A SUSPECTED LUNATIC.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 12, 13 January 1913, Page 8

A SUSPECTED LUNATIC.

A SAILOR-MAN’S PREDICAMENT,

INCIDENT AT MANGERE

An incident which caused some commotion, and not a little amusement, occurred at Mangere last week. A dark-complexioned man, lightly clad in blue jersey, dungaree pants, wearing no hoots and shoes, and looking considerably fatigued, visited a farm on the Ihumata Road. The man’s appearance evidently gave those who saw him the idea that he was Johnson, the escapee from the Auckland Mental Hospital, and the Onehunga police were immediately communicated with. Sergt. Rogers and Constable Wales forthwith proceeded to Mr Kenwood’s farm, only to find that the alleged lunatic had disappeared. A little later, however, came a message from Mangere that a man who was believed to be the escapee was at a neighbouring farm. The police accordingly made for that locality, again only to find that, the suspect had gone. A search of the neighbourhood soon brought the police officials on to his tracks, however, and at 7 p.m. they found their man on the roadside, resting. When questioned, he wanted to know why everyone he met was so desperately anxious to cross-ex-amine him. He stated that he was a sailor, just discharged from his ship, and that he was journeying afoot to Drury, there to join some friends who were farming. He produced his discharge from the ship, and quite convinced the police of his sanity and identity. When told that he had been stirring up the countryside as an alleged mental hospital escapee, the man stated that the explanation made several things clear, for lie had been inclined to question the mental condition of more than one person he had himself met thgt day. He had called at a farmhouse and asked for a drink. Instead of giving him what he wanted the residents had eyed him with suspicion and asked him the most extraordinary questions. In fact, their behaviour had been, in. his eyes, so peculiar that, tired as he was, he went off still thirsty, and also without any sane indication as to how he was to retrace his steps and again get on to the correct route for Drury. The next place he came to he thought he would quench his thirst without bothering anyone, and going to a well at the rear of the farmhouse he proceeded to help himself. Here again people immediately surrounded him, and began to crossexamine him in a manner which made him wonder what was going to happen next. The man recounted his experiences with some humour, and no lack of intelligence, and the police finally put him on his way to Otahuhu, and thence proceed to his destination. The adventure did not quite finish here, however, for ere the Onehunga police got back the telephone was again at work, conveying an intimation that the escaped lunatic was travelling along Hie main Mangere Road. Word was sent back in reply that the police were absent, whereupon the informant insisted that the Otahuhu police should be communicated with. News of the kind travels fast, and as the man in blue jersey and dungarees trudged his way past the telephone bureau office, the officer in charge personally investigated the case, and discovered that the suspect was an intelligent half-caste Maori. The police were accordingly informed that there was nothing to bother about.