RUNS AMOK

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 62, 4 November 1931, Page 4

RUNS AMOK

POLICE HAVE GRIM TASK TO OVERPOWER DRINK CRAZED MAN. TERRIFIC STRUGGLE. SYDNEY, Saturday. Maddened by drink, a man went berserk in a house in Sterling St., Red- ■ f ern, last night, and after wreeking the place, defied a posse of police, who sought to overpower him. Before he was finally handcuffed, three policemen risked their lives to make a flanlc attack upon him, and another policeman had a lueky escape from death. First on the seene were Sergeant Dugan and Constable Martin, who found the drink-crazed man standing at the head of a narrow stairway, swinging a heavy chair over his head at all who came near him. Police reinforcements were sent for and Sgts. Arrowsmith and Hungerford and Detectives Crimston and O 'Neill arrived. Perilpus Climb. Arrowsmith, Crimston and O'Neill entered the next door house, and climbed over the balcony on to the upper storey. Working their way along a twoinch ledge, with only a thin iron bar as a hand hold, they travelled 15ft to the front balcony of the demented man's house. The slightest slip would have meant a 20ft drop on to an iron-spiked railing, but they .managed to make the journey safely, and effected a rear attack on the man. Terrific StrixgRle. Meanwhile Sgt. Hungerford tried to take him by surprise, but the man had wrenched -the barinister rail off the stairs, and he hurled this like a spear at his attackers. A nail on the end of the wood tore through Hungerford's coat, and pierced his chest, but did not mrike a serious wound. After a terrific struggle the man was overpowered and handcuffed. At Redfern Station he was locked up on charges of assault and indecent language.