The Washington times., 1908-06-08
ShnekS of Maniac Suicide
Still Haunt His III Wife

blind habit, he went again to his work
at the Pension ONCE. There the mad
Tess that dominated him gave him no
respite. He was unable to stay In his
seat. His restlessness, his furtive eye,
his trembling hands, all these things
were commented upon by his fellow
workers. In less than three hours. he
sprang up as Z urged by Irresistible
powers and rushed from the building to
his home.
Friday afternoon and night his wire
was constantly at his side, hearing his
story OF the plot-a plot his disordered
brain had furnished forth out of moth
ing. She soothed him as best she could,
telling him he would not be killed,
stroking his forehead and ministering 10
his every want But he could not
sleep. Instead. he raVed and. at times.
was violent, declaring that he must do
something TO defend himself against the
murderers who were closing in upon
him.
Saturday he went again to his office,
although by this time he was vislply
i'll. Before noon, Mrs. Pospisiel saw
him standing in the dining room, his
hair disheyeled. his face working, while
he muttered again and again:
They'll murder me before midnight.
Wife Hears of Tortures.
Then followed hours OF torture for the
wife while she tried to dispel the mirage
OF hideoUs fancies that made the hus-
bands life a ceaseless fear. He told
her OF the phantons, the horrors that
pursued him He raved and cried out
for mercy. He shuddered in her arms
and buried his face IN her bosom. All
the afternoon he spoke continually Of
the fact that at midnight he would be
murdered.
Night came and with 1t greater terror
Shapes, grotesque and awful filled his
ruined brain. Pictures OF blood and
murder We're continually before him. At
times he shouted. at times he whisper
ed, but always the theme Of his words
was the certainty that he would be
killed.
Children Pray for Him.
Late in the night he made his chill
dren get up and pray for him pray
that may not be murdered" he told
them, and they. terrified by the urgent
| pleading IN his voice. prayed long
While they prayed. he went 10 his
/ bureau drawer and took from Il his re-
volver and fifty cartridges. At that mo-
ment. his madness had taken another
| turn. AS his children offered up pleas
! for hts safety. he made up his mind 20
| who might attempt TO approach him.
! Nervously lingering the revolver. he
[ asked his wife 10 pray that he might
| not be murdered. She fell on her knees
| and her petitions Joined those OF her
| children. while the maniac handled the
revolver and waited for the prayers to
| end.
Wife Realizes He's Insane.
| When they were finished and the chill
| dren. vaguely conscious Of impending
| TRACED. had crept back to their beds
he stiI handled the pistol as II he con
! sidered II his one nope OF safety. He
| stood IN the middle OF the room, facfng
| his wife who had just risen from her
| knees This was the first time that she
! realized how hopelessly insane, how
/ dangerously wild, ne was.
| 81 shall Kill the first person who en-
/ ters this house" he said, and Tor the
first time the care free. devilish smile
% the lunatic was on HIS lips.
| Then again. in second, his mood
| changed, and the fears that had held
| him in bondage since Thursday re-
: asserted themselves. And suddenly ht
| was once more the timid, cringing
/ teTror-stTicken mailman.
II must save myself before it's toe
/ late" he said.
J StiH holding his revolver in his left
l hand, he dragged the mattress from the
/ bed and used IL to bsrricade the steps
{ so that no one might approach IN.
( second story, where he was. He used
I the chairs and tables in all the rooms
! on the second floor to strengthen the
/ barricade. Once he dropped his revolv
eT, and thought an enemy had knocked
/ * from his hand. Finally, he threw
two gas stoves over the barriCade anC
down the steps, effectually blocking al
| approach at both the foot and the head
/ OF the stairs.
Family at His Mercy.
His wife and children were imprison
! ed with him and absolutely at III,
mercy. He heard the children's voices