INSANE MAN

Grey River Argus, 14 May 1929, Page 5

INSANE MAN

FLOURISHES REVOLVER In Hotel Corridor. STRUGGLE WITH POLICE. (Per Press A ccciation). AUCKLAND, Alay 13. There was a sensation at the Cargeii Hotel, on Sunday morning, when a man aged 33 years, dressed in the full uniform of an Army Lieutenant, and wearing many service decorations, sat down on a chair in the corridor on the fourth floor, holding in his hand, a holste r containing a Webley six chamber service revolver which later was found to be rully leaded.

Licensee Lund communicated with the police abou: 6 a.m.

Sergeant Clist and two constables arrived promptly. The licensee in formed them that the man was dangerous and suggested that Sergeant Clist should not approach him in police uniform. With the licensee’s dressing gown covering his rcgula r apparel, Sergeant Clis: and the licensee walked to where the man was still sitting on a chair and tried to move him. The man refused. “How am I to get to the bathroom, if you don’t move?” the Sergeant asked. “You can step over me,” replied the man. After a further unsucces ful effor. to reason with the man, the Sergeant stepped over him, keeping, his eyes on the revolver. Suddenly, the Sergeant shot out one hand, and grasped the weapon as the man pulled it out of his holster and was going to raise it With his free hand. Clist grabbed, the man by the throat and throw him. Two constables, then, as prearranged, rushed in, and after a hard struggle, the man was handcuffed.

In the Court, this morning, the man was charged with presenting a revolver at Sergeant Clist and with unlawfully carrying a revolver.

Two doctors certified that the man was insane. He was removed to a mental hospital.