Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 August 1908 — “CRAZY MAN” [ARTICLE]

“CRAZY MAN”

-Turned Out to Be sane As Anybody. SOON TURNED LOOSE BY OFFICERS A Russian Working for C. Paacoast of Newton Tp. Bound Hand and Foot Because of Dispute Over Wages. A young Russian who had been Working for Cicero Pancoast, a prosperous farmer of Newton tp„ for the past five weeks, created Considerable excitement in that neighborhood last Friday. The trouble seems to have originated over a dispute in the wages he was to have. He had ‘hired to Pancoast at $lB per month, he said, but because of the extreme long hours he had to put in he was going to quit after working awhile. Then, so he stated, Pancoast told him that if he would stay until after harvest he would pay him $25 per month. The man, who gave his name as Peter Rada, agreed to stay, and having a little money, alleges that he sent in by Pancoast one time when the latter came to town, to get a shirt, some socks, etc., amounting to about $3, and sayß he sent the money to pay for the goods, and had drawn no money whatever.

Friday, when they came to settle up, he says that Pancoast had these goods charged to him, and that a half day that he was sick and unable to work and another half day he could not work on account of rain, he had been “docked,” and that Pancoast only gave him sls. Pancoast said he did not send the money to pay for the goods. A dispute arose over the matter and during the trouble the Pancoasts allege Rada struck Mrs. Pancoast. This he denies, / however, saying that he merely pushed her gently to one side. Everett Halstead arrived at the Panooasts about this time and Rada was seized and tied hand and foot and lashed to the fence. The sheriff was telephoned to about 3:30 p. m., that they had a crazy man out there and to come ouf and get him. Both the sheriff and his deputy being out of town, City Marshal Parks, with J. M. Knapp and George Scott went out to bring the man in. The story they tell is not very complimentary to the Pancoasts. They found the man lying on his back by the fence, bound tightly hand and foot. One hand was tied up over his head to the fence, a rope was around his neck and the knot had worn almost through the skin on the back of his neck, and his feet were stretched out and tied to the fence also, and he could scarcely move a muscle. His face was covered with froth and tears from his eyes, and he did indeed look like a crazy man. A rag was handed the officer at his request and he wiped the poor wretch’s face and untied him, slipping a pair of handcuffs on his wrists as a precautionary measure. Asked if he wanted a drink, one of the family Stepped forward and said:

"Peter want a drink?” To this Rada satirically said in broken "Beg for drink all time; now when policeman come they ask, ‘Peter want drink.’ ” The man was placed in the carriage and brought to town, and he was not long in convincing the S(|cer that he was not crazy, apd the handcuffs were removed soon after leaving the Pancoast farm. He said that he was a well educated Russian and could speak three different languages fluently, but could not speak English very well. H 6 attended college tor several years in St. Petersburg, he said. His wild actions, as reported by the Pancoasts, were «o doubt due to his misunderstanding of the customs of some people in Americd' and he did not know what was to be done with him when he was seized and bound. The officers seemed to think Rada vraß the least crazy of the bunch and got him something to eat when they reached town, he stating that he had had no dinner, and he was taken to the train and started for Chicago, there being nothing he could be held for.

COUNCIL MEETING. The oity council met in regular session Mopday night, Councilman Gerber being absent. An ordinance was ordered drafted to regulate the location of stone crushers within the city. There has been some complaint about the location of the crushers now at Work here. ~ . A sidewalk was ordered in front of J. M. Wasson’s and J. A. Burnham’s vacant lots on Scott street. . The contract with the Monon for light and water was signed in the shape it was reported in these columns a few days ago. The superintendent’s report on Dayton and Weston streets was ordered placed on file, he having reported that these streets were completed according to contract. A resolution was ordered prepared for a sidewalk on Division streel on petition of Chas. Ramp and others. A contract was entered into with the Western Electric Co. for a new dynamo to cost $1,607. C. S. Chamberlain, who is now a city employe, was authorized to sign a contract with the Western Electric Co. to act as its agent to sell meters and generators to the city of Rensselaer, and an extra five per cent discount which he is to get for his services as such agent is to go to the city treasurer. This contract to hold for a year. The following claims were allowed ;

CORPORATION FUND. W. S. Parks, salary ..$30.00 E. M. Thomas, nlghtwatch.... Most* Leopold, books for Trus..... 1.50, L. A. Bostwick, surveying 22.80 Frank McCarthy, assisting same... 11.00 ROAD FUND. Chester Zea, labor with city team 30.00 O. S. Baker, 1ab0r...... 7.00 Chas. Platt, work on sewer 1.50 Eugene Smith, work on street 21.00 Roy Thomas, same 9.00. ELECTRIC LIGHT FUND. C. S. Chamberlain, salary. 50.00 Mell Abbott, same... 30.00 Dave Haste, same 30.00 W. H. Eger, mdae 3.12 Shirley HUI Coal Co., coal 79.95 Mose Leopold, freight 50.25 WATER FUND. Ed Hopkins, 5a1ary........ ...30.00 JC. W. Platt, work 2.25 Egel’-HBros, mdse 33.73 John Wiseman, work... 2.00 Henry Wiseman, same.... 3.00 J. O. Winfrey, 8ame...... 2.00 Geo. Clark, safe. 2.00 Albert Wolfe, 5ame...... 8.00