GETTING RID OF A LUNATIC.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2542, 1 June 1882, Page 3

GETTING RID OF A LUNATIC.

[PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION. I DUNEDIN, May 31. ■A.n_ instance of the manner in which lunatics are shipped from one part of the colony to another, with a view of getting rid of them, was afforded by the evidence given in the case of Ah Bin, committed to the Asylum yesterday by Mr Oarew, B.M. Mr Oolin Bitchie, second officer of the s.s. Southern Cross, deposed—The vessel left Napier on Friday last., at two o’clock, the accused being a passenger. He was brought on board by a person whose name I do not know. This person said he was a policeman, and ho had police trousers on. The pilot also told me that he was a police officer. He paid Ah Sin’s passage, and gave me the sum of 10s, to give the accused when he landed in Dunedin. The captain offered him the money, but be refused to accept it. He was sent here because they said he had a number of friends here. It looks to me that he was sent to Dunedin to get rid of him. Hast night he put a light into the ship's hold, and said it was to light the ghosts. If he had not been looked after he might have set the ship on fire. I saw in the paper at Napier that one Ah Sin had been charged with vagrancy, and was remanded for medical examination. While on board he threw his clothing overboard. The medical men here pronounced him unfit to be at large, and ho was according committed.