A LUNATIC AT LARGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9188, 18 October 1888, Page 5

A LUNATIC AT LARGE.

METHOD IN HIS MADNESS. The Lyttelton Times gives the following account of the doings of a lunatic named Price, who eseaped from the Sunnyside Asylum and was not re-captured for a week :— By all accounts the man, by a happy combination of business and pleasure, thoroughly enjoyed his outing, and that, too, at the expense of other peopie, who are now, no doubt, feeling considerably chagrined at having been duped by an unfortunate, considered to be incapable of taking care of himself. The man was at one time a resident of Rangiora, and, therefore, well acquainted with the district, and on effecting his escape he made Ins way North, calling on some friends at Ivaiapoi on Sunday. On Tuesday he turned up at Rangiora, ani giving himself out to be a painter, who had obtained three weeks' work with a local tradesman, engaged a room at the Temperance Boarding-house for that period. He retired for the night, but on the family rising in the morning he had disappeared, and was seen of them no more. The same day he made his appearance at Sefton, and it was there, where the police never come, except when looking up "mutton lifters," that he enjoyed himself fully and uninterruptedly. Possibly the gushing description of the desirabilities of " Happy Sefton," which appeared in a contemporary a few days since, attracted him to the place. Be that as it may, he evidently made up his mind that nothing but the role of a man of means would do at such a thriving centre. A "man of means," therefore, he gave himself out to be, and as such was received with open arms at the village hostelry. The little difficulty of shortness of cash was got over by judicious references to his banker, who was to deliver up an account of his stewardship in a few days, and by giving I.O.U's. Our friend was so well pleased with the neighbourhood that he signified his intention to settle there. He wished for a horse to enable him to more fully enjoy the pleasure of country life. The " kirk minister " had a steed to dispose of. It was trotted out, pronounced by our friend to be just up to his weight, and the bargain was struck, subject to a due provision of cash by the banker beforementioned. The village saddler's shop was next drawn upon for a rig out of ridng gear, from bit to spurs; and our friend rode abroad to view the beauties of the neighbourhood. Looking forward to driving exercise he also gave the saddler an order for a set of buggy harness. A desirable farm open for acquirement was brought under his notice. It was a chance he could on no account miss. The place was in the hands of a Rangiora Boniface to dispose of. He must hie away at once to see him. Saturday morning saw our friend on his...w reached with borrowed narriess to a borrowed buggy. Rangiora reached, negotiations were opened and quickly closed, tbe "man of means" not being hard to deal with, and any difficulties on the other side being gob over with opportune reference to the banker. Papers were to be signed and the said banker interviewed for the cash on Monday, and the bargain was wetted with a bottle of champagne. Our friend then took a drive round the town and stopped overlong with some acquaintances. His not returning to Sefton aroused the fears and suspicions of the minister, who wisely communicated them to the Rangiora police. At seven o'clock the same evening Constable Costin observed a man leading a horse and buggy from premises in Victoriastreet, and on interrogating him, found that he had not only secured the man with the minister's horse, but also the escaped lunatic. Ho gave the name of Williams, and indignantly denied the charge of being an escaped lunatic, but; afterwards he admitted his identity, and was safely lodged in the lock-up, chuckling over the fun he had enjoyed during his week's outing in the country.