POLITICS AND POISON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 284, 10 May 1915, Page 6

POLITICS AND POISON.

A SOLH.'ITOR'S DELUSION'S. MAX IA i'Oll SIIORTII'A.MX By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, May 7. An unusual i-ase came before ..Mr. Justice Husking at the Supreme Court this mo;ning, when lieginald W. J1 ill, a solicitor of Auckland, appeared lor consideration ef the conditions under Avliich he was at present under detention at the Auckland Mental Hospital. The Hon. A. J. Tole represented the Crown and .Mr. Bloomiicld apeparcd tor Hill, a clean-shaven, well-featured man, who took keen interest in the proceedings and recorded all depositions in shorthand.

Mr. Tole stated that Hill was first committed in Ala}', 101.'!. ile escaped and remained at large! for some time and was re-committed iu February oi this vear.

John Goodwin, head attendant at the 'Auckland Mental Hospital, gave evidence as to Hill's behaviour in the institution. He always appeared brooding and sullen. On more than one occasion witness saw Hill block his nostrils up with pieces 'of rag. lie told the doctors that it was to keep bad smells out. Witness neve.' noticed any bad smells. Hill also wore pads over his ears. This, he said, was to keep noises out. There were only the usual noises. He would also go about interviewing patients and taking voluminous shorthand notes on the bucks of magazines. Since, his recommittal this year Hill had again worn the ear pads, but not the nostril plugs, lie also continued to take shorthand notes, -particu'arly if he, talked to the 'Medical Superintendent. .Mr. Tole: I believe he again tried to escape since his second commitment ? Witness: Yes; lie got up over a leanto roof and tried to drop over a Oft wall. Xcxt morning Dr. lieattie asked him why he wanted to get away, and said it was a serious matter for the stall'. Hill only drummed on the table with his lingers and appeared to take no notice, until later on he insulted the. medl'. al superintendent by calling him a liar. Last month Hill to'e a slip oil' his blanket, stating that lie, had a cold in his kidneys anil 'wanted a bandage* Hill was a man who if he did not get what he demanded at once, became excited. He was erartic in regard to his meals, sometimes nihling and other times eating ravenously. He was also ill the habit of slouching about with his hands in his pockets. Mr. Rloonifield: Can you suggest that any one of these things is indicative of insanity ?

Witness: It is a general indication, llil': 1 deny ever having blocked my nose in such a, way to block the free passage of air. Mr. Hloomlieid: Can you suggest any one of these things in particular as indicating insanity 1 Witness: There, was his second attempt to escape. Mi'. Bloomfieh!: Would not a sand man finding himself in a mental hospital become .morose.

Witness: 'Possibly, if he were sane. Dr. Clarke stated that lie examined Hill before commitment. He was suffering from a. delusion of persecution. 116 thought he was being poisoned at bis boardinghouse bv the placing of poison in 'his food. He changed his boardinghouse, and thought he was being poisoned. This, he said, he thought was being done by the boardinghouse-kceper in collusion with Sir Joseph Ward, His demeanor at time was suspicious and resentful. This indicated a form of insanity which was never recovered from. There was a tendency to produce 'homicidal mania. Hill was. in witness' opinion, dangerous, and would remain dangerous. Witness saw Hill two days ago.

Mr. liioomficld: I want here to make a protest against what has happened. Hill was faced by six doctors as well as by the medical superintendent. This was a position any sane man might well have refused to face. He refused to be examined, and I think lie was quite justified. The doctors should have surely examined him one at a time.

His Honor: 1 will note your objection Hill has also written me on this subject.

After a lengthy cross-examination by Mr. Bloomficld, a S'-cond doctor was call('(I. Dr. Malsom, one of the doctors who examined Ilill at the time of his commitment, said heh rt d known Hill for a period of several years. ITe was convinced that liill was suffering from delusions. ilill informed witness that Sir Joseph Ward'mid Sir John Findlay were behind this movement to poison him. hen asked why two prominent men should desire to do this 11 ill replied that it was because he had stood for Parliament in Mr. Massey's interests. Hill did stand for Parliament in 1010, Hill also told witness that on that morning (the morning of his detention) he had found poison in his morning tea. He "went to the police station in his pyjamas, and while there apparently attempted to assault Inspector Hendry. Hill afterwards explained that he regarded the sub-inspector as a minion 0 f Sir Joseph Ward, and had objeeter to the attempt to detain him.

A number of other doctors gave evidence as to Hill's mental condition. Dr. 11. J. Tizard, assistant medical officer at the mental hospital, stated that he had -seen Hill daily and observed his mental condition. In conversation, Hill had expressed the opinion that the Government was persecuting him for feat- he should bring an action against them because of the ''illegality"' of his first committal. He also said his second committal was ordered by the Government to prevent him lecturing on the lunacy laws of the country. Hill retained the same delusions as to .poisoning that he suffered from in 1(!12. Witness further stated that Ilill was sullen and taciturn. He had seen him lying about grimacing or with bits of rags tied round his ears and under his chin. At nights -attendants had reported that the patient sometimes walked up and down in his room and talked to himscll. Tlill was a paranoiac, and in witness' opinion such eases were always dangerous and required institutional care. Further hearing of the application was adjourned. JUDGE POSTPONES DECISION Auckland, Last Night. The hearing of the application of Reginald W. Ilill, solicitor,' for i'mVier eon sideratiou ol the conditions unde: which he is being detained ill the A.'oiidale .Mental Hospital, was coutinuj.l on Saturda.v, before Mr. Justice .locking. After a number of lay -.vi:;ih.ss"s had given evidence. Dr. Truli'y King gave the result of his examination of Ilill. He

considered .tlu> man wus suH'crin.; from systematised delusional insa.i'ty. It wus n perfectly typira] disc, 01' ;.aranoi:i, Tin', three .shines hi' paranoia \rcr.: timidity, defence, ami attack. The patient had bfi'ii in Ihe attacking stage for years, and was a potential Homicide. »'in- prisons sniffling from this disease )ri-ijiii'iitjy showed much intellectual abil. it,., jiarluiilai.y in reasoning powers, lint, although < lu'ir faculties showed littli' ini|iairnu'iit in tliis respect, their whole emotional system was dmrranged. These delusions went, to tile very liquidations of im-uiuj life, and no rowery was to be hoped for. Dr. licattic, superintendent at -'.yondale, gave similar evidence. Or. Ernest Robertson, who said he did not profess to be an ill menial diseases. said that he had twice examined Hill, anil found nothing to inii--I'Hte linsonndiies of mind. He ij;oke quite rationally and intellectually, and appeared to be. quite bright and keen. 11 ill himself also gave, evidence, and was quiet and collected. lie acknowledged that a number of e!i.i"i;es l.e had made that he was persecuted ami that attempts were being made to poison Lira were without justilication. The Judge sad he would consult his brother judges in regard to the case.