The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-01-21
rries to XIII his Foster Mother.

x116S 10 h1t1 his OSCcI MOI0cIs
: Considerable excitement was caused a
, Beverly, Wednesday morning, by young
man. whose hasty temper got the better
of him, and the timely arrival of an Officer
no doubt prevented crime from being
committed. Whether it was the act of 8
temporarily crazed man is left for the
authorities to decide. The culprit, strong
as giant, gave three men a hard tussle
to subdue him.
! With the fiendish fury of murderer,
because she merely reprimanded him for
| getting up so late for breakfast Tuesday
morning, Boyd Fletcher, aged 10 years,
big and strong, rushed upon his frail
foster-mother, Mrs James Darban, of
Laurel street, and cruelty knocked her
down with his fist. He then picked up
the house-cat by its tail and hurled it into
an adjoining room, and finished his mad
work by breaking windows with his bare
fist.
The marshal was sent for. The mother
managed to escape from the fury of the
young man, and Fletcher was left master
of the situation. When the city officer
entered the house he found Fletcher in
haling gas from tube. The young man
was prevented from committing suicide
by prompt action of the marshal
Mayor Roberts was hastily summoned. |
AS soon as Fletcher recovered from the |
stupor caused by the gas he struggled |
with the marshal, who in the scuff1e fell |
down. The mayor arrived on the scene
about this time and succeeded in flooring
the enraged man, and handouts were
placed on him by the marshal Fletcher
became obstinate and refused to walk to
the city jail, and it was necessary to tie
him in wheel-barrow. With great exer-
ton he wrenched free from the rope and
again showed fight. After considerable
trouble the young man was finally locked
up.
He tried to batter out his brains by beat
ing his head against the side Of the cage,
and the marshal had to strap him to the
bed.
A hearing was given the young man In
she afternoon at the mayors Office, by
Justice of the Peace Stevenson. Upon
she advice of Mayor Roberts, who is a
physician, 1t was decided to send him to
Mount Holly jail, and allow the authorities
here to inquire into his sanity.
On his person was found a loaded re-
7olver with four bullets, one for his
g.. L.
himself, as he explained to the officer.
Fletcher was quiet when he reached the
county Jail in charge of Marshal Austin,
ind expressed great satisfaction in being
aiken to Mount Holly.
Fletcher, when an infant, was adopted
~ the Darbans, on the death of his mother.
Since he was four years of age he has
Exhibited spells of uncomfortable temper
PRIOR to coming to Beverly he lived with
lis foster parents in Philadelphia.
1t is believed that he is a degenerate and
as an uncomfortable desire to kill
'everal such occasions are cited by his
at the Elba iron works,
Vhere he was employed. He attempted
o brain workman with large piece of
ron, and was knocked unconscious by a
yell directed blow on the jaw. While an
mploye was working inside a pipe re- :
emily, Fletcher shoYed burning pile of
aper into it, and then prevented the
hams escape by stopping up both ends.
'ther workmen discovered the act and
aved the man from being smothered to
cath. On another occasion he tried to
rain his father with brick because he
i'd not intercede with the boss and get !
i'm an increase of wages.