Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-01-05
MANIAC FIGHTS
POLICEFOR HOURS
Baltimore Man Goes Insane
and Shoots Physician,
THE POLICE BES|EGE HIM
Earrcaded in His Home He Is CaptuT-
ed When Ammunition is Exhausted.
Suffered With Nervous AiIment.

Suffered With Nervous AiIment.
Defying the police ir his bar
ricaded home in Baltimore, Nd, fer
seven hours, George C. Gantz, thirty
two years old, was captured after he
had shot his physician three times and
exchanged many shots with the be-
siegers.
DR.. George H. Hooking was shot
ter he had been called 20 pacify the
man who had gone suddenly insane.
The bullets took effect in the arm and
shoulder, but he was able to- Waly
home.
At the time of the shooting Captain
John Dodge, who resides nearby, was
in the hallway trying to pacify CAM
who is said by his relatives to be IN
sane. After firing the three shots at
DR.. Hooking, the maniac sent two
other bullets at Dodge, but none struck
him.
Rushing to an upstairs room, Gantz
ordered his sister, Miss Lucy c. Gantz,
from the house. Locking all the doors,
he called out that he would kill the
first one who dared approach the
house.
For hours policemen of Baltimore
county, armed with shotguns, lal1
siege to the house, but SO far all Of
forts to take him have proved futile.
The shooting of DR.. Hooking foil w
ed a wild scene on the usually tran
Gull Rosebank avenue. Within few
minutes other residents Of the neigh
bcrhood had barricaded their doors
and windows.
According to Miss Gantz, her brother
had been suffering from a nervous
ailment for four years. Four years
ago he was stricken with typhoid fever
and after he recovered from the d S.
ease his mental condition became such
that he was brought back to Baltimore.
Since then he has done very little
work and has been under constant
care of physicians.
At first Gantz appeared to listen to
the physician and Captain Dodge and
started into his home. AS he stepped
through the door he picked UP milk
bottle, which he hurled at the head
of DR.. Hooking. Then he rushed up
stairs and returned in few moments
with a revolver in his hand.
Pointing the pistol at D.. Hotkin g,
he opened fire and three bullets struck
the physician. He then fired at Cap
tain Dodge.
The Baltimore county police were
notified and Sergeant Ritter and Pa
trolmen Bell and Numbers hastencd to
the scene. On their approach the
crazed man opened window and
threatened to kill them if they did not
fall back. They fell back.
States Attorney Hartman arrived
and he advised that no attempt be
made to enter the house. He said he
did not believe 1t was right to endsn.
ger the men nor to kill Gantz. The
policemen with shotguns were wa.ca-
ing for a chance to MAIN Gantz.
At one time, after he had been bar
ricaded in the house for nearly three
houre and while the armed policemen
were in the rear of the dwelling,
Gantz calmly opened the front dor
and walled out on the perch. There
was a wild scramble for safety by the
onlookers, and before the policemen
could be brought up from the rear
Gantz again entered the hcu~e.
In an attempt to draw his fire, the
police then began shooting at the rear
of the house. They wee ho2ef / that
his supply of ammunition was limited
and that they could induce him 10
quickly exhaust it.
The bombardment by the besiegers
continued -intermittently. G9ntz re
turning the fire several times when
policemen exposed themselves. N
one was hit during the exchange CT
shots.
Gantz was captured after seven
hours. Policemen brcke in tie
front door and found him, rcvo'ver in
hand. crouching on the third focr. Be-
fore he could use his weapon two of