ASYLUM ESCAPEE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 230, 17 February 1913, Page 4

ASYLUM ESCAPEE.

JOHNSTON GIVES HIMSELF l'l'. Auckland, February Kl. TJior.ias Henry J;>h:;s;i.r, the ' '.Vj:hi miner who escaped from the Mental Hospital at Avondale, and had not been traced since he left on January 3. returned to Auckland to-day of his own free will. There has always been a good deal of discussion as to whether he should have been committed to that institution, anil lefler.i ivliich he wrote after leaving Avondale created a. good deal of sympathy for him. ' Johns?.m always maintained that ho had been taken unawares, and that ho did i: .t know until the last moment thai, ho was being examined with a view to his committal. It was insistently contended by certain people that the head of the hospital had told Johnston's relatives that the man w.is quite well. ,Since Johnston's departure from Avondale it hps l>c»n eniTeiilh reported that lie was at his own home in Waihi. This was not the case, because the police were not aware of his whereabouts. It now appears that he was in the vicinity, and was closely in touch with his own family. Mr. .]. li, 1 .in:■'(>11, of Auckland, who' made Johnston's case the subject of special investigations, managed to communicate with him recently andiadvised him to report himself to the authorities, and openly take steps to have his sanity admitted. Mr. Lundon's letter reached Johnston, and the latter informed the Waihi police that he proposed to come to Auckland to-day. lie explained that he was willing to do so under police escort.. When Johnston turned up at the Waihi railway station punctually on time this morning, and formally gave himself up to custody, that was "the first indication that the police had of his presence in Waihi. He came On to Auckland by way of the Thames with' Constable T. Kelly, .lolmston was accompanied by his wife and his little child. At the wharf he was met by Dr. Beattie, the superintendent at Avondale. and the police escort (purely a formal matter) was dispensed with. Tt is understood that steps will be taken to secure for Johnston leave of absence from the Mental Hospital, and that opportunity will be given hira to prove his sanity.

Johnston, who is looking remarkably well, was, in accordance with the Act, released for a period not exceeding twenty-eight days, and if by that time he can get two doctors to testify to his sanity he will be unconditionally discharged. Section 80, sub-section 2, of the Mental Defectives Act, 1011, says that "the superintendent of any institution. on recommendation in writing of a medical officer, may permit any patient to be absent on leave from the institution under proper control for a period not exceeding twenty-eight days, exclusive of the days of departure and return. and on such conditions as the said superintendent, thinks fit." Sub-section 5 says that "any person so absent on leave may at any time of his period of leave be discharged on receipt by the. person who granted leave of'a medical certificate that he is no longer a defective. or Uml lip no longer requires tobe under oversight care or control."'