232
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in order he accidentally discharged it. In consequence of this he was taken to the Police Station, he says that some of the members of the ship's crew followed him there as he heard them talking while he was being examined, but that he did not see any of them.
After that he was removed to the Asylum, he says that he is continually annoyed there, at times continued whistling and humming noises going on in his room, which he is sure are done to annoy him and prevent him from sleeping. He also hears voices in the asylum ordering him to do certain things, for instance he is often ordered not to eat all the food that is brought to him, so that the Chinese attendants may have what is left, and he is told that if he does he will have bad food given him the next day, he says he knows this is true because he has several times tested it by eating all his food, and then he says the next day he is served with food that is so bad or tough that he cannot eat it. Nevertheless, he says the voices that command him are those of Europeans and he believes that they are some agents that have been left here by the crew of the S.S. "Cranley" to annoy him, he occupies two rooms and he says he is often ordered to go into the back room and that if he does not he will be annoyed by noises, often if he obeys and goes into the other room the noises cease for a time. He said that the night before my visit he was ordered to go to bed at eight o'clock by the voices, and that if he did not he would not be allowed to sleep, he did not go to bed till nine and in consequence noises went on in his room and he was not able to get to sleep till three or four in the morning. The voices also make objectionable remarks about him and threaten him. He says that he thinks they must be caused by some telephonic agency.
I am of opinion that Mr. Lealbeater is suffering from "Delusional insanity", he has auditory hallucinations which he accepts as real and believes to be true. Further, the reality of his delusions is such that he is prepared to act upon them, and there can be little doubt that he would assault anyone whom he might imagine was causing these supposed persecutions.