FIGHT IN MID-AIR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19992, 7 July 1928, Page 2 (Supplement)

FIGHT IN MID-AIR.

MADMAN WITH HAMMER. VIOLENT ATTACK ON PILOT. BOTH MEN BADLY INJURED. A fight 2000 feet in the air between Harry Anderson, aged twenty-eight, airplane pilot, and Clarence Frechette, aged twenty-three, presumed to bo a maniac, who was Anderson's passenger, occured on May 14, abovo tho grounds of tho Stato asylum near Pontiac, Michigan. The airplane, which fell on tho asylum grounds was wrecked, and Anderson and Frechette were taken to hospital badly injured. Most of Mr. Anderson's teeth had been knocked out by a hammer, which, according to his story, was used by Frechette in attacking him. -* Mr. Anderson told his story with difficulty while he was being prepared for the operating table. "Frechette hired mo to carry him from Detroit to Pontiac, and said ho was a

parachute tester," Mr. Anderson said. "Every thing seemed all • right until we sighted the asylum 1000 feet below us. I happened to turn my head toward Frechette, and saw him standing in the airplane swinging the hammer. He brought it down, striking me a glancing blow on the head, and nearly stunning rue.

" I shouted at him, and then the airplane dipped. I slid, out of my seat, and wo went in a spin. I have no idea how I did it, but we pulled out of it. Then I looked again and Frechette was still there with the hammer. I ducked, but ho hit my head again. I remember clutching the controls, but we went into a noso dive, and I remember nothing more." Spectators in the asylum grounds, noticing the airplane's erratic man* oeuveres, thought that a "stunt" airman was giving an exhibition. The airplano was within 200 feet of the earth when Anderson finally lost control. It was a miracle that Mr. Anderson and Frechette were not killed. Tho rescuers found Mr. Anderson clutching tho control stick and Frechette mumbling incoherently ■with a broken hammer in his hand. Frechetto told a disconnected story about being attacked by Mr. Anderson, and said he was piloting the airplane when Anderson struck him with the hammer. A love-letter was found in his pocket addressed to Miss Georgia Pcrdee, of Pontiac, saying " Death is my postage, sweetheart," Frechette's relatives say he has "acted wild" recently.