IN A TRANCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 September 1923, Page 7

IN A TRANCE

THEFTS BY DOCTOR.

AUCKLAND, September 15. An extraordinary affair is reported from Hamilton, where an Auckland medical man accused of a serious offence was acquitted on the plea that he was not conscious of the act at the time. The case lias aroused a good deal of interest, and inquiries info the matter reveal the fact that on previous occasions there have been lapses of memory, though in no previous instance did the unfortunate man act as he did in the case under notice. A doctr named George Redpatch appeared on remand before Mr. Young, S.M., charged with the theft of a pair of boots, an overcoat, and a walkingstick, the property of a fellow-boarder named Robert Blackie. The defence was that accused had sustained serious war injuries, which often resulted in lapse of memory, causing him to wander away from his home in Greenlane, Auckland. Counsel said his client went to Hamilton during such a turn, and had not the faintest idea of his movements, or how he got there, except that he called on Dr. Spencer. Dr. Spencer gave evidence, and described the'case as one of loss of memory. The magistrate said the evidence indicated that accused wandered to Hamilton in something in the nature of a trance, and was therefore not responssible for his actions. The case was dismissed.