AN ARMED LUNATIC AT LARGE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3369, 25 November 1889, Page 2

AN ARMED LUNATIC AT LARGE.

A Sensational Adventure. The following further particulars are given m the Ohristcliurch Telegraph : On Tuesday theChristchurch police received word that a man was going about on horseback, and armed, in the Bumham district, and that from his peculiar mamier ho was supposed to be suffering from lunacy. The various police officers at the country stations in tho south wero communicated wjth at once, and a win ww M to Burabw. It was

ascertained that the mad horsoman

had gono in the direction of Rakaia that day. From further information obtained by the police it appears thut the man gave the name of 'fillet, and to Mr Witby, of Burnham, lie

said lio had got out of gaol. The description given is that lie is a man of stout build, medium height, with a brown moustache, about twentyeight

years of age. This description tallies with that of a man named George 'fillet, who was dischariM from Lyttolton gaol on tlio 17th instant after serving a sentence of two years' hard labor on a charge of committing a criminal assault on a girl at Probbelton. He is a married

man and his wife resides at South-

bridge. During his incarceration ''fillet showed symptoms of insanity, and he was examined hv two medical

men, who, however, pronounced him to be sane, The head gaoler, however, was of opinion that the man was not right in his head. ■ It has been.u. ascertained that a pony, saddle,* and brullo wero stolen from the., neighborhood at now Brighton on Sunday, and ammunition from

Hansen's wbare at Babbit Island on

Tuesday, Tillet has stuck up the people of several houses for food for himself'nnd horse. Yesterday at noon he called- at Hazeldean farm.

North liukuia, and asked Mrs Inwood for food for himself and horse, which was supplied. He then had a gun and two revolvers with him. Tillet's description was telegraphed ycsterdVy to all the police stations in Caiprbury, and Inspector Tender went on to liakaii l , by train this morning, • It is to be hoped the man's capture will , be effected without loss of time, as there is no saying what harm ho might do in the way of frightening people, to say nothing of the danger ofl oadett weapons being in the hands of a madman.

The following loiter appeared in ihe Press' Ibis morning concerning ibc übvove :

Sm.—Being placed in an awkward position yosterday, and not knowing how to act, I hive a question to ask;

but, before doing so, I will make aji statement. W I am living by myself on the Burn-* ham read, near Greendale. Yester-

day, just after I had my dinner, a man rode up to the gate and called out to mo. I went to him. He

said, "Have you any horse feed?" He was a young man, with a red, freckled face, shaved, with a brown moustache, light check trousers, dark

coat and vest, and double-pcakJ| tweed hat, silver watch-chain, wi* greenstono hanging to it. He was on a small bay pony, with a bag of provisions under the saddle. He had a leather bag under his arm, with a revolver, shot and bullets in it.

In his hand ho held a singlebarrel fowling-piece, capped and cocked. Ho said it had a ball Not liking tho look of him, I said I had no feed to sparo. He said, I've como a long way and I .must have it. Ho said if ho did not got what he wanted he would use the gun. That, be said, would get him everything ho wanted. Ho then said, Don't you knownio? I'm'fillet. I got out of gaol, The " slops" are after ine, and 111 shoot tho first I see. Think, ing him a madman, I fed his horse, with tho gun pointing at mo most of tho tinio, I had to boil tho kettle aud make him some tea. He had in the bag si loaf of new bread, some butler and sugar, and oats mixed. He was jabbering nonsonco all the lime, Ho never lot me out of Itej sight all tho time till be let mo go #> tho next room for some sugar. In that room I lind n shot gun loaded and capped. At first I thought of covering him with it; on second thoughts I came to. the conclusion that if was out of bis mind he might raise his gun, which was lying on his legs, and'then I should have shot him in tho head and killed him, so boing afraid of the law 1 had to submit to be ordered about by a madman with a gnu in his hand, Everything he had ho said ho had stolen, and to-night he would have a blanket, 1 had to humor him in everything. Hesaidbocauso I had been good to him he would not hurt me, or else he would have taken my hack.

Allot jnvhilo ho loft me, on tho rQiiii to. the mountains, where lio said thopolicewouldncTcrliiidhim. Jhavo not written half what happened or half Hie annoyance I was put to. Under those oiraumstancos, sir, should i have been right in coymmbi mg him with the gun, and if lS£ made anj movement to have shot him.