Insanity Plea Raised

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6839, 21 April 1932, Page 7

Insanity Plea Raised

EVIDENCE FOE DEFENCE IN MASSIE TEIAL New York Times Broadcast. HONOLULU, April 19. “Massie was insane.” That was the flat declaration of Dr. T. J. Orbison, first alienist called to the stand by Clarence Darrow to-day in his fight for freedom for Lieutenant Thomas H. Massie, his mothcr-in-law and two naval enlisted men in the famed “honour slaying” trial. Before calling Dr. Orbison, Darrow said tho defence had three more witnesses to call. It was believed one, probably tho last, would be Mrs. Massie. Tho first witness was Dr. Paul Withington, who attended Mrs. Massie after the attack. His testimony emphasised the young husband’s worry over the affair.

An army friend of Massie next testified to the lieutenant’s mental distress. The wounds inflicted upon Mrs. Massie when five natives attacked her were described in detail when Darrow, chief of defence counsel, recalled Dr. Withington to the stand. “Mrs. Massie had a badly smashed jaw,” he said. “It became infected. Her body was covered with bruises. Her condition was so critical for a time that we feared for her.’’ Massie buried his head in his hands as the big shouldered soft-spoken physician talked. It was believed Mrs. Massie would testify later in the day.