objection and the Nerdlo
was returned. deputy sheriff tooi
/ Talley TO the asylum.
Nearly Ended in Triple Murder.
Talley's act. which shocked the cit!
and nearly resulted In triple murde
was committed while he was suteflhl
from melancholia supposed to hnv
been caused by complement. ~
family. always happy, lived at NO. ~
West Sixth street and when they re
tired on the night OF September ? lal
llev was evidently IN good spirits Duf
ing the night, however. he LETT the ropt
where his wife was sleeping and goin
10 the first floor obtaine do broad as
which no used as a wood worker. an
returning 10 Mrs. Talley's room sun
the Weapon into the sleeping woman
skull. Then he proceeded 10 the rooi
occupied by Mrs Johanson ana attack
ed her Although the blow fracture
Mrs. Johansen's skull and nearly seN
cred her nose she awoke ana cried "a
lher husband who rushed 70 her as
sistance. only 10 be knocked down b
the same axe that had 80 horribly IN
iured his wife and Mrs Talley. Johan
son erappled with Talley IN an endeaV
or TO prevent him from again assault
ing him and while they were struggin
neirhbors came 70 the assistance q
Johansen. They found the mouse
literal pool OF blood and after the ter
riblv injured women were removed |
the homeopathic Hospital for treat
ment Taliey was sent 20 the polic
3 station. lie said he knew he had use
the axe on his wife and daughter b,
could not explain why he had done -
: For one month Mrs Talley and Mr.
rohansen fingered between life an
death and finally survived their hoi
ribIe wounds but not without frighu'
evidence of the awful assaults. The
arc dishgured for life
While convalescing both Woine
pleaded that Talley not be punishe
and one one occasion Mrs. Talley sei
her love 10 her husband. Talley ais
e seemed 10 realize the enormity OF u
e lact later and expressed the hope th'
e ali the members Of his family woul
- survive. He has not seen them sine
the assault.