Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1907 — MURDEROUS INSANITY [ARTICLE]

MURDEROUS INSANITY

Stands Off the Whole Jail Ferce Until the Water Cure Is Applied. =*& . . HE BEATS ONE MAN TO DEATH Finally Hucoumba to tb« Water and Is Secured—What an Klectrlo Flash Did to n Man. I- . i , Connersvllle, Ind., Sept s.—Harry Robinson was committed to Jail as an Insane person, and soon after be bad been registered be killed Austin Ford and brutally assaulted Charles Ring, another prisoner. When he was first committed to Jail be was allowed the privileges of the corridor, with four other prisoners, and after he had been there for possibly an hour he becnrne violent and attacked Ford and Ring, both of whom were knocked down. Ring struggled to his feet and ran to his cell, locking his door against further attack. He Repulses the Officers. Meanwhile, Robinson continued to beat Ford with his only leaving him to return with cuspidors, lamps and other missiles, with which he renewed the attack. The cries of the other prisoners aroused attention and Police Chief Barker, Patrolman William Cole and Lestam Jeffrey, son of {the sheriff, started into the Jail to overpower Robinson. The insaue man made a rush at the officers, who were at a disadvantage, as they were entering the corridor through a narrow passage, and they were forced to retreat, while Robinson continued to hurl missiles at them. Water Cure Is Successful. Other officers the entered the Jail, and several wild shots were fired In the hopeof frightening the insane man. but they only served to make him more furious. Then the fire hose was —turned on the errmnt mart, nnd they finally succeeded in overpowering Robinson, but not till he had knocked one of the officers down. He was then given an anesthetic, which soon quieted him.

He Watt Beaten to Death. Ford's face was beaten almost Into a pulp, and his body was a mass of bruises, lie was dead when tlie officers reached him. was 45 years old and ti retired telegrapher. Within the last few weeks lie had shown signs of mental derangement, and lie. was plnced in jail Monday, at the suggestion of his mother, who.feared that he might become violent, Robinson is crazed on religions matters. GOT A Sit AVI’. AM) IIA1I! CUT Also Had His Hunds and I’»(# Terribly Burned—Miracle He Was Not Wounded. Bedford. Ind.. Sept. 5. - James N. Comley. assistant superintendent of electric- power at the United States cement plant, is routined to Ids home, suffering severely from an electric shock. In some manner lie came in contact with an open electric' switch at the plant, and instantaneously Ids entire body was enveloped in tinelectrie blaze, ininiingoff the hintv.v growth of heard from his face and cropping his hair as effectually as If done by a barber. His hands and face were terribly burned, and It was only by a miracle that be was not cremated. Within eight hours after Comley’s peculiar ex-perlenc-c, Ira Anderson, an electrician' at the same plant, was Injured by a sudden flash of electricity that enveloped bis body, but In* was not so seriously burned as Comley. Methodist Conference in Session. Oreeneastle, lad., Sept. 5. The fifty-fifth annual session of the Northwest Indiana conference of the .Metliowest Indiana eonf< rence of the Method Episcopal church opened here at the College Avenue ehuneh, Hev. Bishop William S. McDowell, of Chicago, presiding. More than 200 ministers, all representing ehtirehes in central and northwestern Indiana, are in attendance. Lom of Tomato Growers. Boonvllle. Ind„ Sept. 5. Tomato growers report a loss of more than 50 |>er cent, of the crop by heavy rains of the last few weeks. The tomatoes were just beginning to ripen. Blooms that would have brought on late tomatoes were washed off and the large ripe tomatoes were ettlier hurst open or made to rot on the vine*. '

Odd Fellows Are Growing. Indinnajiolis. Sej ifT s. —The semi-an-nual rei>oi t of Grand Secretary W. H. Leedy, of the grand lodge, I. O. 0. F.. (thews a considerable increase In membership and wealth of the order in Indiana during the last six months. Re- * sources have grown to a total of $3,185,505 and the membership to 74,643. Stabbed in the .Jugular Vein. Sullivan, Ind., Sept. s.—ln a fight in the home of Leonard Fa trick, at Gilmore, twelve miles northeast of here, Patrick stabbed William Allen in the ‘ jugular vein, killing him almost instantly. , _ . '