"BOTTLED INSANITY."

Matamata Record, Volume VI, Issue 474, 24 September 1923, Page 3

"BOTTLED INSANITY."

MATAM\TA POLICE COURT.

Methylated Spirit Drinker.

With regard to the man arrested in Tower road on Thursday on a charge of drunkenness it appears he was brought before Dr. J. F. Carolan, J.P., on Friday morning, convicted, ordered to pay medical expenses, and discharged. A kindly resident having given the man five shillings to help him on his way to an alleged job on the other side of the Kaimais, the released one straight away made for a local store, where he invested in more methylated spirits. Under its effects, he sought shelter in the store of a Chinese greengrocer, where, possibly attracted by the bottles on the shelves, he sat in the soft drink department all the afternoon, and neither the threats nor the entreaties of Che Mongolian merj chant could budge him an inch. On ; Constable Heeps returning to Mata- ' mata in the evening the Chinaman's long-winded and unprofitable customer was promptly run out and, for the i second time in 24 hours, " run in." I Answering to the name of James Stewart, and described as a native of ! Scotland, where he had served his i time as a marine engineer on the Clyde, the prisoner was brought hefore Dr. J. F. Carolan and Mr. S. Salisbury, J.'sP., at mid-day on Sat- ' unlay and charged (1) with being found drunk in Arawa street and (2) with being an idle and disorderly per- • son having no visible lawful means of support. | Constable Heeps outlined the facts already mentioned and stated that in his" opinion the accused's state of mind rendered him a danger to both him- , self and others. Methylated spirits drinking had got him clown. I The Accused: Give me a chance, Your Honors, and I'll leave the town right away. I have a job to go to at Te Puke. • . Mr. Salisbury: By his appearance he wants 'o be looked after for a while.

Constable Heeps agreed: the most humane thine: was to send him to gaol fov n short term and give him a rhanee to straiehten up. Constable Murphv, of Putaruru, had reported that th-i accused, who was known to him. was addicted to the drinking of pVthvh'ted spirits. . Dr. Carolan: He'll be setting himself on fire yet. | The Accused (sobbingly): Give me a rhfmre. Thi Bench decided to convict. Dr. C-irolan stating that a term of im- ' misonment would be the best thing for the accused, both for his own sake as well as for the protection of the public The accused was a very foolish fellow—methylated spirits was " bottled insanity." Eighteenpencc worth could put a man out of his mind s>nd probably put out his sight as well. Ho was surprised storekeepers sold the stuff so indiscriminately. He would be sentenced to one month's imprisonment for vagrancy and on the chnrce of drunkenness-would be convicted and discharged. ;':.-.. ' p .'ispnev l .)ya>-i.h£ / n led put of Court-, sobbing., .