A STRANGE SCENE.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2947, 26 July 1878, Page 3

A STRANGE SCENE.

On Monday night, about 11 o'clock, considerable sensation was created amongst a large number of people gathered at the Hotel di Roma, corner of Brunswick street and the Victoria-parade, by tho strange conduct of a maa evidentlysuffering from delirium tremens. The man had got on the outside ledge of the topmost window of the hotel, and while holding on to the window by one hand, he brandished in tho other a large pocketknife, with which he threatened to cut his throat. While gesticulating i;> this manner he cried to the people below to go for Dr Moloney, and seemed by his utterances to be in the bplief that some person from the inside of the hotel was going to shoot him. After hanging in this dangerous position for close upon half an hour, a young man named Stone, an omnibus-driver, volunteered to secure tl& seeming madman with a rope. Stone went to the window and succeeded in wrenching the knife from the madman's grasp, but could not get the rope round him. Seeing the efforts that were being made to secure him, the man let go his hold on the ledge of the window in the second story. By this time a blanket had betfn procured and was held in readiness in case the man should fall. Some few minutes elapsed, when tho man, in a strangely fortunate manner, swung himself down into the window, breaking thr|je or four panes of glass. He then lefjMihe window and walked along a narj*fa ledge, and about 15ft from the ground, arid junipetl into the blanket, which had been in. readiness for him. He was instantly secured and handcuffed by Constables Gallender and Murray and taken to the Pitzroy Lock-up. He was searched, and there was found on him a revolver, some silver, and eight "keep your temper " coins, and a certificate from Dr Moloney, stating that a Mr Higgins was suffering from bronchitis. From inquiries made at the Hotel di Roma, it is ascertained that the man's name is Matthew Higgins, brother of Mr Hugh Higgins, of Richmond, and had been taken to the hotel by a Mr White on Saturday last. On Monday afternoon, the landlady of the hotel states, Higgins went into the hotel in a very excited state, exclaiming that he had been robbed of £50, and while at dinner he could not sit still, and finally got hastily up and rushed in and out of the house with a carving-knife. The police were sent for, and Higgins rushed up stairs and got out of the window. Every effort wa3 made to get him in by the people inside, who sat down to cards, j and tried to induce him to join them, but he persisted in saying he had been robbed and was going to be murdered. It is stated that Higgins has suffered from an attack of the "horrors," and has scarcely recovered. He will probably be brought before ,the Fitzroy Bench oh Thursday next. .