CHASES NIGHTWATCHMAN

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1929, Page 13

CHASES NIGHTWATCHMAN

LUNATIC RUNS AMOK IN RAIN RANG CHURCH BELL BEFORE DAWN IN PYJAMAS WITH FEET BARE. RAIN-SOAKED WAIMATE STARTLED By Telegraph.—- Press Association. Waimate, Last Night. Attired in pyjamas and with his feet bare a madman ran amok in raindrenched Waimate in tho dead hours this morning. His capture necessitated desperate means. The powerfully built man was an inmate of the Waimate public hospital. He was seen to leave the hospital about 2.30 a.m. The police were informed and after a long search the roan was discovered ringing the bell of the Catholic Church. Besides the police several others were attracted to the spot by tho prolonged bell-ringing, Realising the madman was dangerous they rushed him. After a struggle he was overpowered and taken to the lockup. Between the time he escaped from the hospital and the ringing of the bell the madman encountered the watchman of the C.F.C.A. premises, whom he chased and fought. The watchman was struck on the head with his own torch which the man had grabbed and would have been in a bad way if the man had not ceased the assault and suddenly left him.

The man, who is aged 2-3, has been committed to the Sunnyside mental hospital.