ASYLUM ESCAPEE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1674, 14 February 1913, Page 4

ASYLUM ESCAPEE.

JOHNSTON .GIVES HIMSELF UP,

(Bar Teletrauh.—Prcßd Aisoclatl m.) • ; Auckland, February'l3. Thomas Henry Johnston, tho'- Waihi miner who escaped from the Mental II os-. pitnl at Avoiidalo, and had not l>een traced since ho left on January 5, roturne4 to Auckland to-day of his own free Will. There lias always been, a good deal of discussion ns to whether he should liavo besn committed-.to that and letters which ho wrote after leaving Avon- ■ dale created a good deal of. sympathy for him. Johnston always maintained that lie had been taken Unawares, arid that lio did not-know until tho last moment that lie was being examined with a 'view to his committal. It was .by certain-people that the head of tho hospital had told. Johnston's relatives that tho man was quite - well.- Pinco Johnston's . departure' from Avondalo it has been currently reported that he was' at his home in Waihi. ' This was not tho ; case, bei'ausc ■ the police were. 11'ot aware ■■ of his whereabouts. ' It now appears that ho was in the vicinity, and was closely la touch with- his own family. Mr. ,J.,R. Lundon, of Auckland; who made Jtlmston's caso.the'6Ubjeet of special investigations, managed to oommunioato with! him reetutly and advised hinl'to report himself to the authorities, ' and openly l take steps'to have his Eanity admitted. Mr. Luudon's letter readied Johnston, , and tho letter informed tho: Waihi p<lico that ho proposed to 001110 to Auckland today. He explained that ho was willing to IVlien John-, ston turned' up at the Waihi railway station punctually on timo this morning, and formally gave himself up to custody, that : was- tho first indication that the >pclicof had of , his presenoo in .Waihi. 'Ho oamo oh to Auckland by way of tho Thames with Constable T. Kelly. Johnston waif accompanied by his wife and his littio child. At the wharf ho was met by Dr. Beattie, tho superintendent -at Avondale. and tlio polico escort, (purely a formal 'matter) was dispensed with. ■ It is va-, derstood that steps will bo taken. v to secure foi' Johnston,leave of absence ficm the' Mental Hospital, and that opportunity will bs given him to prove his sanity, Johnston, who is looking remarkably 'well, was, in accordance with tho Act, released for a period not exceeding twentyeight days, and if by that timo lie can get two doctors to testify to his sanity I 10: will be unropditionallyidischarged.;-.Sec-tion 80, Sub-section 2 of tho Meiltal, Defectives Act, 191T, says that "tho super-, intendent of any institution, on recommendation in Writing of a medicnl officer, may permit any patient to bo absent on leave from tho institution under proper control for a period not oxceeding twenty- . eight days, exclusivo of the days of departure and return, and-on such conditions as tho Baid superintendent'thinks lit." Sub-section' 5 »y*' that "nny person 60 absent oh leave may at anytimo of his period of leayo bo discharged ' on receipt bv tho person who granted leave of a medical, certificate that he is no longer a defective, or that lie no, longer requires to bo tinder oversight caro .or control." j. / ." ", • \