A Strange Delusion.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4210, 11 October 1886, Page 3

A Strange Delusion.

A rather peculiar incident occurred on Saturday at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Osmaru. The doors of tbp Court were ,opened, : in tho temporary absence of Mr Tail, a tall and imposing looking individual walked into the room and took his seat on the Bench, Opening the magistrate’s note-book he commenced to write, at the same time assuming a rather 11 judicial ’’ look. On the return of the clerk be 'noticed the stranger) but did not at the moment

I Giro to interrupt his judicial work,being under the impression tint District Judge Broad might, like the ghost in Hamlet have a rather unannounced way of dropping in on quiet people. However, a minute afitr "his honor" was asked to vacate the Bench,but requested a brief respite till ho bad disposed of an important case be bad to decide. On leaving the Bench he took a horizontal position on one of the seats in the body of the Court, and the clerk h.d time to examine Mr Robinson’s note book, and found in a large " judicial ’’ hand the following " William Murchant, Timaru, Canterbury. Thomas Hall, pardoned, 1886." On the magistrate entering the Court the man was asked to leave, bat made a rather rambling statement, and Inspector Thompson there and then entered a charge against him of being a lunatic at large, and the man was remanded for medical examination. He had made a statement to the effect that he arrived from Timarn in a carriage and fonr, but he could not persuade Mrs Hall to come with him, although he bad had the pleasure of driving out with Miss Houston ia a carriage and pair previous to his leaving Timaru, It is probable that the Hall-Honston case has turned the man’s bead.—“ North Otago Times."