SANE OR MAD ?

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2457, 10 May 1915, Page 9

SANE OR MAD ?

MENTAL PATIENTS IN COURT

A STRANGE STORY (By TelcErftuh.—Prese Association.) Auckland, May 8. An unusual case was before Sir. Justice Hosking at the Supreme Court on Jnday, when Reginald W. Hill, solicitor, of Auckland, appeared for consideration of the conditions under which he was at present under detention at the Auckland Mental Hospital. Tho Hon. J. A. Tole represented the Crown, and Mr. Blomfield appeared for Hill, a clean-shaven, well-featured man, who _ took a keen interest , in the proceedings, and recorded all the depositions in shorthand. Mr. Tole stated that Hill was first committed in May. 1913, He escaped, and remained at large for some time, and was recommitted in February of this year. John Goodwin, head attendant at Auckland Mental Hospital, gave ovidence as to Hill's behaviour in the institution. He always appeared brooding and sullen. On more than on? occasion -witness saw Hill block his nostrils up with pieces of rag. He told the doctors that it was to keep bad smells out. Witness never noticed any bad smells. Hill also wore pads over his ears ; this, ho said, was to keep noises out. There was the usual noise. He would also go about interviewing patients, and taking voluminous shorthand notes on the backs of magazines. Since his recommitment this year Hill had again worn the ear-pads, but not the nostril plugs. He also continued to take shorthand notes, particularly if he talked to the medical superintendent. Mr. Tole: I believe he again tried to escape since his second commitment? Witness: Yes. He got up over a lean-to roof, and tried to drop over a 7ft. wall. Next morning Dr. Beattie asked him why_ he attempted to get away, and said it was a serious matter for the staff. Hill only drummed on the table with his fingers, and appeared to take no notice until later on he insulted the medical superintendent by calling him a liar. Last month Hill tore a slip off his blanket, stating that he had a cold in his kidneys, and wanted a bandage. Hill was a man who, if he did not get what he demanded at once, became excited. He was erratic in regard to his meals, sometimes nibbling and other times eating ravenously. He was also in the habit of slouching about with his hands in bis pocket. Mr. Blomfield: Can you sugest that any one of these things is indicative of insanity?—"lt is a general indication." Hill: I. deny ever having blocked my nose in such,a way as to block the free passage of air. 1 Mr.. BlomfieldCan you suggest any one of these things in particular as indicating insanity ?—"There was his second attempt to escape." Mr. Blomfield: Would not a sane man, finding himself in a mental hospital, become morose ?—"Possibly, if he were sane." I)r. Clark stated that he examined Hill before commitment. He was suffering from a delusion of persecution. He thought ho was being poisoned at his boardinghouse by the placing of poison in his food. Ho changed his boardinghouse, and thought ho was again being pojsoned. This, he said, he thought was being done by boardinghouse-lceepors in collusion with Sir Joseph Ward. His demeanour at the time was unsuspicious and resentful. _ This indicated a form of insanity which was never recovered from, and had a tendency to produce homicidal mania. Hill was, in witness's opinion, dangerous, and 1 would remain dangerous. Witness saw Hill two days ago. Mr. Blomfield: I want to here make protest against what happened. Hill was faced by six doctors as well aB the medical superintendent. This was a position any on© man might well have refused to face. He refused to be examined, and I think he was quite justified. The doctors should have surely examined him one at a time. His Honour: I will note your objection. Hill has also written to me on this subject. After a lengthy cross-cxamination by Mr. Blomfield, a second dootor iva's called. Dr. Milsom, one of the doctors who oxnminod Hill at the time of his commitment, said he had known Hill for a period of several years. He was con vinced that Hill was suffering from delusions. ' Hill informed witness that Sir Joseph Ward and Sir John Findiay were behind this movement to poison him. When asked why two prominent, men should desire to do this. Hill replied that it was _ because he had stood for Parliament in Mr. Massey's interests. Bill did stand for Parliament in 1910. Hill also told witness that on, that morning (the morning of his detention) he had found poison in his morning toa. He went to the police station, in his pyjamas, and while there apparently attempted to assault Sub-Inspector Hendry. Hill afterwards explained that ho regarded the sub-inspector as a minion of Sir Joseph Ward, and had objected to the attempt to detain him. A number of other doctors gave evidence as to Hill's mental condition. Dr. H. J.- Izard, assistant medical officer at the Mental Hospital, seated that he had seon Hill_ daily, and observed his mental condition. In conversation Hill had expressed the opinion' that the Government was persecuting him for fear he should bring an action against them because of the "illegality" of his first committal. He also said his second committal was ordered by the Government to prevent him lecturing on the lunacy laws of the country. Hill retained the same delusions as'to poisoning that he suffered from in 1912. Witness further stated that Hill was sullen and taciturn. He had seen him lying about. grimacing or with bits of rags round his ears and under his chin. At night the attendants had reported that the patient sometimes walked up and dewu in his room, and talked to himself. Hill was a paranoiac, and in witness's opinion such cases were always dangerous, and required institutional care. The further hearing of the application was adjourned.