“Elijah S. Davis is a powerfully built middle-aged man residing in Barton
township. He has frequently been called the Barton giant and he may well be”
Hamilton
Spectator. November 21, 1884.
Elijah
Davis, usually referred to as ‘Lije was a farmer living on the mountain. He was
mild-mannered, but then there were other
times when he was much less docile :
“Generally
he is a very quiet man, but always a dangerous customer, for at any moment he
may lose his senses and become violent” 1
1 “An Insane Man : Makes It Lively for a Few Minutes
on James Street”
Hamilton Spectator. November 21, 1884.
In 1885, ‘Lije went to the home of a man he did not know, Mr. Rudolf
Riseman of the Immigration department. When Riseman asked the knock at his
front door, Davis attacked him, putting a tight stranglehold on the man until
he could be pulled away.
Riseman was so severely injured that he was confined to his home for a
long time. Davis was sent to the Hamilton Asylum for the Insane. After a short
time, he was discharged as being cured.
For many months, Elijah Davis went about the work on his farm, and came
to the city on market days without incident.
However, in late November, big ‘Lige
was acting up again :
“Of late it has been reported that he was again losing his reason, and
was committing various freaks. A warrant was issued for him and entrusted to
County Constable McNair.
“While that officer was on the mountain in search of him, Davis came down
to the city, and this morning, he created a tremendous sensation. “2
2 “A Muscular Madman : Big ‘Lige Davis Creates a
Sensation on James Street”
Hamilton Times. November 21, 1884.
When Davis, armed with a pitchfork, was near the corner of James and
Main, at around 8 a.m., he tried to take possession of a cart which was being
driven past:
“He seized one rein of a horse driven by two boys. The horse turned to
one side and the waggon was cramped until one front wheel was under the box and
the vehicle was in danger of upsetting. Its occupants then jumped out, but Davis
retained his hold on the horse.”2
There was a standoff as the big farmer stood with the horse but neither
the boys nor anyone else in the large crowd that had gathered were very anxious
to directly confront the “Barton Giant.”
Several telephone calls, including from the Spectator office, Bank of
Montreal and perhaps from other places, were made to the police. Perhaps,
knowing who might be encountered, no policemen arrived immediately.
After some time, three policeman arrived on foot, followed closely by the
patrol wagon with three more on board:
“After some coaxing, he was induced to give up his weapon and was got
into the patrol waggon, where it took five policemen to hold him.”2
After a short time in a cell at the police station on King William street, Elijah Davis, under
close guard by several policemen, was brought in the police court room to
appear before the police magistrate:
“When brought to court he recognized all the officers and shook hands with
them, then he commenced hunting for bees in the chief’s head and about everyone
who came near him.”1
As the Times reporter put it, “the only bee was in the poor fellow’s
bonnet.”2
The Barton Giant’s case was quickly disposed as he was remanded for a
week into the care of the Hamilton Asylum for Insane, in which time a medical
man was to examine him and make a recommendation as to his treatment and/or
incarceration.
It took the strength of three officers to return ‘Lige to the cells to
await his trip up the mountain to the asylum.
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