A PECULIAR CASE,

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10132, 15 May 1896, Page 4 (Supplement)

A PECULIAR CASE,

A man named Robert Livingstone, who was before the Court), Wellington, on Monday, the 27fch of April, on a charge of stealing an oilskin coat) and was remanded, said he had been confined Melbourne Lunatic Asylum, whence he was discharged as cured; thence he was sent to Sydney in a Huddart-Parker boat, and that company had

to find a bond of £500 for his maintenance as within two days of bis arrival' he again showed signs of insanity. Then, according to Livingstone, the company persuaded him to go to New Zealand, where a bond of £100 only is required- At Oh'ristchurch be was , placed in Sunpyeide Asylum, and the company,refusal to take him back either to Sydney or Melbourne. He came up here andinformedlnspector Pender that be was going to commit theft in order to bring out the facte. Mr. Murrell, of Huddart'Parksr's agency, told a representative of the Post who interviewed him on the subject, that they had tried to get the man/ to return from Sydney to Melbourne, but he refused. The company would now probably have to pay for his maintenance. They would like to send him back to Melbourne, but he wanted to go to Sydney. If they shipped him they could not prevent" him landing ab > Sydney or Hobart, and so the, company,found themselves quite unable to get) ridpprf r nun. . Mr, Murrell thinks there should be a provision | giving the Government power to send any lunatic back to the place be Mine from. ".i- IY.iV; 0* t'i' V- .