DAYNIGHT INSOMNIA.

Grey River Argus, 25 May 1910, Page 1

DAYNIGHT INSOMNIA.

Archibald Depau, \Yho Has gained the name of "tli&* laziest mam. in the ivtirld," wa^ 'compelled by (the stern haiid of British, justice to drag hibaself out of bed iii Ldndon reoentiy, *n orde- to akend tiie Tabtenham Police '(Jourt, where Els wofe ai^ked a separartino order, on the ground of his failure to maintain her and her children, lib wais related thia.t the extraordinary creature has done no work sines 1904. He >spent mostb of his time in bed. and on one occasion when he was ruthlessly torn from 'the arms of Morpheus, and thrust, yawning prodigiously, into the back yard, be crept through a window and back into Ins beloved bed again. On another occasion * when a situation had been found tor him ha pleaded pathetically that lie was too_pld. He wanted Ins hair dyed and some false teeth, and 'refused 'to go to jnork one morning because it was raining. Counsel for tlw long-suffering wife said the man was so thoroughly consumed with laziness that "he could snore upon a .stone." He had lain in bed for six weekd at a 'stretch, and Hs wife had lifted him aitd the bed in a vain attempt to dislodge Mm. She and -her son had tried, to push him out of bed to induce Him to go to a situation that was available. Upon one redletter day "they" iriduced Him to get Up, 'tout in thex-evanihg He returned anJ reported that He Had nab been ,so V€}A'tUirl9(sonfGi |as( to stray wibhin sinking distance of the proffered work. He was sent to prison in 189$ for' neglecting his wife, and on being released, proceeded to make up the heavy arrears of slumber. His wooing of the drawsy god appears to Have been successful. He got up twice and onj of ibhese occasions he invaded the kitchen for food, and then returned to enjoy well-earned repose for three or tour days longer. He provided jiutihing for the hou^e, this inglorious specimen of a~ husband and father, and ate the children's food when nobody was looking. The inspector of police who invesibigarf>ed the case said Depau ladmitted He had no pain or no , disease, but thai He suffered from insomina! The one bright spoib was the testimony of the Brigadier of the Salvation Army, who stated that since the Army officers went to his Home and 1 prayed wiH him, Depau Had- gone to Cne station and had been at work ever since. Impressed by the success attending this la'at effort, the Magistrate granted the separation and Handed the man over 'to the care of the Salvationists. At tsie same sitting of 'the Court another lazy man, indescribably filthy, was charged wilth neglecting lus children. He Had done no work for tliree years.,' and he leaned wearily against 'the dock. His wHaningis that his wife Had hit him with a poker and had given him no time to get washed, iell on unsympaiEhetic ears, for he waft promptly sentenced to 'three months' lmprisonmemit. The unsavoury (condition of this iprecious idler may be gauged by the fact that the prisoners' dpcl^ was not used again afifcer liis exit subseque(nii| mafse£av^bo)rs standing by tha solicitors' table.