MAD OR SANE?

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1524, 21 August 1912, Page 5

MAD OR SANE?

CASE OF A SYDNEY ECCENTRIC

DEMAND FOR LIBERATION. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (lire. August 20, 11.35 p.m.) Sydney, August 20. The oaso of Hie man Chidley, whose .sanity i< disputed, was dismissed in the Legislative Assembly In-day. Cliidley was arrested for obstructing tlie traffic ill Sydney by parading llio streets clad in a singlet and a kilt, and offering for sale to llio'crowds following liim a notorious book which he had written. Ho subsequently was incarcerated in a lunatic asylum. In reply to a question iu the Assembly to-day, the State Premier, Mr. M'Gowen, stated' that Chidley's friends hnd made no representations to liim. Mr. Meagher moved the adjournment to discuss the case, which, ho declared, seriously affected the liberty cf tho subject. Tho papers tablet! in tho Houso were incomplete and meaningless, and it was the duty of rtlie Government to make them complete. Mr. Levy said he considered a mistako lmd been made and tho sooner it woo rectified tho belter. Chidley'B friends should be given a fair chance of defending him against the chargo 'of insanity. Dr. Arthur said Cliidley was suffering from mental abnormality. Ho was quite convinced that it was not for tho public good that Cliidley should bo allowed to speak in public and before mixod audiences. Ho was convinced that if ho waa liberated on a pledge not to lcchire, within a few days he would bo expounding the preposterous theory ho held. Mr. M'Gowen, in referring to the repeated charges that Chidley had been arrested becauso of the way ho dressod, said if ho thought that had anything to do with his incarceration ho would liberato him immediately. He detailed tho steps the Government had taken, and was taking, in the case. Tho motion for tho adjournment was negatived. SPECIAL REPORT ORDERED, (Rec. August 20, 9.30 p.m.) Sydney, August 20. Mr. M'Gowen has received tho report of two members of tho Asylum's Visiting Committee, endorsing tho previous official opinions as fo the unsoundness of mind of Chidley, tho simplc-lifo advocate. Mr. M'Gowen has instructed the Inspec-tor-General of tho Insane to mako i special roport. Subscriptions to the Chidley fund aro coming in freely.