STRANGE FREAK OF A LUNATIC.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1281, 17 September 1886, Page 3

STRANGE FREAK OF A LUNATIC.

Mr Purves, Q.C., preferred a serious complaint at the Melbourne Police Court against an eccentric fellow named Alfred Gilson, whom he charged with annoying and insulting him, and threatening to break into his dwelling. Accused was also charged with assaulting Constable Midola, who arrested him. Mr Purves said that Gilson, whom he believed to ho a lunatic unfit to lie at large, had called at his . house an I there created a great disturbance, after all the inmates had gone to bed. He battered the street door violently with a thick stick, and rang the bell for several minutes, alarming the household. Under the belief that the house wrs on lire, Mr Purves hastily dressed and went to the door. where he found Oilson ’n a most excited afate. He tfiru’t into Mr Purves’s hands a which seemed to have been written By a madman. The writer demanded' immediate employment, with L 3 a week wages, stating that he had a famishing wife and three children. When ordered off the premises Gilson brandished his stick with furious gestures and threatening language. Not being able to get rid of the intruder, Mr Purves armed himself with the drawing room poker. Gilson then retreated into the road, followed by the barrister,' who was determined to give him into custody. The lunatic wore on his bead an extraordinary fur or bearskin cap, somewhat like a wig. He had no hat. When he saw Mr Purves following him he concealed himself, bat was ob' served to spring out upon and seriously frighten two young men who passed his hiding place, and he was heard to threaten to'knock tbeir brains out. A parcels delivery man who drove by was greatly alarmed by him, and hurriedly quitted the spot. Up one street and down another, in East Melbourne in the dead of ni,ht, the dangerous man walked, followed at a prudent distance by the lawyer, armed with his steel poker Two respectable looking women whom they met were so frightened that they took to their heels, and were pursued som distance by the maniac, whom Mr Purves observed in a mysterious way change his head-dress. After a while Mr Purves returned to his hj use. Some time afterwards Constable Midola arrived, and, having discovered Gilson, took him into custody. Then a violent scene occurred. With great difficulty the maniac was placed in a cab to be conveyed to the nearest police station. Mr Purves mounted the vehicle, and took his seat by the side of the dliver ; but they had not proceeded many yards when Gilson furiously attacked the policeman, and endeavored to overpower him and throw him out. A desperate struggle took place in the waggonette, and Mr Purves got down to assist the officer. The cab windows were smashed iu the scuffle. For several minutes this encounter lasted, and when the constable, being fortunately the stronger man, succeeded in handcuffing his assailant and disarming him of his heavy stick, after which the cab was driven to the watchhouse. Mr Purvis assured the Magistrate that he had seen accused prowling about his house on several evenings before this night. When he ordared the fellow off Gilson called him (a scoundrel and other offensive names. Constable Midola having described to the Bench his rough encounter with the maniac and the violent behavionr of the latter after his arrest, and the cabman, Michael Mehan, having related the part he took in the extraordinary adventure, and described the damage done to his vehicle, the Bench convicted the accused of the charges preferred. For the insulting behav.our he was fined LlO, or in default three mouths’ imprisonment, and for the further offence of assaulting the police he was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, without the option of a fine.