STRANGE SCENE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 591, 11 May 1876, Page 3

STRANGE SCENE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

( European Mail.) Immediately after the adjournment of the House of Commons on March 10th a painful scene occurred. When the strangers’ galleries had been cleared, it was found that there was a man sitting in the Speaker’s gallery who on being requested to leave refused to do so. At this time the floor of the House was quite deserted, except by the clerks at the table, who were completing their record of the night’s proceedings ; but several hon members in the lobby hearing that one of the strangers declined to quit the House, came back, and soon a pretty large group was collected, all looking up with astonishment at the gentleman above the clock, who was soon surrounded by messengers and policemen, and again and again urged to go. He still refused, and when it was suggested that he should be turned out, he exclaimed that it would be “a pretty hard'job for anybody to do that ” and imraediataly afterwards, rising to his feet, and addressing the Speaker’s vacant chair, he shouted, “ I am here under the protection of the country. I appeal to the Empress, to the House of Commons, and to the soldiers. I appeal to all three.” This he repeated several times, but without any trace of the excitement produced by drink, and it was soon apparent that the unfortunate man had altogether lost his mental balance. Steps were taken to remove him from the place, but he still continued to call on “ the Empress, the House of Commons, and the soldiers,” and then “ the Speaker,” shouting across the building as he was laid hold of by the police, “ Is the Speaker here ?” Then came an appeal to the policeman, “ Don’t tear my clothes,” and, finally, as he was carried down the steps from the gallery, came a last appeal “ to the Sergeant-at-Arms and the Home Office." The scene only lasted a few minutes, but it produced a most painful impression upon the few who witnessed it, though every care and consideration was shown in the removal of the unfortunate man, Next day Mr Inspector

Denning, on duty at the IHouse of Commons, appeared at the Westminster Police Court with Mr Robert Ginn, a coal merchant of Newmarket, who was charged with being “ a lunatic and wandering at large in the Houses of Parliament,” He had since been examined by a medical man, and pronounced to be labouring under delusions. He had been engaged in heavy business transactions of late, and they had deranged him. A friend of the defendant, named Johnson, stepped forward, and said he knew nothing of the defendant being impaired in intellect. If he were discharged he would be taken care of. Defendant made a most incoherent statement. Mr Arnold saw no reason to detain him from his friend if he would take care of him, and he was accordingly handed over to him.