CONFLICTING EVIDENCE

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 2 November 1933, Page 6

CONFLICTING EVIDENCE

GREY LYNN MURDER TRIAL

QUESTION OF EDWARDS’ SANITY.

CASE FOR DEFENCE CONCLUDED

(By Telegraph—rress Association.)

AUCKLAND, Nov. 1. The trial of John Hubert Edwards on the charge of murdering Airs Christina Cunningham was continued) in the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon. Cross-examined by Air Hall Skelton (for the accused), Dr. Short was asked what was the actual disease Edwards was suffering from. Witness: I would say he is suffering from schizophrenia. Patients of this kind sometimes have episodes of blind impulsiveness resulting from mental disease, during which they may be violently homicidal and suicidal. It is probable at these times they do not fully realise what they are doing and have no sense of right or wrong. Mr Meredith (for the Crown): How many eases of this type have you seen"?—l have seen hundreds of them. There are many men walking about Auckland to-day with this disease. His Honour: Would you certify them or any one of them as being insane?—No, your Honour. The persons I am referring to are not so bad that they are incapable of managing their own affairs.

His Honour: They must he a menace walking about the streets ?—Well, probably so, hut there is no dividing line between sanity and insanity, and in some cases you have to give a man the benefit of the doubt. If apathy or irascibility is of suficient intensity you may call it insanity There are people who are schizophrenes and who are leading more or less normal lives today, hut who some day may have to be certified

His Honour: In your opinion did Edwards at the time be was committing this act understand its nature and quality ?—ln my opinion he did not.

His Honour: And that was because at that time he was suffering from a disease of the mind?—Yes. Dr. W. H. Horton said he had examined Edwards in prison. “As a result of my own observations and the conclusions I have drawn from the evidence I consider Edwards is and has been for a number of years certifiably insane,” said witness. “It is probable Edwards has been subject to periodic attacks of mental excitement and exaltation with periodic states of mental depression lasting for variable periods and with lucid intervals during when he was apparently reasonably sane. It is my opinion that this man has suffered from manic depressive psychosis, which is a disease of the mind characterised by outbursts of mania and melancholia, with intervals of more or less sanity. This concluded the case for the defence.

Called by the Crown to give evidence in rebuttal Dr. H. M. Buchanan, superintendent of the Avondale Mental Hospital, said he had examined Edwards on eight different occasions. “1 am of the opinion,” he said, “that Edwards did know the nature and quality of his act and that lie knew lie was doing wrong. He is distinctly of a neurasthenic type He enlisted in the New Zealand Bxpeditionary Force in 1917, but he was classified as unfit for active service and did not go to the front. He was then suffering from stammering and increased action of the heart, which is too rapid in its beating and a very alarming symptom to people suffering from it. In some cases they •'even think they are going to die. In my opinion he is not of the schizophrenic type, because I have never seen any signs of apathy or indifference, nor yvhen. I questioned him yvas I able to elicit any hallucinations or delusions. He always had a sense of his own personality.” His Honour: What are the symptoms of a person suffering from this disease with the unpronounceable name: Witness: They go into a dream state and live in a world of phantasy, so that to all intents and purposes they are very impracticable. In advanced cases they will laugh yvhen they are very sad and cry when they are very happy.

The witness did not agree that Edwards suffered from manic depressive psychosis. He had a degree of emotional instability and alternating states of apathy and exuberance, but those were properties pertaining to many otherwise sane people. Judging from the evidence Edwards showed no signs of abnormality on the morning of the crime and afterwards.” He had a full realisation of what he had done. This was indicated by the fact that he had attempted to take bis own life. The hearing was adjourned.