Struggle with a Naked Madman.

Manawatu Herald, 16 March 1899, Page 2

Struggle with a Naked Madman.

An exciting affair occurred at \ lpha Place North, Kilburn, when the police endeavoured to arrest a madman who wa9 in a Btate of nudisy. George Ladymin, aged 82, r. siding at No. 35 in the thorough fare, waa observed by his master, bilv I^aaca, parly in the week, whilst at work at. Hampstead as a plumber, to be strange in his manner, and he was accordingly taken to his bnm° Hh gradual y became worse, and th culminating-- point was reached on a wday n'ght, about a quarter pas c ev-n, when a worn>tn nam°d Brannen appealed to Police-Constable M-ttthew* to come to tbe house, a« Lady man was anm-thing the whole of the furnituro and threatening to miuder everyone. The officer w«nt, and then saw Ltdymm in the pasf■igH> in a nude coodui >n, and fl lurching a large chair around his hf>a^> wi h which hti threatened the < ffiu* if be touched him. Matthew* blew his whistle, and this brought five or «ix other constables to bis assistance. Lidyman, still flourishing the cbair ■ihoufed out that they •• wanted to *h<>ot him for committing the Finch, ley murder." P. C. Line iram^dia tely made a rush for the maniac, wbo struck viciously at him with the chair, which was smashed to atom", but, owing to Lidyman wearno clothes, the officer could not hold him, and the madman, seizing Lane with a powerful grip, dashed him with great violence against a bedstead, dislocating hi 3 ankle. Sta-tion-Sergeant Harding, P. O. ; 8 Matthews, Elliott, and Dennis, with other officers, had by this time thrown themselves upon tba frenzied man and a desperate struggle ensued, the lunatic in his rage shrieking, biting, and kicking like a wild beast. He was at length overpowered, and having been with great difficulty strapped on the ambulance, wa< taken t~> the police station, and thence to the Hendon Infirmary.