PICTURE THEATRES SANE MAN COMMITTED

Evening Star, Issue 18716, 19 August 1924, Page 2

PICTURE THEATRES

SANE MAN COMMITTED

THE “DELUSIONAL” DANGER. JUDGE SUGGESTS SAFEGUARDS. [Peb United Press Association,] AUCKLAND, August 18, An application for determination whether or not a certain man described as X, who had been committed to a mental hospital, was insane came before Mr Justice Stringer in the Supreme Court. In evidence the man’s son stated that he was twenty-eight years of ago. From childhood he "had noticed peculiarities in his father’s manner. As witness grew older and was able to form his own opinions he found that many things his father said were incorrect. Questioned os to X’s delusions, the son said that X could not keep on friendly terms with his neighbors for any length of time. Mr Justice Stringer; It is sometimes difficult to do that. Witness: He seemed to take violent dislikes to people whom he had seen only occasionally, and whom ho had no reason to dislike.

His Honor: How long ago are you speaking of? Witness: Approximately six years ago—from the time we went to a farm in 1906 and extending to about 1918, Continuing, the son said X had never attempted His mother’s life in his presence. Witness referred to an instance of eighteen’ years ago.

llis Honor: We cannot go back eighteen years.

Mr Newberry, who appeared for the son (who opposed the application), said lie would like to show that the delusions had gradually increased. His Honor: Many sane men under certain circumstances have otfered violence to their wives.

Tho son stated that when living at Tarnaki his father accused his mother of unfaithfulness. Tho father made a trapdoor in Ids bedroom, and at night would go down through the trapdoor, and so get under tho mother’s room. The father had holes under the mother’s bed, and would spend most of the night under the house poking sticks backwards and forwards through the holes. His Honor; You know this of your own. knowledge. Witness: 1 know regarding tho holes and the trapdoor. His Honor: You must not say what your mother told yon. Witness said his father belonged to a religious sect known as the Brethren. Witness described an instance when ho interviewed his father on tho farm concerning tho condition of affairs at home. X became violently angry, foamed at the mouth, and ordered witness off the place. (Mr Inder, who appeared in support of the application, said ho could not see the slightest suggestion that could support the idea of delusions. His Honor: I cannot see anything myself.

In evidence the wife of X stated that from tho first days of their married life X suffered from delusions. Over the period covering tho past ten years X had a delusion that his family wanted to rob him. X had threatened her life “ many and many a time.” He had said lie would chop her head in two with an axe. He had accused her of trying to poison him, and said her two sisters had attempted to poison their husbands. Two days before ho was committed he had threatened her life. He had locked the back door on that occasion, and had bailed witness up in the passage, but.she ran out by the front door before he could get his hands on her. He was moody about the house, but made 'no further attack. On one particular night she heard taps on the side of the house, and a man’s voice called out; “Mrs X. I will do you no harm.” She saw her husband and a, man talking. It was moonlight—as bright as day. Afterwards her husband denied that he brought a man to the house, but she was told later that the man had brought two bottles of gin to get her to go out. X had stated that the Brethren were after her for no good purpose.

To Mr Inder: Witness believed that X was not the father of her youngest child. X became aware of that just after its birth. Under further cross-examination the wife said X had at intervals been tho best of husbands. He had been good to her daughter, and had not, as far as witness was aware, threatened her life. Witness did not think X had threatened anybody else. X had accused her of unfaithfulness right from tho start of her married life. The two doctors who had signed the order of commitment gave evidence, in which they agreed that if the facts placed before them on examination had been those they had heard in court, their view would have been very much modified. If they had known that the alleged delusions were in some cases facta, it would have weighed very much with them.

Dr Beattie, medical superintendent of the Auckland Mental Hospital, gave evidence that he found in effect that X had not shown any indications of insanitv. Witness felt ho was not justified in discharging X, so he wrote to Mr Inder and asked him to bring the case before the Supreme Court. Witness had arrived at the conclusion that X was not a fit subject to bo detained.

His Honor said he was quite satisfied that the opinion of Dr Beattie was correct. The evidence adduced satisfied His Honor that if it had been placed before-a magistrate, he probably would never have made an order. “This action certainly suggests to me,” said Ills Honor, “ that there, ought to be some further investigation into alleged delusions before a man can be summarily committed to a mental hospital. It seems to mo there ought to he some investigation as to these alleged delusions, because it is n»w admitted by the two medical men who signed tho certificate that, the alleged delusion was, in fact, no delusion at, all. Probably an investigation might have elicited that fact, and the man would not have, been committed.” His Honor said be had nothing more to do but to direct that X be. immediately discharged by the superintendent. The condition of affairs revealed was not calculated to make for comfort and a happy married life for the parlies, and sonic arrangement should be made for a separation.

Mr Newberry said be intended to move immediately in" that direction.