AMAZING ADVENTURES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 278, 21 November 1913, Page 5

AMAZING ADVENTURES.

LUNATICS AT THE CUP. TREAT FOR GOOD BEHAVIOUR. MELBOURNE. November 20. The amazing adventures of a party of lunatics on ( up Day were related at an inquiry itit" charges against a man named Carter and an attendant of Mount Park Asylum. Carter v.as charged with assaulting the attendant and using bad language, while the attendant" was charged with being tinder the influence of liquor and assaulting Carter. The inquiry was held by the Inspector-General for the Insane. Both charges were denied.

The evidence showed that ten patients known as "liberty men," who work about the farm and are harmless, wore allowed to go to see the race for the Melbourne Cnp as a treat "_>t good behaviour. Two attendants aud Crter were placed iv charge of the party, which went to tlie races in vehicles belonging to the asylum. Lunch was taken in a hamper, which included one bottle of light ale for each man. A shilling was given each to pay for admission to the fiat, where the patients were allowed to wander freely among the dense crowd, the understanding being that they were to assemble beside the vehicle after the races.

The party visited two hotels on the homeward journey, during which a quarrel arose between Carter and an attendant through a -patient taking a bottle of beer from Carter's pocket. The patients became alarmed, but order was at length restored, and the party returned safely.

This is not a new- experiment. Parties have gone to the Melbourne Cup in previous years. No one of this party was 'ost. but it is stated that one from a Kew Asylum party has disappeared, and has not been found.