An Extraordinary Case.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 252, 29 April 1896, Page 2

An Extraordinary Case.

(Per Press Association.) "Wellington, April 27. A man named RobertLivmgstone, who was before the Court for stealing an oilskin coat, said he had been confined in a Melbourne lunatic asylum, whence he was discharged as cured. Thence he was sent to Sydney in a Huddart, Parker boat, and the company had to find a bond of ilo00»for maintenance, as within two days of his arrival he again showed signH of insanity. Then, according to Livingstone, the oompany persuaded him to go to New Zealand, where a bond of only £100 is required. At Christchurch he waß placed in the Sunnyside Asylum, and the company refused to take bim back either to Sydney or Melbourne. He came np here, and informed Inspector Pender he was going to commit theft in order to bring out the facts. Mr Murrell, Huddart Parker's agent, told a representative of the Poßt, who interviewed him on the subject, that they had tried to get the man to return from Sydney to Melbourne, but he refused. The company would now probably have ! to pay for the maintenance. They would I ; like to send him back to Melbourne, but [he wanted to go to Sydney. If they ship- ! ped him they could not prevent bim landing at Sydney and Hobart, and so the company found themselves quite unable to get rid of him. The case is now being considered by the Melbourne Shipowners' Association. Mr Murrell thinks there should be a provision giving Government power to send any lunatic back to the place he came from.