A Pitiful Case.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 412, 4 February 1890, Page 2

A Pitiful Case.

E. 11. Wabd, a solicitor, was brought before the Police Court yesterday, on the information of Dr Pollen,charging him with being a lunatic. Messrs C. D, Bennett and C, O. Lucas, J.P.’s, occupied the Bench. Mr Sievwright appeared on behalf of the informant, and was given permission to amend the information to say that the defendant had acted in a manner denoting derangement of mind or an intention to commit suicide. •Dr Pollen deposed ; I was called about 7 o’clock on Saturday evening to attend Mr Ward, who was reported to have taken an overdose of laudanum. On arrival I found him in a bedroom; his brother was applying hot bottles to the region of hia heart. I examined him, and was satisfied that he waa not suffering from the poisonous effects of the drug. I was shewn a bottle, which was labelled laudanum, Ward had a wild excited look and did not recognise me at first. Ha afterwards behaved in a sanseless sort of a way, twisting hie face into all sorts ot ridiculous contortions. He did not appear to be drunk. I went downstairs and was speaking to his wife on the verandah when I heard a noise overhead, and I then saw Mr Ward getting out on the casement and dropping about three feat from a window on to a ledge, about 14ft from the ground. He leaned forward and appeared to be contemplating throwing himself on his head. His wife then ran away screaming. I called out to Ward to go back and not to be making a fool of himself. He put his hand on the ledge and let himself drop on to the ground. He made a rush for Mr Stewart or bis (Ward's) brother, who were standing together at the time. Afterwards he went into the house, returning ■gain wheeling an empty perambulator. As I considered he was suffering from temporary insanity and likely to injure himself I laid the information, at the request of his wife. By Mr Sievwright: I waa quite satisfied by hie aotions that he was mad at the time. I left him in charge of his brother and saw Mrs Ward and advised that he should be looked up. By accused: I know that you are suffering from uranic fits, but laudanum is certainly the worst thing you could take for it. On entering your room I lifted your eyelids, I did not examine your room to see it laudanum waa about. I would not like to say you were insane at the present moment whbout carefully examining you. An overdose ol laudanum would produce a dazing effect and Would also affect the head.

By Mr Sievwright: There were no symptoms of laudanum poisoning when I sew him. He might have taken a slight dose of that drug. By the Bench: He did not appear as if he had been drinking. The door of the bedroom was left open. S. R. S’ewart deposed : I Uve just opposite Ward’s house. Mrs Ward and family have been living at my place from Thursday night last to Sunday morning. On Thursday night Mrs Ward came to my house saying she wanted protection from the violence of her husband. She said he was breaking the things in the house, illusing the children, and making use of threatening language. About 6.30 on Saturday night Mrs Ward came across, having been over to her own house seeing a woman that had been at work there that day. She said Mr Ward had come home and gone upstairs to his bedroom. After (some time, hearing no noise she went upstairs and found Mr Ward lu a very deep sleep on the bed and the empty bottle labelled laudanum Ou the floor alongside the bed- She asked me what she ought to do, and J, adviyed getting a doctor. (In other respects the witness' evidence oorroborated that of Dr Pollen.) By Mr Sievwright: He was talking incoherently and looked very wild, I was not alarmed because I had seen him in that state before.

By the Bench: When he was so excited I concluded that he had been drinking. It was about two or three months since that Ward was in that state, He was then breaking the furniture up. ’ ’ ■ 1 ’’ Mr Sievwright applied for a remand as the qata bad only been placed in hie bands that morning qnd be had really no time to go into the matter or to obtain wit Bpm? to bear out the charge, He said he could produce strong evidence which would show Mr Ward's violent ways, and also prove the dangerous threats be made use of. It was of course natural that Mrs Ward was very reluctant about taking any action, but he considered be was entitled to an adjournment after stating the evidence he intended to oall.

■i Accused at first urged that the case should be decided without a remand, and on the Bench declining, he asked jur bail,’ but after caneidoratioti it was decided not to grant it. and the oase was remanded until Saturday ttaniHt