Arrest of a Lunatic

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 34, 22 March 1884, Page 2

Arrest of a Lunatic

Some comment has been made on the manner of the arrest of the man Keen, on Sunday last, at Awahuri, and who was committed to the Welliugton Lunatic Asylum on the following day. We have made enquiries, and find that Keen had been confined in Auckland and in Wellington as a dangerous lunatic. On one occasion when he was being escorted from Picton to the steamer on board of which he was to be forwarded to Wellington, the constable in whose charge he was, out of a mistaken kindness, omitted to manacle him. The consequence was that Keen picked up a stone, and almost brained the constable. At Iwahuri on Saturday he used threats of violence to Mrs Knight, to her great alarm. Shortly afterwards he threw himself down on the road in front of a mob of horses, apparently desirous that they should trample upon him and do him bodily injury. His general conduct was so outrageous that the Awahuri people were in great fear of him, and it was deemed advisable to send for the constable. On the arrival of Constable Price on Sunday morning Keen was in a bedroom in the Endymion Hotel. Mr Samuel informed the constable that Keen had threatened to kill him (Samuel) and the servant girl. Having tliis knowledge of the violent character of the madness of the unhappy man, Constable Price deemed it wise and kind that every precaution should be taken to prevent any harm being done to Keen or any ot the persons near. He desired Mr Samuel to induce Keen to come downstairs. After some parley this was done. When Keen was standing quietly, encircled by several persons who were attracted from curiosity to the spot, the constable slipped on the handcuffs. Keen was then brought into the yard of the hotel. He knocked off his hat, and as ho refused to remain covered the constable attempted to lead him under the shade of an adjacent gum tree. When doing so Keen made a blow at the constable, which struck him on the head, knocking off his hat. He then jumped forward as though attempting to escape At this time Messrs Norman, Hodges, and Jack man, rushed to the assistance of the constable and held Keen until a a rope was produced.The rope was bound round his legs, in such a manner as to prevent him doing violence to himself or others. He was tied securely but without any pressure to cause pain. A medical man saw him in this condition, and was satisfied that no undue harshness was being exercised. As those unfortunate persons who suffer from religious mania are generally more dangerous than any other class of lunatics, it does not appear that any undue means of restraint were applied in this case.