THE ARMED LUNATIC.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3377, 4 December 1889, Page 2

THE ARMED LUNATIC.

It will be learned with feelings of atisfaction that the man George .'illet, who has been roaming about bo country districts between. Christhurcb and Ashburtou, on liorsebaoli nd armed, during the past week, fas cleverly captured by Constable Jlack on the Lakaia bridge earl} estorday morning. The latest heart if him by tlio police the day provioui ras that he had crossed tlio Hakai. Ivor at Dobbin's ford, about twelvi niles below the township, at noon md was traced to the blacksmith' iliop at Wakauui. Yesterday morn ng Mr Pearson, bailiff to the E.JJ Jourt at Ashhurton, was driuii| rom that township to Maia whei le overtook a man whom ho believe ;o be Tillet on the road near Dromort [he man rode along in front of Peat ion till Chertsoy was reached, whe: die latter prtssod him, The man wa hen carrying a gun. On arrival a Rakaia, about 5.15 a.m Pearson a nice went to the Police Station air iroused Constable Black, In i luarter of an hour Blaok was dresse' tnd armed with his revolver, am stationed behind the gatekeeper's bo: )n the Rakaia bridge, while Pearsoi ;ook up a position under the end o the bridge, In -a few minutes th •mix on horseback, who proved to b fillet came along. Ho was oarryiuj the gun upright on tlio saddle in fron of hum Blaok allowed him to ge two yards past the box behind whicl lie was hidden, and then chaliengei rillet to' surrender, at the sam time covering him with his revol ver, Tillet turned round at one and lowered his gun, pointing it ii ilircction of of Black. The constable nothing daunted, again callenged th man, and ordered him to drop hi gun, but as he hesitated about obey ing the challenge Black fired tw shots from his revolver over Tillet' head. Tillet then said, "Don't shoo me: I'll surrender," He laid th gun down alongside the bridge rail ing,. and black than ordered him r t< get off his horse on the side next tt him (the constable). Tillet did si and Black hand-cuffed him.^'Pearso: then came up, and Tillet was takei to tlio lock-up. The gun was single-barrelled one, loaded an capped, In Tillet's possession wer also found a powder flask about quarter full of powder; a shot-poucl containing about half a pound o coarse shot; and a box of caps, Ni revolvers were found upon him, am he subsequently said he had neve had any. It has been said tha Tillet was carrying two roYolvora but this story might have bee) spread by Tillet.himself, wi*h a, vio\ to intimidate people. The horse, o rather pony, that Tillet was riding.i a well-bred animal, and belongs to : labourer, at New Brighton, namei Thorns Frost, It was missed on th morning of the 19th instant. Tille admits stealing the pony, also th saddle and bridle, but both belong ti Mr Patterson, of the New Brightoi Hotel. The gun ho stole from i whare at LakoEllesmore, and is th property of a labourer named S Hauson, Constable Blaok brongh Tillet on the Christchurch by th first train. He was very quite afte his arrest, but said to the oonstahle "I wish you had shot me." Th excuse he gavo for having ■ aotcd ii suoh an extraordinary manner dur ing the past few day's was that sine he was liberated from gaol on th Iflth the police have been watchiiij him,and he thought ho might,a well do something tnat would Cans him to he taken back to gaol. Since hi arrest he has not shown- 'an; symptoms of insanity, but apppearej to accept his position verycheorM' -Christchurch Press;