MADMAN RUNS AMOK.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 308, 29 December 1922, Page 8

MADMAN RUNS AMOK.

FURIOUS FIGHT ON SHIP. CREW AXD ESCORT ATTACKED. (From Our Own Correspondent..! SYDNEY, December 22. For eightwn hours a raving lunatic ] endowed with terrific strength fought a " furious battle against his guardian (a < constable), the captain, and then the - crew of the small coastal steamer i Merimbula yesterday, when she was on 1 her journey along the aouth coast of New South VVaies. Eventually he was overpowered and i removed to the Reception House. 1 The etory of the offair was told when i the Meriiubnla arrived in Sydney this I morning. A few days ago it was reported to the police at Hega that a man was behaving in a peculiar manner in the bush. He was arrested by Sergeant , Payne, who decided to send him to a i mental hospital in Sydney. The job of | taking him there was allotted to Con- , stable C. R. Elliott. The two embarked on the steamer Merimbula at midday yesterday, and almost immediately the prisoner became , violent. His escort was not a big man, , but his wrestling abilities are known throughout the police force. Kven so lie was no match for the madman. When the steamer stopped at Bermagui Constable Brown was summoned to Elliott's assistance. Together they succeeded in putting the "miiffs" on the prisoner. The "muffs" are long gaunt-let-like affairs of leather to prevent movement of the hands. At least they should have prevented movement, but the prisoner's maniacal strength rendered them useless. Two hours after leaving Bormagui he stripped them off and threw them through the porthole. A fierce struggle followed, and although Constable Elliott had his hand badly crushed in the door he hung on to his man until assistance I arrived from Captain O'Connor and members of the crew. Even then it was a difficult job to overpower the madman. Eventually he was lodged in another cabin near the bridge. A paroxysm of rage seized him there, and he smashed through the stout door as if it were matchwood. Once more lie was overpowered, and then he vented his spite on his clothes. In a few moments he had torn them off him and ripped them to pieces. When the vessel arrived at Sydney this morning it was with the utmost, difficulty that the man could be clothed in a pair of trousers and a coat. Thus attired, he was taken to the Reception House. This is the second* time Constable Elliott has put up a splendid showing. It was he who, about 18 months, ago, chased a stolen motor car and leapt'on to it while the ear was going at full speed along Flinders Street, Darlinghurst. Hie injuries in to-day's affray will necessitate treatment at Sydney Hospital,' and he .will be off duty for several days.