A Lunatic With a Gun.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7976, 13 November 1905, Page 4

A Lunatic With a Gun.

MiWIT.S AT A MAOIIi. KXI.TTINtI CAPTUKK. An exciting adventure befell a Main named T'lii' and Constable Mcli.\\ of Te Awatuulu, recently (sa;s .In- Auckland Star) with a lunatic, i his ir.diviilual, a swamp-worker named James llannl, who lias li.vtil iy liiinsi-lf for Ha- past 1." years in ue i;r arincss o: tin- swamps lor the nost part, was observed to lit- aclng in a jr.t-uliar fashion tli.,t ciuisid ..j.spieii.n, Inn no s rio;is notice Wi-,.s aiiuoi him till.an acquaintance, an

. Ufilc visitid htiu in Ins hut <,:. he V\i,oilsli.ck l-lsiale, on which h vas iinagcd as a drainer. Instead •; riceiv.iig his usual welcom; lie \vaeivmptort'ly ordeud to clear out. '.'lh a significant wave of the hand ndicating a gun in the corner ,u li;' loom. .Next morning he lesn'jnd lis campaign of hostiliiv bv viv the |,„i;s.'. ot ill- Storey,' pin., n ..r by, and ai'tei lailing to gain .dmitianee to tin- house he hid li'imelf in ih- cli.ili'-, ox for some time. •.initially br-liik.ng himself lo the wan,p Willi Ins gi,u u; liis shoulder, .hwe he esj.ini the n.ituc Ti:i, and vitlmui warning opemd lire on hiii, .-nil the gun. ihe first discharge undid on the log alongside of tin •iaori, who quicidy realised ■ iioii. and dodgud hJnt-.d a leg. • hen he looki-ii up again llano, filled ..iioiher dose oi bail into the og. Tins urniMl the ..Maori, -and .. made a li.un.c escape from the •Ciiiity. Cell liable iMel'hee jiul in u appearance wiy slioUly r • aids, and he soon found Ham,! .audeciiig arouiii'. between the log- • nil his gun ready for visiters. 1 ivllaniil appeand to observe li.' consubie and his party, and flipping his gun he nude oil through he swamp, the conslalile pursuing. ..Inn the; got nrai each other the 0,-istable eailid „ut to ilannl. wiio topped and iclurmil Willi out ■irelehid hand an.l smiling face • liej-sh'-ok hands, and .seizing tI K ■ 'ppoiii.nny Hamil strucii the eon -utile ui the face, and then grabbed l,lm '»>' Hie Ugs. A violent .struggle ensued amidst the logs, au ,j H was some t;i m . Ih-i'uic assistance came, Haruil kicking, bniiig, and sinking at the policeman with maniacal iury Finally lonely a.sslsla,iee M-lieied Ihe conslalile irom an awk«ai<l, not .1,, say dangerous, posi- "•»• and the madman was in-d up Later on | K . Was n . lllnVl!l | lo T( . Awaii.uiu where he U r,.,1 furiously '" I"; cells, hutting at the walls Willi his head at evriv chalice He "■'s removed n, 11ami1,,,,, for ;n-al-"J I ''" "ami!, who is -.veil k,,.,wn •irou.uhoiii i h c district, hul not prewously shown any s ,g iis „ t ,|,. ljlltl |ja and had the reputation of being ;l liard-working a nd saving ma,.