8 October 1936

ALL INMATES OF ASYLUMS ARE NOT MAD

Man Who Feigned Insanity To See His Son

Mr. Jones— that, of course, was not his name, but it will do as well as any other— was born in South Australia, the son of a very well known family. He was tall, of fine physique, well educated and always well dressed. Added to these attributes, his gentlemanly bearing made him quite an outstanding personality.

In 1924 he visited Victoria and took a furnished room at South Yarra from a Mrs. Alpha. That name, too, is fictitious. Mrs. Alpha made him very comfort able. In course of time Mr. Jones's feelings began to warm towards her. It is not on record whether Mrs. Alpha was married or a widow, and Mr. Jones did not breathe a word as to his conjugal state. All Mr. Jones's actions with respect to Mrs. Alpha were those of a gentleman; he never made any proposal, but as his affections ripened towards her he would frequently remark, 'I loved you from the first look and glance.' Mrs. Alpha received his protestations of love with quiet complacency and amusement.

Mr. Jones eventually decided to return to Adelaide, but before doing so he asked Mrs. Alpha for pen and paper and there and then made a will leaving all his possessions to her. He handed over the completed will to Mrs. Alpha and remarked, 'Now perhaps you will believe what I say— I loved you from the first look and glance.' Mr. Jones said good-bye to Mrs. Alpha, caught the express that afternoon, and on his arrival in Adelaide rented a furnished room at Black Forest from a married woman whom we will call Mrs. Omega.

He found his new quarters to his liking, and from time to time expressed his approval of everything that was being done for him by Mr. and Mrs. Omega. The Omegas also found Mr. Jones a most desirable lodger, and did everything in their power to meet his every wish, with the result that he became very friendly to wards them. This friendly feeling, however, was destined to be short-lived. Mr. Jones threw a bomb into the camp one day when he said to Mrs. Omega, 'I loved you from the first look and glance!' 'Nonsense!' Mrs. Omega replied. Mr. Jones then said, 'Give me a pen and a sheet of paper, and I will show you that I mean what I say.' He then made a will, leaving all his possessions to Mrs. Omega. When it had been completed he handed it to her.

A few minutes afterwards Mr. Jones appeared before Mrs. Omega. In his right hand he held a pocket knife, and, raising his left hand and pointing to an artery, he said, 'Now I am going to sever this.' Mrs. Omega was taken aback by this unexpected turn of events. She called to her husband for assistance to prevent what appeared to her to be an imminent tragedy. He responded to the call with alacrity, and with the help of his wife, wrested the pocket knife from Mr. Jones. The weak resistance offered by the latter surprised them. He capitulated without a struggle.

After things had quietened down, the Omegas decided to suggest to Mr. Jones that he should see a doctor. They accordingly told him that they thought that he was run down, or had had an attack of nerves, and that if he would go with them they would drive him into the city to consult a doctor. Jones agreed. He was taken to a doctor in the city, who, after examining him, said, 'I can find nothing wrong with him, but I would advise you to take him to a hospital for observation.'

So Jones was taken to a hospital, and on the way he said. 'You thought I was mad! I am not! When I threatened to sever an artery I never had the slightest intention of doing so! My actions were merely a means to an end. I feigned madness on purpose. Some time ago a son of mine was put in a receiving home, and I have on many occasions attempted to see him, but the authorities will not permit me to do so. and their refusals have naturally wounded my feelings. I admit that at times I have punished my boy rather severely, and this punishment may or may not have been a contributory cause of his having to be put away. Nevertheless I am obsessed with a desire to see him.'

Addressing Mr. Omega, Mr. Jones said, 'William, I want to get into the home to see my boy. Will you help me?' Mr. Omega replied, "Yes. I will certainly do all I can for you. But I think you have a better chance of getting in to Paradise. You will have to act differently if you are to have any chance. You will have to do the 'Silly Willy' stunt."

Before reaching the hospital he gave Jones a rehearsal of what he should do and say. But he soon found that Jones could do without his help. When Jones walked into the hospital he spontaneously acted like a lunatic, and was admitted. He remained a few days at the hospital, and was transferred to a home. Thus it would seem that 'finis' could be written to the Jones' episode, but such was not the case.

Shortly after Jones was admitted to hospital the Omegas decided to take a holiday in Victoria. They had friends and relations at South Yarra and North Brighton. On reaching Melbourne they secured a room from Mrs. Alpha, whom they had never met before. Mrs. Omega found Mrs. Alpha a congenial old soul, and in no time they were cracking jokes with one another.

One morning Mrs. Alpha spruced herself up, put on a fur necklet, and said to Mrs. Omega — 'I am going out to do a little shopping.' Mrs. Omega jokingly remarked— 'Don't tell me you are going shopping. If you told me you had a date with a young man it might be nearer the truth.' Mrs. Alpha replied, 'I can't catch the young men, but the old ones— yes. Last year an old chap had tickets on me. He said that he loved me from the first look and glance, and went so far as to make his will in my favor before he went back to Adelaide.'

Mrs. Omega answered — 'I have had a similar experience. An old boy by the name of Jones said he loved me from the first, look and glance, and made his will in my favor.' Mrs. Alpha said in surprise, 'My old boy's name was Jones.' Mrs. Omega sympathised with her and said, 'Your loss is my gain, as Jones's will is dated later than the one he gave you.'

Then came 1928. Poor old Jones had been under restraint for four years. On frequent occasions during his incarceration he had asked those in authority to allow him to see his son, but they had always turned a deaf ear to his requests. Jones told himself that he was not mad. He developed as strong a desire to free himself from his enforced detention as he had originally possessed to secure it. His plans and schemes, however, were all to no purpose.

About this time an auction sale was advertised to take place at the home. Mrs. Omega, seeing an article advertised which she wanted, decided to attend the sale. On her arrival at the grounds of the institution she met Mr. Jones. He walked towards her, and, raising his hat, said— 'Good morning, Mrs. Omega. You know I am not mad. I want to get out of here. Can you help me?' Mrs. Omega told him that she thought that there was very little hope of his gaining his freedom, but that she would interview the chief. The interview over, she returned to Jones and informed him that if a relative made application for his release it might be granted. Mrs. Omega then asked him if he had a wife. He replied in the affirmative, and gave her an address in another State. She then left Jones, and said that she would write to his wife. Mrs. Omega wrote to Mrs. Jones some 1,500 miles away Mrs. Jones came to South Australia, interviewed Mrs. Omega, and Mr. Jones was released. Jones was not mad. He died about eight years ago. — A.J.P.

Real Life Stories Of South Australia (1936, October 8). Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), p. 47. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92348504