A Whole Family Mad

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 142, 11 May 1886, Page 3

A Whole Family Mad

(Per s.s. Te Anau. at the Bluff) Melbocenb, April 29.

A singular case, bearing a strong reseuiblance in certain points to that of the unfortunate Humpton family of Co burg, though, fortunately, unaccompanied by the tragic teature of bloodshed which marked the latter, was brought uuder notice yesterday at Carlton. In the course of this afternoon the local police I arrested four members of one family, ! Phillip Ryan, axed 65 ; Jane llyau. his wife, aged 50; Margaret Ann ttyan, their eldest daughter, aged 22 ; and Elisabeth Agnes Ityan, the youngest aged 11 ; all of whom were alleged to be insane and unfit to bo at large. For some day* past all the members of this eccentric family hare cenducted themselves strangely, showing umnialnkeahle symptoms of lunaejv At about half past three o'clock p.m. they were taken from their home in a cab, and conveyed to the eily watch-house. After the usual charge had b«eii entered against them, they were separately examined l»y Dr Wilinot aud i)r Brett, who. when the unfortunate persons were taken before (he Police Magistrate, testified that all of them were of unsound, aud incapable of taking care of themselves. As in the case of the Hampton family, the minds of the .Kyans appear to have been unhinged by religious mania. Mrs Hyuii whs very violent, and resisted the police when they called at her house to convey her to the lockup, and she had to be drought from her home by force She and her daughter talked- wildly and somewhat incoherently about their being " tiod's own peo'lo. ' The old .man told the doctor tunt '• he had cleared hell of the devils therein," and made use o s.m.iar wild expressions to the police 1 , denotiuu clearly that his brain was disturbe 1. After hearing tho medical testimony and asking the accused if they desired to put any questions to the doctors, which they declined doing* the Police Magistrate ordered the four demented persons to be taken ana detained in the Yarra Bend Asylum. Continuation of reading matter un kthpagc