I AM THE PRINCE OF WALES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11056, 6 May 1899, Page 1 (Supplement)

I AM THE PRINCE OF WALES.

ELTHAM MILLIONAIRE'S STRANGE HALLUCINATION. Mr.. T. H. Fischer, Q.C., one of the Masters in Lunacy, held an inquiry lately at Eltham Park into the lunacy or otherwise of Mr. Alfred Stern, son 01 the late Baron Stern. In opening the case for the petitioner, Lady Salmons (one of Mr. Stern sisters), Mr. Rawlinson, Q.C., said it would be recollected that some time ago Mr. Stern created a considerable disturbance by attempting to force his. way into Marlborough House, one of his hallucinations being that he was the Prince of Wales. He insisted upon being addressed as His Royal Highness. One of his peculiarities was that when he had drunk a bottle of wine at dinner he immediately flung the empty bottle through the window. When strangers approached him he would cover his head with a towel or newspaper, and the only explanation he gave why he did so was " Kinkelinky." His most marked peculiarity, however, was that several times in the course of a week he would violently clap bis hands for half-an-hour at a time. This, he stated, was in order to summon the ghosts of Wellington and Napoleon. Mr. Stern is a man not of ordinary wealth, his property amounting to some three millions sterling. He refused to leave his room and came down into that in which the inquiry was held, and the learned Master and the jury went up to him. Replying to questions put by the Master, he repeated his desire to be addressed as His Royal Highness, admitted that he had, perhaps, some thousands of pounds belonging to him, but denied that he had a banking account, although, as e matter of fact, he has as much as between £50,000 and £60,000 standing to his credit on current account. The jury unanimously came to the conclusion that Air. Stern was incapable"of looking after himself and managing his affairs,