THE WAITARA TRAGEDY.

Mataura Ensign, 20 March 1909, Page 6

THE WAITARA TRAGEDY.

EVIDENCE OK INSANITY. mat unitep riticss association. NEW I'LYAIorTH. .March I'.i. 'lln> third day Hi' the Ihxulr murder trial was occupied with evidence I'm- Hi'' defence. Mr Skerivt I. K.(..'.. occupied .">.-) minutes in opening tin; defence, lie stated it would be nsol.'ss In attempt to deny timl till' hand which .shot Airs K leaner was Hi;; hand of Iho prisoner. 'l'll.' law recognised that- in order to convict a uian ul' ci'imi- Lhi-io must hr a rational mind capable of ooiisiclori it' the lact were right or wrung', lint it from [physical or mental defer!. hereditary, congenital or acquired, he was unable lei consider (lie consequence or nature of his act he was absolved from the consequences. It did mil follow (hat ljecau.se a man was acquitted ol a crime on the ground of insanity that he wits set ul liberie, lit this case then; was only Hi:' I:'frible alternative of the gallows or detention, lie proposed lo call ;'\ idence to prove that accus.'d was a. victim to mental degeneracy caused by excessive alcoholism, thai he was in, fact, a victim to chronic alcoholic, insanity and that his mind was a perfect blank as In I lie crime. Accusid remembered nothing ■from noon of the day previous to the crime till ihe time of his arrest. Accused's conduct' on the whole was inexplicable unless on the assumption that the man was hopelessly mad. and quite incapable, of judging bis acts. A number of witnesses were called to prove liial domic was a man of spasmodic intemperate habits, autl had delusions was being persecuted. |)|'. lieatlie. superintendent al the Auckland .Mental Hospital for the past twelve years, said he examined accused on February 8. Witness found his whole intelligence, impaired, and concluded that the man was undoubtedly linsane, |sulTering from chronic alcoholic insanity.