Calvin Demarest
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Calvin Demarest was a national amateur and professional billiards champion from Chicago in the early 20th century known for an open, crowd-pleasing style of play.[1] He later gained notoriety for stabbing his wife and mother during a psychotic episode.[2]
Demarest studied music as a child, at the behest of his parents, his father a renowned organist in Chicago, and his mother a singer. At an early age he developed his own interest in pool and, after mastering that game, balkline billiards.[3]
Demarest won major amateur championships in 1907 and 1908. On March 14, 1908, he broke the world's amateur record for the high run in the opening game of the National amateur 14.2 balkline billiards tournament with a run of 168.[4] On March 9, 1907, he set a new record 14.2 billiard average of 27 3-11 during the national amateur championship tournament in New York City.[5][6] Starting in 1909, he competed in professional as well as amateur tournaments, winning at least three professional championships.[3] In 1910, he defeated the renowned French champion Rerolle for the international amateur championship.[2]
By the mid-1910s, Demarest's mental state began to deteriorate. Among other things, he would experience hallucinations regarding his wife, often that she was robbing him. On June 16, 1915, Demarest stabbed his wife in the throat several times with a pocket knife, wounding her severely, and then attempted to slit his own throat. His mother attempted to restrain him and was cut on the hand.[2]
He was deemed unfit to stand trial and was remanded to the Elgin Asylum for the insane. He died there eight months later, on February 22, 1916.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ "Calvin Demarest Defeated in Hotel Astor Ball Room by 500 Points to 440", New York Times, 1912-04-12. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
- ^ a b c "Billiardist Assails Wife; Calvin Demarest Also Cuts His Mother, Then Slashes Himself", New York Times, 1915-06-17. Retrieved on 2008-04-29.
- ^ a b "Demarest Arouses the Billiard Fans; Young Chicago Expert Striving to Become Champion", New York Times, 1909-01-10. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
- ^ "Demarest Breaks Record; Chicago Billiardist Makes Run of 168 and Defeats Jackson", New York Times, 1908-03-15. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
- ^ "Billiard Record is Broken Twice; Amateur Figures Are Surpassed First by Poggenburg and Then by Demarest", New York Times, 1907-03-09. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
- ^ "Western Player is the Favorite; Demarest's High-Class Billiards Gives Him the Lead in Tournament", New York Times, 1907-03-11. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
- ^ "Calvin Demarest Dead; Noted Billiard Player Expires in Illinois Insane Asylum", New York Times, 1916-02-23. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
