THE FREAKS OF A MADMAN.

Mataura Ensign, Volume VI, Issue 285, 31 August 1883, Page 3

THE FREAKS OF A MADMAN.

During the early part of the week, there was a gooddeal of excitemert ii the Chatton district over the freaks of an unfortunate fellow named Hugh McPeak.who lately made his way to the Knapdale station. He has for some time been employed in the neighborhood of Gore and was generally regarded as weakminded. His health was far from good, and lately by a shilling subscription funds were raised to send him to Invercargill for belter treatment than he could obtain hereabout. It is said that he was in the hospital there and from there went to the asylum at Dune- • din, but upon this point we have no definite information. At anyrate in due time he turned up at Knapdale and showed decided symptoms of lunacy, divesting himself of his clothing and . otherwise differing in habits from his fellows. On Monday night he was secured by residents in the locality and placed : in a hut for safety, but from this he made his escope, only to be re-captured on Tuesday and lodged in one of the queerest dungeons we heard, of i^nojie .other than the wooU. press at the sheds on *Mr McNab's station ! Within four massive walls of considerable height, with scarcely room, to occupy other than a standing position, and without a stitch , of cLthing, he passed the night, his behavior being at times very noisy. On Wednesday Constable Pratt was sent for, and on his arvHfil on thfc scene that lunatic was released from his impromptu lock-up, dressed, and brought to Gore, thence to be taken to Invercargill for medical examination.