DISPOSING OF A LUNATIC.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2866, 1 June 1882, Page 3

DISPOSING OF A LUNATIC.

An 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 givep in the case of Ah Sin, committed to the Asylum on Tuesday by Mr Carow, R.M. Mr Colin Ritchie, second officer of the s.s. Southern Cross, deposed “ The vessel Jeft 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 he hod police trousers on. The pilot also told me that he was a police officer. He paid Ah Sin’s pasand gave me the sum of 10s to give ■j accused when he landed in Dunedin. The captain offered him the money, but he 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. Last night he put a light in the ship’s hold, and said it was to light the ghosts. If he had not been looked after he might have set 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 hero pronounced him unfit to be at large, and be was accordingly committed to the Asylum.