“GUILTY, BUT INSANE”

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 September 1927, Page 4

“GUILTY, BUT INSANE”

CURATE-SINGER DETAINED. A dramatic story of a clergyman, who, after revolver practice in his back yard, threatened to shoot a woman lodger and fired the weapon, was told at the Old Bailey. In the dock was the Rev. William Roberts, 65, stated in the calendar to be a curate, but who described himself as a professional tenor singer. A little grey-haired man, in clerical attire, he pleaded not guilty to a charge of having a revolver in his possession with intent to endanger life. Mr Raphael, prosecuting, explained that Roberts lived in Camden Road, and had as lodgers Mr and Mrs Edwards. After a month trouble arose between them, and Mrs Edwards took out a summons against him. He told her that unless it was withdrawn he would have her arrested for stealing his diamond ring. On May 2, when the summons was due, he was in the back yard practising with his revolver with a green cardboard box for a target. That was sufficiently alarmirig, but later on he came in and remarked to Mrs Edwards: “If you don’t withdraw the summons in two hours I will blow your brains out. He pointed the revolver in her direc-

tion and fired as she was running away. Mrs Edwards, giving evidence, stated that she found letters addressed to her on the stairs. These were read by Sir Travers Humphreys, for the defence, and were full of wild accusations against the woman. One passage ran: “I give you notice unless you withdraw your unkind remarks process will be issued for blackmail and robbery. . . ..Tack Lewin will give you a good tanning, and, as you know, he is the French Army champion boxer.” Witness had since signed a lettei* which he had writeen, saying she had nothing against him. She did that on condition he did not molest her iip-m’n Counsel added that there was

a little scene at the Police Court when the summons, was returnable, Roberts being taken into custody. Dr. Grierson, medical officer of Brixton Prison, stated that when Roberts was admitted he was in an excited, confused mental state, and unable to conform with the mild discipline of the hospital. His attention and reception were impaired, and it was impossible to get anything of value out of him. He could only talk of matters that happened years ago, when, he was singing or acting as locum tenens for clergymen. He pooh-poohed the charges against him, and declared that the prosecutors were persecutors and perjurors. On May 2 he was not in a position to distinguish between right and wrong. He was then and now certainly insane. The jury returned a verdict of “guilty, but insane,” and Mr Justice Swift ordered Roberts to be detained during His Majesty’s pleasure.