A Curious Case.

Hastings Standard, Issue 374, 16 July 1897, Page 4

A Curious Case.

(By Telegraph). (Per Prms Association) Wki.lt:.~gtox, July 15. A lunatic named Win. Golding was brought before Judge Edwards to-day on an application for his release on the ground that his state of mind does not require his detention. Mr Travers said the proceedings were taken upon an affidavit of two gentlemen who bad patient. They had not suggested that there was anything wrong in his detention, but it was thought that an inquiry was desirable. Golding was examined in a room of the Court by Drs. James and Anson. In answer to the Judge Dr. Hassell the Supeiintendent of the Asylum,said he considered that Golding was a dangerous lunatic. Golding in evidence said that in 1895 he received some money from Home and was drinking and for five months was in a pitable state, and he felt it a relief when arrested. Within a month he was as well as ever, and Dr. King, who was then Superintendent, said he should be released. The reason he was not released was that he saw a patient named Hutchison have medicine forced down his throat, and as he died next night he accused the warder of murdering the man. He had ever since been kept in the refractory ward. He accused several of the attendants of brutally ill-treating him and other patients and entered into details. Dr. Anson said it was hard to tell the man's real, condition from the short examination, but he did not think he would feel justified from what he had seen and heard of in recommending his detention. It was then decided to take Dr. Hassell's evidence first to give the medical witnesses an opportunity of hearing it. On the Court resuming in the afternoon Dr Hassell, Superintendent of the Asylum, deposed that Golding was a dangerous man, and subject to homicidal mania. From time to time he developed acute execerbations when he became morbidly excited, and even actually homicidal. The patient was exceedingly impulsive and erotic, and he had had to be stopped from going out with walking parties. Witness said he made no accusation against the man, but his duty required him to give this evidence. He had examined Golding and found bruises which might have resulted from his being excited and unmanageable. There was nothing to indicate a struggle as described by patient. As to the latter's statement with regard to the death of the patient Hutchison Dr Hassell said when Hutchison was brought to the institution he was in a state of very great melancholia, and had to be fed by force in order to prevent starvation. His condition became so serious that he had telegraphed to the patient's mother who came to town and remained in Wellington until Hutchison died. There were, he said, no grounds forGokling's statements that the man had been killed. Golding had mentioned another case of a man having died under chloroform, and Dr Hassell added that Golding was continually harping on the two case mentioned. Witness had formed the opinion that the patient's ideas were those of an insane man. Doctors Anson and James were recalled by counsel for Golding and declared that after hearing Dr Hassell's evidence it would not be proper to release Golding, and his Honor therefore declined to make any order.