THE ARMED LUNATIC AT LARGE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1973, 23 November 1889, Page 3

THE ARMED LUNATIC AT LARGE.

On Tuesday last the Christchurch pelice received word that a man was going about on horseback, and armed, in the Burnham district, and that from his peculiar manner he was supposed to be suffering from lunacy. The various police officers at the country stations in the south were comnmiicated with at once, and a man was sent to Burnham. It was ascertained that the mawl horseman had gone in the direction of Eakaia that day. From further information obtained by the police it appears that the man gave the name of Tillet, and to Mr Waby, of Bmrnham, he said he had got out of gaol. The description given is that he is a man of stout build, medium height, with a brown moustache, about twenty-eight years of age. This; description tallies with that of a man named George Tillet, who was discharged from Lyttelton gaol on the 17th inst. after serving a sentence of two years' hard labor on a charge of committing a criminal ass»ult on a girl at Prebbleton. He is a married man and his wife resides at Southbridge. During his incarceration Tillet showed symptoms of insanity, and he was examined by two medical men, who, however, pronounced him to be sane. The head gaoler, on the other hand, was of opinion that the man was not right in his head. It has been ascertained that a pony, saddle and bridle were stolen from the neighborhood of New Brighton on Sunday, and a gun, and ammunition, from S. Hanson's whare at Rabbit Island on Tuesday. Tillet has stuck up the people of several heuses for food for himself and horse. On Wednesday at moon he called at Hazeldean farm, iNorth Bakaia, and asked food for himsislf and horse, which was supplied. Hei then had a gun and two revolvers with him. Tillet's description was tttlegraphed to all the police stations in Canterbury, and Inspector Pender went on to Bakaia by tram yesterday morning. It is to be hoped the mam's capture will be effected without loss of time, as there is ho saying what arm he might do in the way of frigate ning people, to say nothing of the -danger from loaded weapons being in the hads of a madman. Tillet wms seen yesterday morning at Wakanui, near Ashburton. —Press, Nov. 22.