New-York tribune., 1912-01-22


endurance and courage of Mrs. Voss, ap-
Piled at the house for work about two
weeks ago. She told the Vols her hus-
band was an inmate of an insane asy-
lum in Flatbush and that she wanted to
get work in the vicinity SO that she
could be near him. She was hired, and
up to week ago gave perfect satisfac-
tion.
Terrific Fight in Dark.
The outbreak occurred shortly after II
o'clock Mrs. Vol, who is an invalid
and cannot walk, was in the library with
Mrs Voss and her two little sons, Robert
and William, when a yell resounded
through tho house. 1t came from the
direction of the kitchen, and Mrs. Voss
Jumped up and started out to see what
had happened. She had hardly reached
a side hallway leading into the kitchen
when Mrs Byrne, her hair streaming
down her back and large carving knife
in her hand, rushed out of the kitchen
into the hallway and bore down on her.
shrieking and brandshing the weapon
as she came.
Instead of trying to escape hack TO the
library. Mrs. Voss. who is of good
weight and muscular, leaped forward
and closed with the woman. trying with
all her strength 10 tear the carving knife
from her They struggled up and down
the hallway, Mrs. Byrne slashing at her
captor and screaming and Mrs. Voss
fighting TO get possession Of the knife.
Suddenly the woman wrenched herself
free. ran through the hallway and
started up the back stairs toward the
floor above
Mrs. Vosss fighting blood was now up.
and, instead of taking refuge in the H.
brary or going out for help, she dashed
Up the stairs in pursuit. Mrs. Byrne,
knife in hand, ran through a hallway,
doubled back through connecting rooms
and ran up another flight in the dark.
with Mrs. Voss close at her heels Just
as the pursued one reached the top OF
the stairs Mrs. Voss made a grab in
the gloom, got the insane woman by one
ankle and dragged her full length down
the entire flight to the bottom.
In the darkness of the hallway, how
ever it was impossible to get good
hold on the kicking and screaming
woman, who suddenly threw Mrs. Voss
off again and started for the library,
yelling and brandishing the knife.
Children Barricade Door.
Both she and Mrs. Voss arrived at
the library door at the same time. and
with a scream TO Mrs. Vol 10 lock the
door Mrs Voss grabbed the maniac by
the hair and swung her backward away
from the door with such force as 10
throw her to the floor. once more she
pounced upon the frenzied creature, and
the two women rolled about the hallway.
The two terrified children in the library
locked the doors and followed their
mothers directions to pile furniture
against it. Sounds Of the struggle in the
hallway could be heard plainly. and the
insane woman alternately shrieked and
fought and lay helpless and painting in
the grip Of Mrs Voss. Every movement,
however, Mrs Voss made To release her
antagonist was the signal for renewal
Of the fight. There was no telephone In
the library. and Mrs Voss did not dare
TO run for the telephone for fear that
harm would come to Mrs. Voll and the
children.
After a fight which lasted two hours
Nrs'Yoss got the carving knife away
from the insane woman, but her clothes
were already cut to shreds and she was
bleeding from several wounds. There
after Mrs Byrne fought continually, eX-
cept during periods Of exhaustion, when
she lay still recovering her strength 70
renew the battle. but it was two hours
later before she showed distinct signs
OF weakening. 1t was not until 4:3J
o'clock. however. that she had been re-
duced 10 such a state of helplessness
That she could struggle no longer. Then
Mrs Voss released her victim and went
TO the telephone, calling up the police
Then she bound Mrs Byrne hand and
root and stood guard oger her In the
hallway until the police arrived.
The Insane woman WAS taken IRON
NE house and removed TO the kings
'"nnty Hospital. where she died.
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