VICTIM OF DISEASE

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3939, 18 March 1930, Page 7

VICTIM OF DISEASE

CHANGE IN MAN'S NATURE

That a dread disease had been responsible for an entire change in a man’s character, and had driven him to theft, was the defence recently set up at the Old Bailey in what the .Recorder, Sir Ernest Wild, K.C., described as a case '• wholly exceptional and very sad.” In the dock was Edward Percy John Lodge, aged fifty-nine, assistant superintendent, of the Battersea Post Office. I3rey haired, and wearing spectacles, Lodge trembled as he pleaded guilty to stealing two letters containing a £l*note and >) 3s postal order. Mr Forester Boulton, who prosecuted, explained that Lodge had been forty-four years in the Post Office service, and was receiving at the time of the offencea a salaiy of £455 a year. Owing to losses of letters suspicion fell on him, and he was seen to pick up the two letters, walk to a quiet spot, and open them When spoken to he said he had money troubles, and had been worried about his son’s illness. His son, a ciipple, to whom he was much attached had died in hospital after a long illness Counsel added that Lodge had an exemplary character throughout his long service. He joined up at the outbreak of war, although he was fortythree, and had rheumatism and sciatica as the result ol his experience in France He would have retired next year on a pension of £237 a year, and would have received a lump sum of £587. His friends were thunderstruck when they heard what had happened. Dr James Purdm Martin, of Harley street, a specialist in nervous diseases, gave evidence that he had noticed Lodge when he came to Bolingsbroke Hospital to »isit his crippled son. “ 1 suspected ” continued the,doctor “ that he was suffering from general paralysis of the insane. 1 advised a course of treatment, but he did not take it. After this offence I had him under observation, and found him in the early stages of this disease.” Dr Martin went on to explain that the disease was one in which the sufferer was attacked by a microbe and eventuallv became insane and paralysed. In the early stages the patient became emotional, irritable, and untruthful. As it progressed he became violent and sometimes an incorrigible liar. He ha I often spent money freely, and had the delusion he was a millionaire or the King. His sense of moral responsibility was greatly affected. The disease could be arrested, but the treatment was rather drastic, and unless given by experts rather dangerous. He did not" think it could be given in prison, but be was prepared to give it to Lodge in hospital. The Record?" observed that he was satisfied from his past honourable career that Lodge’s nature had been changed by the fell disease that had attacked him They had heard that the trouble could be arrested, but he was convinced that the treatment necessary for this could not be given in prison. He would therefore bind Lodge over on condition that he placed himself under the direction of Dr Martin. “ There is every reason to hope, the Recorder continued, “ that this treatment will restore you to your normal health and strength, and that you will be able to consider this incident as a nightmare and the dawn of a brighter day.” . Thanking Dr Martin for his assistance and humanity, the Recorder added that it was characteristic of the great profession to which the doctor belonged.