LUNATIC RUNS AMOK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 19, 23 January 1926, Page 23

LUNATIC RUNS AMOK.

EXCITING SCENES IN XOKKSHIRE. Wearing only a vest, and bleeding from wounds, a man ran amok through the main streets of Kotherham. A religious maniac named Austin Thompson (26), from Glasmir, County Mayo, had been staying at Wing Held Eoad, Wath-on-Dearne, and was taken to the Kotherham institution. Being very violent, he was placed in a special padded cell with three men to guard him. Next morning his violence increased, and four other attendants were placed outside the room. Suddenly the door swung open, and Thompson dashed out. He flung the four men aside, and rushed along the ( corridors to the lavatory, where he smashed the window, cutting himself badly as he climbed out. Then he dashed througn the grounds, scaled a wall topped with broken glass, on which he cut himself still more, and dropped Into Canklow Koad. On his way he had picked up a shovel. A few yards along the road a milkcart was standing. Rushing up to the horse he belaboured it with his shovel, then turned to the milkman and demanded to be directed to the nearest Roman Catholic church. When his request was refused he began to attack the man." By this time a crowd was following him, and, leaving the milkman, he jumped on a tramcar flnd attacked the conductor. Jumping off again, he continued his mad career, striking with the shovel at passersby and motor cars. Standing in his path was a lorry containing cases of mineral waters. He started a fusilade of mineral water bottles at passing children, from the moving vehicle, but presently jumped off and ran on towards the railway. After a chase of a mile he mounted a railway embankment and defied the crowd. He was then recaptured by the police.