AN OBSTINATE OLD MAN.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 116, 22 June 1914, Page 8

AN OBSTINATE OLD MAN.

INSISTS HE IS INSANE. AND REFUSES PENSION. It has long been the popular idea that a person mentally affected usually thinks himself sane. To-day a man came before the court to prove a converse theory. He had been certified sane by the authorities at Sunnyside, but he persisted in the belief that he was of unsound mind. He said he had been hypnotised, and if any medical man said he was in his right senses, then "he didn't go much on his opinion.'' "Here's our problem again," said Mr Bishop, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court to-day when the man in question, Frank Persse, a native of Ireland, 70 years of age, stepped into the dock. The old man was charged with being an idle and disorderly pefson with no visible means of support. This was what the charge sheet said, but in the column provided for the financial statement it was set down that he possessed the sum of one penny. '' What are you going to do about it? " asked the Magistrate' of Sub-Inspector M'Kinnon. "We talked it over for about half : an-hoitr last week and came to no definite conclusion. He hasn't got any money. He won't go into a home, and he won't accept an old-age pension, although lie's a man of unblemished record and eligible for one." The Sub-Inspector: No, your Worship ; he wanders about at all hours of the day and night. Mr Bishop: I know he does. I've seen him. He's as obstinate as a mule, and you can do anything with him. He won't listen to reason. You said last week you wouldn't accept a pension—are you still ..of tjie same mind? Persse: Yes; I'd sooner put a bullet through there" (pointing to his forehead). Mr Bishop: Why won't you take a pension ? Persse : Well, I was told some time ago that my mine was worth money, and I won't accept a pension while I've got these rights. I 'll go back to Sunnyside if you like. Persse spent the best part of half-an-hour explaining to "the bench that he was mentally deranged, but Mr Bishop was sceptical. Sub-Inspector M'Kinnon said that the old man had been in Sunnyside but was discharged as mentally sound. Since his discharge he had been wandering about the streets penniless. '' You 're such an obstinate old man,'' said Mr Bishop. "You wouldn't stop in Sunnyside, you wouldn't go to gaol, and won't take a pension. You prefer, to exist on the money from some illusionary mine.''

Persse explained at length that he would die of hunger sooner than take a pension. He had a mine (site not specified), and if the money was handled rightly it would be sent to him. "The prophet Moses wouldn't induce me to take a pension," said accused. "The prophet Moses isn't here," said Mr Bishop. "I'm the prophet for the time being." Mr Bishop: Dr Gow has certified to me that you are perfectly sane. He has certified it in writing. Persse: Well, if that's his opinion, I don't go much for it! Mr Bishop: Well, that's the opinion of an expert. Do you think you are mentally deranged ? Persse: Yes, I'm not sound in my mind. Mr Bishop: He's got to go somewhere; he's twice threatened to commit suicide. Sub-Inspector M'Kinnon: Yes, your Worship, and he made a very good attempt at it one day. The pension might pay for his board in an institution. Mr Bishop: He won't accept one, and we can't make him. He's only got to sign an application, but he won't. Would you take a pension to pay for your board in an institution? Persse: How much would I get? Mr Bishop: Ten shillings a week. Persse: I couldn't live respectably on less than a hundred a year. Mr Bishop: But you 're penniless now, aren't you? Persse: Yes. Mr Bishop: It would be very much against the grain to send a man like you to gaol. You have an unblemished character, and I'd feel that I'd almost committed a crime in doing so. I suppose you'd sooner go to gaol than accept a pension? Persse: Yes. If they don't take me in at Suunyside put me in gaol. Mr Bishop: How old are you? Persse: Seventy-one on August 1. Mr Bishop: And you haven't got a shilling, I suppose? Persse: No, not a shilling. But I've got a bigger coin—a penny. Mr Bishop: Yes. I see you're credited with a penny on the charge sheet. The Magistrate said that he would see Dr Gow at Sunnyside in the afternoon and would ask him about Persse.

"I've never seen such a man,'' said Mr Bishop, as he instructed the SubInspector to keep Persse in custody until to-morrow.