A LUNATIC IN THE PULPIT.

Waikato Times, Volume XL, Issue 3213, 28 January 1893, Page 2 (Supplement)

A LUNATIC IN THE PULPIT.

Thews was ,a novel scene in a church in Springfield,.Massachussots, a fow. Sundays ago, when a madman occupiod;tho pulpit from an early hour in the morning until 2 o'clock in tlie afternoon; he held it against allcomers, keeping a crowd of thousands at.bay, until he was completely exhausted, and sank back and fell asleep, in one of the pulpit chairs, when he was secured and taken aivay. He was a member of the church, and •# man of good staiidingm the community. He -had shown signs of insanity at the time of the death, of his, wife,-about two years."ago, .but soon recovered and , gave, no signs of further mental derangement. until quite Kcently, when he asked the pastor of the church to preach a : sermon that .lie had,, written. The clergyman naturally refused, and a few- days, later lie received, a visit frohi the crazy parishioner, who said, "We have decided.to dispense? with your "sermons in future; hereafter I will; preach the sermoiis myself." The clergyman thougiit'nothing more of the interview, and did not mention | it to anyone; On the following Sunday, when the janitor opened tho church, he found ; the insane man barricaded in the pulpit, with pro'visions • enough to last him a week, two revolvers, ammunition enough for a regiment,':and a' varied assorts mcnt of Roman caiidlcs, red fire; and "other pyrotechnics. He intended to uae<these articles as a variation from the monotony of the regular Sunday services. When: he' was asked to come out of the' 'pulpit- the man refuted, and' threatens J to shoot' anyone who came within 10 feet of him; Some of the members of the congregation, most of them ! friends of the madman, tried to argue with him, but lie would listen ,to nobody. Seveal policeman came.The madman warned them not to' advance, but they paid no attention to his warning until he fired,three shots in quick succession 'in their', direction, |o;,one was 'hit' by tlie, bullets, but the police decided,,that,-it; would be dangerous to. their lives to endeavour to,arrest the : man, andithe,officers,of the church advised; and 'urged that they desist from any such,, attempt. Then tlie, house yas, f ,cleared,: and 'some of the officers .took up,-positions, whence.tiiey..could watch the ..man 'and his. movements. • without .being seen by him,. It was'knowii .that he had'been up all night,,'and he must be exhaustedjn, course of :time,. and it was decidcd to wait until he should' go to sleep, -when he; could ■bo taken without danger, Shortly after ■ 2 o'clock lie fell asleep, as already men-tioned,-and wascapturcd. ; i Ho made a desperate struggle, but was speedily overpowered; and - hand-cuffed; *■ On tlie way to tlio police station ho : asked' for-permission to put on < his overcoat The permission was' granted, and the; handcuffs 1 were ialceri' offjwhen,; quick as lightning, the'madman brought a. third revolver from one of his 1 pockets and • discharged' it : before his captors could prevent -it. Happily, however, lie took iw aim, and the bullet lodged in the ceiling of the church. '.