The Haslingden Gazette. — 1910-10-22 (Haslingden, Lancashire, England)

THEN AN ARREST AT PADIHAM.  A man about 50 years of age, named James McLean, stated to be a seaman, went into the Accrington Police Station on Friday night and caused arsine stir when he said that he murdered his wife two years ago at Dundee. He was brought before Mr. John Peters at the Police Court on Saturday morning. ' The Chief Constable said McLean came to the police station on Friday night and surrendered himself for the murder of his wife two years ago at Dwalee He made s very circumstantial statemerit to In-spector Ashcroft, confessing that he had murdered his wife. He (the Chief ('onstable) thought it advisable to detain the man so that the Dundee police could be communicated with. He received a telegram from the Dundee police to the effect that there was no truth in McLean's statement, and asking him not to believe confession of vnutvler. He had found out that McLean had been knocking about the town on Friday, and had purchased bromide of potassium and other drugs and bad taken these drugs in excessive doses, which apparently accounted for his making the confession. The man appeared to be all right that morning, and lie asked the bench to discharge him.  Prisoner was discharged. Mr. Peters (iriggistrate): Are you going to charge him for hia night's lodgings? (Laughter.) The Chief Clonstahle: I would like to give him a stick on his back.  On Monday McLean was brought up at Parliham charged with having been drunk and disorderly. After a constable had given evidence, prisoner addressed the magistrates in the following terms: "In the first place, whatever has happened to me within the last two or three days has not been of my own seeking. Perhaps you will be aware before the termination of this case that I am an educated man as well as an able seaman. Previously I had an adventure in Accrington. The Chief Constable there did not charge me with in. ebriation, but to that it is not necessary to refer. As soon as I Caine out of the Town Hall I had an hallucination that 150 Scotch detectives were coins tug against me. I went into a chemist's shop and ,got some bromide and ether for the purpose of waiving oft tfiese sufferings, whiCh were not altogether delusions, but loss of nervous feeling. After taking it, I collapsed in the road, and a man in a motor going by, thinking I was exhausted, gave me a sip from his flask, and I made a remark which perhaps he did not care for. My dia• . . .  charge book' will how that I have been in the  Arctic regions. I plead not guilty to the charge of inebriation, as I was suffering from brain trouble. lam going to the East Coast, and you will hear nothing more about me." Inspector Harris said the man was undoubtedly drunk when brought to the police station. He told witness that he had had morphia injected into his arm. Witness, however, discredited his story. P.C. Whitehead said the man was staggering when brought to the office, and smeled of drink. Prisoner said that whatever condition lie was in, it was the result of drugs. He had only been back in England ten month.s, and two months of this had been spent in the Liverpool Infirmary, where he had undergone an operation. He had not been the same man since. He did not visit a publichouse: he had been warned against that. A magistrate: Were you looking for a seaman's job in Padiham? Prisoner: I was not aware I was here until I  was coming to. Supt. Pince& said if prisoner wouid promise to leave the district, he would not press the case. Prisoner gave the promise, mad was subsequently disaharged.