The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1908-12-11
INSANE MAN ON THE
RAMPAGE STRAPPED
Fred Gaiser Sent to Medical
Lake for Treatment.
Licks John Lubrick Because Denied
Hand of Stepdauehter--M Mistakes
Attorney Tom NeiU for President
Roosevelt Carried Down Stairs.

Fred Gaiser, 81 years Of age, man
enjoying single bessedness, was brought
to the county seat Tuesday as wild as a
March hare, and it did not take the
| authorities long to decide what to do
with him. He was ordered sent to the
hospital for the insane at Medical Lake,
and was gotten there as quickly as pos
sible. Gaiser, with his mother and
brother own a section Of land situated
mostly on the Idaho side of the state
line in Latah county, near Moscow, but
the house in which Fred Gaiser and his
mother lives is built few rods inside the
Washington state line in Whitman cOun-
ty, hence he is IA legal resident of this
state. From what could be learned
Gaiser is desperately in love with
young woman of the neighbOrhOOd in
which he lives, and is also daft on re-
ligious matters. The first that anything
seemed wrong with him was last July,
but he soon regained his usual good be-
havior and things on the homestead
went on as usual.
Last Monday morning, however, he
jumped into his buggy and went to the
home OF John Lubrick and demanded
the hand of Lubrick's stepdaughter.
Lubrick ordered him off the place. dis
playing gun for the purpose OF fright
enlng the demented lover. Gaiser took
the gun away from Lubrick but made no
attempt to use it, taking it with him
when he left. He did not leave, however,
until he had given Lubrick, who is an
elderly man, severe drubbing. The
community by this time was thoroughly
alarmed. The sheriff OF Latah county
was notified by phone, who made all
haste, accompanied by a deputy, to
reach the scene of action and took
Gaiser in charge. The demented man
being a resident OF this county was
brought to COlfax Tuesday morning, the
Idaho sheriff and his deputy, accompan-
led by Jake Gaiser, brother of Frede,
coming with him. He made no objec-
tion to coming, giving the officers no
trouble
1t was in the court room in Colfax
Tuesday afternoon that another excit-
ing scene occurred. Gaiser was taken
into the court room to be examined by
the medical board appointed, Judge
Warren being on the bench. Suddenly
Gaiser turned to Thomas Neill, the we'll
known Pullman attorney, who was sit
ting near, and addressed him: "YOu
are President Roosevelt" at the same
time advancing towards the attorney.
Mr.. Neiil didn't wait to deny the soft i'm
parchment that he was President ROose-
welt, but took to his heels. Deputy
Sheriff Palmer Immediately grappled
with the insane man, but was powerless
to handle him alone. Several came to
the deputy's assistance, it taking four
or five men to hold and carry Gaiser
down stairs into the ante room leading
to the Jail, where he was strapped hand
and foot and tied in bed, Gaser was
declared insane and is now at Medical
Lake.
The testimony revealed that insanity
is not hereditary in the family. Last
July was the first time that anything
wrong was noticed with Fred, although
he had second attack Thanksgiving
day. 1t was further revealed that be
had threatened the life of his brother
Jake. Under all the circumstances he
was considered dangerous and the family
could do no less than ask that he be
confined.