MAN RUNS AMOK

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 197, 21 June 1939, Page 2

MAN RUNS AMOK

THREATS TO SHOOT SHOTS EIREI) ARRESTED BY POLICE CERTIFIED' INSANE A sensation was created in Kelly Street last evening", when a. man named John Foy, jiii., aged, about 32, ran amolc, near the Catholic Convent with a .22 Jopster rifle, threatening to shoot all who cam© near. F'oy was later arrested by the police, and the coolness and courage displayed by Sergeant J. Isbister, who in the face of threats, took the rifle off the man, js the subject of comment of all who saw the incident. Earlier in the evening Foy visited Mr. Guthrie’s bakehouse and pointed the loaded rifle at Mr, Guthrie. Mr. Guthrie noticed nothing wrong with Foy and walked over and upon examf ining the gun found it was. loaded. Foy, appeared to be quite apologetic and said he would go to Mr. Collier’s blacksmith shop and make a complaint about the rifle being loaded.

Foy went into the blacksmitlr’s shop carrying the rifle and asked one of the boys what was wrong as he was unable to undo the bolt. Tony Walker, who was in the shop, had a look at the rifle and screwed it apart, and returned it- to Foy, who. then went away. F'oy went back to the shop about a quarter of an hour later and he had the riflei with him. He then asked what was wrong with the rifle and said that the bullet was jamming in it.. Collier had a lock, at it and saw that it was loaded. Collier took the bullet out of it and put it in iiis pocket. As Foy did not appear to be quite all right, lie suggested to him to leave the rifle there but Fpy would not agree to that. Foy then took the rifle and went across the street to Rev. Father Brady’s house. He went on to the verandah and went back again to the street and along a few yards, standing in the door of the convent, Carrying the rifle all the time. F'oy waited in the door of the convent for- a. short time. and. while Cob lier was. in the blacksmith’s shop he heard him singing out “Who. is there?” Cbllier went to the door to see what was the matter and heard Foy saying that the gun was loaded and that he was guarding the convent. Collier went outside the door of his shop and then Foy called out “Where are you going?”, and asked if he was going to the convent. Collier told him lie was not and then stood in the alleyway .i'or a while and watched him before returning to the shop to. instinct one of the hoys to go to the Police Station to tell the police there was something wrong with Foy. Nai Coleman went out through the back door and while he was away Collier went out to the front door and called for Foy to come over. Foy sang out “Keep out of the light” and a tew seconds afterwards he fired the rifle, the bill let going wide. Collier moved further into the shop and within a minute or two Foy fired another shot, the bullet hitting the roof. For some minutes i'.oy was standing guard at the door of the convent -until the police came along and when he saw them approaching lie levelled the rifle at Sergeant Isbister and said “Keep back or 1 will drill a hole through you.” The sergeant and Constable Cooper got within 50 or 60 yards from the Catholic Convent and there they could see Foy standing on the footpath just in front of the convent door. He was holding a rifle in his hand and) a motor car passed hint at that time. He levelled the rifle at the car and followed it along tor some distance, but lie did not fire. He then I,poked in the direction of the police and immediately levelled the rifle at Sergeant Isbister and shouted “Stand back, or I’ll drill a hole through you.” The sergeant walked towards him till he was about ten yards away from him and he had the rifle pointed at him all the time and called out to him to stand back or 'he would be drilled. The sergeant called, put to him and told him who he was and he lowered the rifle for a moment and then said, “Who is that who is with you,” and immediately levelled the rifle again at Constable Cooper who w-as some little, distance behind. Sergeant Isbister then walked up to

him and got hold of the rifle and took it from him. Foy was in a highly excited condition and was threatening to shoot any- ] one who came near the convent. He stated that people had been getting into the qonvent and that he in-yn** tended to shoot anyone who came# near it-, this appearing to be his delusion. .. t When Sergeant isbister had taken the rifle from him a number of men, ( who had been hiding in the blacksmith shop, right opposite, came up. and Foy rushed at one .o-f the men, Tony Walker, and', struck him in the face. L. All the way to the P.olico Station. Foy was threatening to shoot anyone who came near the convent. The rifle which he had in his possession was one he admitted that lie had stolen from a. youth named Ivururangi. He had 29' .22 cartridges in his possession when arrested, and twolive cartridges and three spent ones were found by the police on the- footpath where lie had been standing. The rifle was not loaded when hewas arrested, but it bad just recently been fired. Foy was medically examined and certified as being insane and committed to Avondale mental hospital.