A Curious Case.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 2905, 22 February 1893, Page 2

A Curious Case.

The total obliteration of the past from the mind of an individual is seldom read of outside the pages of novels. One of the exceptional instances is at present (says the " Melbourne Argus ") engaging the attention of the police at Russell street. The individual who is puzzling hem is abou^ 30 years of age, and well and respectably dressed. He upset the equanimity of the sub-officer in charge of the inquiry office by walking in and asking in courteous language to be informed " who he was." He was treated at first as an imbecile, but he wnte at dictation from the statutes and police regulations, which if he was not already mad was calculated to make him so. He soon convinced the police that he was merely suffering from loss of memory- He could not remember his name .or his place of abode, nor the names of any friends or the events of his'past. He was living only in the present. He was calm and respectful, yet as ib vas necessary to deal with him somehow, jbhe accommodating charge of in ulting behavior was entered against 1 his name, and he was lucked up. Such a proceeding is generally instantaneous in i ! bringing the most recalcitrant man to his senses, but it failed, or seemi'd to fail, utterly in this case. Since then he has remained in the gaol under medical treatment, and as he continues oblivious o c his hbtory the police desire that anyone who can give information that will lead to his identification shall do so. He is of slight build, sft fin in height, of dark complexion, and has a short black moustache and black hair streaked with grey. He wears a Beaufort coat, light tweed trousers and vest, a hard feit hat, 9«4 tamed sfeG#§<