INSIDE A LUNATIC ASYLUM

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1756, 1 November 1905, Page 66

INSIDE A LUNATIC ASYLUM

WITH THE INSANE FOR NINE YEARS. ADVENTURES OF A GROOM. (Contributed.) ' Some of those who read in the “ New Zealand Mail” the “Strange Story” of a man getting committed to a lunatic asylum and ,being imprisoned there for nearly a year, have expressed a wish to learn something further concerning our “hospitals for mental diseases.” After his interview with the “ hackblocks ” man, Mr Hogg, M.H.R., in company with the visiting Justice, Mr Edwin Arnold, J.P., dook a tour round Mount View. While admiring the stable and Its occupants the visiting Justice introduced the M.H.R. to the groom. This individual was a tall, rather spare, hut decidedly active man of middle age, or perhaps a little over the meridian. “ You have got good horses, and you evidently take care of them,” he remarked. “Yes,” was the reply. “ How long have you been here ?” asked the M.H.R. “Ovdr nine years. A long, time, isn’t it. And I should never have been here at all.” . “ There does not seem to be much the matter with that man,” was the remark oP the M.H.R., when he left the vicinity of the stables. • “ No,” replied the Justice. “ I have always found him rational enough. My own impression is that he should be at liberty. He drives the doctor all over the town.” “ But, surely, the doctor wouldn’t let a lunatic take charge of his horses and drive him about,” was the remark of -the astonished one. A week or two later another visit was made, and again the M.H.R. came in contact with the groom. Joint representations were made to the Hon W. Hall-Jones, Minister in Charge of Hospitals and Asylums, and Mr Hogg being .informed that the man Would be liberated if some responsible person would take charge of him, asked the man if he had any friends that would be likely to take an interest in him. He named a much-respected J.P. and resident in the Rangitikei district with whom Mr Hogg was intimately acquainted. In the correspondence that followed, Mr Hogg wrote, under date 9th January, 1905:—“I enclose a slip sent me some time ago by M , an inmate of the Mount View Asylum. In company witli the Visiting Justice, 1 have seen M , and be appears rational enough. He is a capital stableman and groom, and he drives the

medical superintendent everywhere. Unless there is something serious wrong with him mentally, I think it is a pity he should he deprived of his liberty; but he will onlv he allowed out on some friend applying for him, and becoming responsible for his care and behaviour. I got the Minister to obtain a report on his case a few weeks ago. He is said to labour under delusions about property, and suffers from what is called ‘systematical delusional insanity,’ whatever that is. He is said to believe himself the victim of persecution by certain individuals, and it is feared if liberated he would ‘go’ for his supposed persecutors. . . If, as I understand, you know M——, and have reason to believe that he should be entrusted with his liberty, I will be glad to do what I can to help you or any of his friends in getting him set- at large-” The reply received by Mr Hogg ocntained . the following:—<“l have known M for over twenty years, and if he is fit to be liberated, I would like to do something for him. As you say, he is a real good man with horses. He used to drive a cab at the Thames and Auckland. Many’s the time he drove the late Sir G. Grey and J. Sheehan about-. I know a good deal about his domestic trouble. . . . I am prepared to find M in a home for some months, if he is given over to my care, and if you can assist me in this matter it will be doing him a good turn.” Mr Hogg sent this letter on to the Minister, stating that he could vouch for the high character of the writer, and adding“Mr E. Arnold, Visiting Justioe, agrees with me that M appears to be well qualified to look after himself, and . would be far better at liberty than virtually entombed among the insane. Will you kindly advise what steps should be taken by M ’s friends to secure his liberation?” A few weeks later Mr Hogg wrote to M ’s friend, advising him respecting the steps taken to give the man his liberty, and concluding :—"I feel quite confident that in helping this man to regain his liberty you are doing him a life-long service, which he w r ill never forget, and the deed is one that will reflect lasting honour on yourself. He is in the prime of life, and should do well for himself, if he will only keep quiet and cease to brood over his wrongs.” Months have passed; the man, onoe more at liberty, is doing well, and earning money, but he has sought legal assistance, in the hope that to some extent he may obtain redi;ess ‘for the losses and wrongs he believes he has suffered. This may be the result of "delusion.” but his counsel has a very different impression. In the meantime, he has written to Mr Hogg and Mr Arnold, expressing his gratitude in truly fervent terms.