Madman’s Menace: A Constable’s Courageous Rescue

DESPERATE ENCOUNTER WITH A MADMAN.
A PLUCKY CONSTABLE SAVES A CHILD.

Eccentricities suggestive of religious mania were evidenced by a man named Robert Alexander JOHNSON (more familiarly known as “Professor” St. Clair, the Palmist) during the past week, and they developed to a dangerous stage on Friday night, when Johnson advised his wife to watch him, as he said, he felt rather queer.

On Thursday evening, he sharpened a carving knife and brought an axe into the house, telling his wife that God had said they must all get ready to die. Mrs. Johnson said, “Surely you would not kill us,” and to this, Johnson replied, “If God tells me to do it, I will have to obey Him.” On Friday night, his mania was less pronounced, but early yesterday morning, it became worse. After breakfast, Johnson left his house and shut himself in an outhouse, where he remained until 3 o’clock in the afternoon, when Constable Jones appeared on the scene and persuaded the man to leave the outhouse.

As Johnson was wearing only pants and a vest, he asked to be allowed to dress before proceeding to the Piccadilly Police Station. He entered the house through a window, as his wife had locked the children in and had gone for assistance. While waiting for Johnson to come out, Constable Jones heard a noise as of the sharpening of a knife. He burst the door open and found Johnson holding his two-year-old daughter on a table, while he flourished a newly-sharpened knife in the air. Although several stone lighter than the madman, the constable rushed at Johnson.

The weight of the latter told, however, and the constable went underneath. The constable induced Johnson to let him up, and then, snatching the child up, he made a dash out to a neighbour’s house, with Johnson armed with a knife, in hot pursuit. Depositing the child in safe keeping, the constable, with a pitchfork, kept the madman at bay, and ultimately, with the assistance of five other men, he handcuffed Johnson and conveyed him to the police station in a tram, the windows of which Johnson smashed.

The madman was lodged in the lock-up and placed in a straitjacket.

Robert Alexander JOHNSON was brought up in court the following day and remanded in custody for medical assessment for being of unsound mind. He was then transported to Fremantle Lunatic Asylum.

Constable Jones was commended by the Commissioner of Police for his brave act.