MAD ON HIS WEDDING DAY

Dunstan Times, Issue 1842, 12 November 1897, Page 3

MAD ON HIS WEDDING DAY

A couple of months ago Benjamin Saunders, a porter and ticket - collector, employed on one of the Loudon railways, made the acquaintance of a Miss Higgins, of Harefield, at a fire brigade concert at Ripkmansworth Town Hall, and the wedding was fixed to take place at Harefield parish church on the first Tuesday in September, but was postponed till the following Thursday by the bridegrooom, on account of bis having to be on duty that night. Every preparation had been made, and the bridegroom was hourly expected on Thursday morning; but as time wore on and he did not put in an appearance the anxiety of the bride and her friends increased. Eventually the wedding was again postponed indefinitely, and the bride with a relative went to Rickmansworth to make inquiries. It appears, from what she ascertained, that Saunders was seen on the previous Tuesday afternoon, when he was on duty at Rickmansworth He left for tea, but instead of returning to his duties the same evening nothing more was seen of him till the following morning, when he entered a train for Baker street. The next that was heard of him was contained in a telegram from West Mailing, Kent, to the Rickmansworth police asking if a railway porter named Saunders was “wanted,” as he had been found at that place and seemed strange in his mind. A reply was received that Saunders was absent from his duties without leave, but was not “ wanted.” The sequel to the affair was heard at the Mailing Police Court, when Saunders was bi ought before the magistrates, charged with being a wandering lunatic. Dr Mellor, the local medical officer, stated that the defendant’s mind was unhinged, and the evidence of the police was conclusive. The runaway, whose identity was determined by the letters in his possession, was found by a constable sleeping in a field, the latter’s attention being attracted by a large number of parcels lying by his side. On being awakened Saunders’s demeanor was very strange, and his memory appeared a complete blank. He was unable to*give reasonable replies to the questions addressed him, and was therefore taken to Mailing police station. In his bundles were found several suits of private and official clothes, a couple of watches, and various other articles, but only about 2a in money, although he protested that he had just been paid £ll. In his cell he employed his time by signalling tiains in and out of Baker street station, collecting imaginary tickets, and, in fact, performing his usual duties. The magistrates ordered him for the present to be detained in Mailing Union Infirmary,