IRON MAN.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 64, 13 October 1930, Page 5

IRON MAN.

Aff OLD PRISONER'S TRICKS. SYDNEY, Ocober 3. The illness recently of an bid prisoner in the Bathurst Gaol in ISvw South Wales puzzled many doctors until an X-ray of his stomach revealed sixteen pieces of wire two blades of a penknife, and a piece of lead! This collection of internal complaints is now in the possession of Dr. Brookmore, wh o is the Government Medical Officer, Bathurst, and the gaol doctor. Their former owrier was serving a l° n S sentence and it was his desire to secure a res« in hospital. After he had been in" gaol for some time he reported sick, and iri reality he was very ill. He was examined by various doctors, who found it impossible to diagnose his complaints. The symptoms were altogether new to them, so the XJtay examination was decided upon The pieces of copper wire were from three to seven inches long, an'd the piece of lead was three inches long. Inquiry revealed that the prisoner had picked the wire off his dinner pail, had broken it up into pieces and had swallowed one piece after another. The operation that followed meant for him a long rest in hospital, and it was a rest he enjoyed. He had the best of treatment and the best of food, an'd apparently he thought that his idea was a good one. When he recovered he was sent back to prison, but that was not the end of, "his adventure. It wa s not long before the old fellow reported sick again. He did not trick the doctors a second time, arid the first thing that was done was to order another X-ray examination. This time his internal armoury consisted of eighteen pieces of wire, a penknife blade, and another piece of lead. Another operation was the result, and another nice long spell in hospital. Then back to gaol. A few weekg elapsed and he reported sick once again. But on the third occasion' there was no operation, no rest in the hospital, no white sheets and good food. As his sentence had nearly expired he was discharged—wire and all!