ESCAPER NUN’S RELEASE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160732, 19 August 1920, Page 7

ESCAPER NUN’S RELEASE.

ALLEGATIONS OF INSANITY. QUESTION OP COUNSEL. ME. RYAN CLAIMS TO ACT, SYDNEY, August 13. Public interest has' been intensely stirred by the escape afid subsequent arrest of a nun from the Mount Erin Convent, Wagga. The young woman, Bridget Partridge, known as Sister Mary Liguori, left the convent grounds during the afternoon of July 24, and entered a private dwelling. She asked permission to rest, which was granted. Later she used the telephone, and rang up the presbytery to tell the priests she had left the convent, but declined to say where she was. The lady in whose house the nun was then informed the convent that Sister Liguori was at her home. Later two nuns visited this home, thanked the lady for her kindness to Sister Ligonri, and the three nuns informed the convent that Sister Ligouri went to bed, but at nine o’clock the same night she again left the institution.

A warrant for her arrest was issued on an information by Dr Dwyer, Roman Catholic Bishop of Wagga, that she was insane, and without sufficient means of support. She was arrested on the night of August 7 at the home of the Rev W. Touchell, Congregational minister, at Kogarah, near Sydney, and taken to the reception house at Darlingkurst, where she was brought before a magistrate on the following Monday morning.

DETECEIYE’S STORY., ) The small Courtroom was crowded when the case was called.

Mr F. B. Boyce appeared for the patient, and Mr T. J. Ryan, K.C., ap peared on behalf of Mr P. J. Minahan, M.L.A., and Mrs Minahan, who, Mr Ryan said, were friends of Miss Partridge. i James Christopher Farley, detective sergeant, told the Court that before midnight on Saturday he went to the residence of the Rov. W. Touchell, at Kogarah, where he saw the patient. Mr Touchell said to him; “This is the lady in question; have a talk to her yourself and see if you think she is insane.” Witness had a conversation with her. Be told her he had a warrant for her arrest, and that he would want her to go to Sydney to the reception house. She said: “Could you not possibly leave it until Monday morning, as it is my intention to surrender myself to the authorities at nine o’clock that morning. 1 sent ray resignation to Bishop Dwyer. Why is he making all this fuss!'” Later the patient was convoyed in a motor car to the reception house at Darlinghurst. It was at this stage that Mr Eyan announced the parties for whom he was appearing, and intimated that he wad also instructed to appear on behalf of Miss Partridge. Mr Boyce: I object to Mr Ryan appearing on behalf of Mr and Mrs Minahan in this way. Miss Partridge is well able to instruct counsel to appear foi her. 1 am instructed that Mr Ryan has no authority to appear for Miss Partridge. Mr Eyan; The question at issue is whether she is really capable of instructing anyone. Mr Boyce: If she is not capable of in strueting anyone,'she is not capable of instructing you. Mr Eyan said he understood that Miss Partridge had expressed a desire to go to Mrs Minahan. Miss Partridge interposed with some remark but it was inaudible. Detective Farley, examined by Mr Boyce, said he had a conversation with Miss Partridge on various topics, and did not detect the slightest sigh of insanity. She was quite normal in her conversation —she was rational in her statements. A CLAIM OF FRIENDSHIP. Mr Gale, the presiding magistrate, addressing Mr Ryan, said that before he went any farther he would have to bo satisfied as to his standing lo appear. Where did Mr Minahan come into it? Mr Ryan: He is a friend _of Miss Partridge, and there is a section in the Act Mr Boyce; I would like to cross-ex-amine Mr Mipahan on this point. I suggest that he has never seen -the lady until this morning. Mr livan emoted section 6, sub-section 5, of ih» i.unacv Act, to the effect that any ; Mat if? or friend might retain, or lake. - a n person under his own care, if lie siulTltd’ ■be justices that such person would be properly taken care of. Air Hale; I have to be thoroughly

| Tv I? van :At present we do not know I w;;:;t the position is—whether the lady , tv\\\ uvAvwrt, anyone. ( ) J)Jr <spJe: Dr Doss and Dr Gibbs say they would (ike a remand for further ( N AjicrrAww.. , Dc Chisholm Eoss then asked, in fne / \Ncx\ws. A AVc wsxvA , tert w xa- v tzaand for seven dsjs, or for any period NlriA time. ( / AN UNWELCOME VISITOR.

Mr Boyce asked, on hclvali oi Miss Partridge, that if she was to be retained Vhere, she should not he visited by any persons by.whom she did not wish to be visited. Mxs Miuahan had visited her on the previous day, but she said she had not seen her in her life before. She did not want any visits hy Mrs Minahan ao-ain. lie ashed that the officers should not allow her to he visited hy anyone except those she wished to see. Mr Gale-. The matter will be -governed by the ordinary rules. I cannot make any order in the matter. Air Boyce : X will leave that to the good sense of the officers. An officer intimated that he would take instructions from Dr Boss as to what was the proper course to take. Mr Boyce: Will Mr Ryan put Mrs Minahan in the box and say that she ever saw this woman before? - Mr Ryan (warmly): I will conduct my case as I think fit. Mr Boyce: I say that she never saw this woman before yesterday. The case was concluded on August 13, when medical experts having reported that she was sane, Miss Partridge was discharged.