A DERANGED MAN IN A CHURCH

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12768, 14 April 1910, Page 4

A DERANGED MAN IN A CHURCH

[United Press Association.] Auckland, April 13. Just as the daily service was about to commence at St Matthew's to-day a lunatic rushed into the church. He faced excitedly down the aisle, and leaped upon the communion table, and. seizing the cross he began to cover it with a scarf. When the verger ordered him down he declared that he was St Patrick come to life again, and. after to be St James. After a time he was persuaded to leave the chancely and was subsequently handed over to the police. It was discovered that he had recently been released from the Ohristchurch mental hospital. He was examined by two medical men, and afterwards was committed by the Resident Magistrate to the mental .hospital: was a respectably dressed young man about 24 years of age. It is remarkable to relate this is the third instance of a lunatic invading St Matthew's ChurchJ -The former unfortunates were a man and a woman, and were both taken to the mental hospital. . ■