A STRANGE VISITOR.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 277, 28 December 1914, Page 8

A STRANGE VISITOR.

CALLS ON POLICE AND HOSPITAL. i The Christclyurch Police Station ha* a queer (iayi In the afterj noona; vei-y: dejected and dbwne'ast i»- [ dividual called at the-*station," ant poured out a long tale of woe, but im such an incoherent fashion that the officers who examined him could not make out the burden of his complaint. At one time he seemed to lay claim t« being a racehorse, owner, and one of his grievances ; was that two fine animals had lost their lives in a stable fire. His chief complaint, however, was that people were not kind to him, but followed him about and persecuted him. Whilst the police-were trying to pieeo his wandering statements {into something like •& consecutive '- their visitor suddenly sat down, divested him-. self of his boots and socks, and made off up the street at a speed which rendered pursuit hopeless. A constable was dispatched to chase him, but he failed to find any trace of his quarry. A few minutes later a telephone message was received from the hospital to the effect that a stranger had been found wandering round the corridors, and did not seem to be in his right mind. A constable was sent to the hospital, and there found the man who ha* previously caused such a stir at the station. Whether or not he had decided that he would be more cordially received by the hospital staff than by the police was not made the subject Gf enquiry, for he was promptly lodged in a cell, in order that his condition might be observed. By this morning he had developed unmistakable signs of lunacy, but whether ; as the result of drink or disease could not definitely be -ascertained.

The man appeared at tire court this morning and gave the name of William Britton Tomlinson. He was charged with helpless drunkenness, but the Magistrate was inclined to think that he was more a subject for the attentions of a mental expert. He was remanded for a week for medical treatment.