Hess Not Insane in Strict Sense of Word

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 283, 30 November 1945, Page 5

Hess Not Insane in Strict Sense of Word

HYSTERIA AND LOSS OF MEMORY. NUREMBERG, Nov. 28. Hess is “not insane in tie strict sense of the word at the moment, ’ • tout his loss of memory will interfere with his aDility to defend himself. This is the verdict of the British psychiatrists appointed to report on Hess. i The Allied Triounal received -the report today, together with two separate diagnoses—one toy the Russians and one by the Americans, Canadians and i rencn—and announced that the prosecution and the defence could argue tomorrow whether the trial of Hess snouid continue. The'psychiatrists disclosed that Hess tried on two occasions to commit, suicide. The British psychiatrists’ report, signed toy Lord Moran, stated: “There are no relevant pnysical abnormalities. Hess’s mental state is of the mixed type. He is an unstable man with a psychopathic personality. The evidence of his illness during the past four years indicates that he has had delusions of poisoning and other similar paranoid ideas. Fartly as a reaction to the failure of his mission to Britain, these abnormalities became worse and led to attempts at suicide. In addition, he has a marked hysterical tendency which would lead to the development of various symptoms, notably loss of memory, which lasted from November, 1943, to June, 1944, and which resisted all efforts at treatment. “The second loss of memory began in February, 1945, and lasted until the present time. This amnesia symptom will eventually clear when circumstances change. He is not insane in a strict sense at the moment. His loss of memory will not entirely interfere with his comprehension of the proceedings, but will interfere with his ability to make his defence and understand details which may arise in the evidence. We recommend that further evidence be obtained by narcoanalysis, and that if the Court decides to proceed with the trial the question should afterwards be reviewed on psychiatric grounds. ’ ’ TRIED TO STAB HIMSELF. The Russian psychiatrists’ report disclosed that Hess attempted to stab himself while under detention in Britain. The report flatly declared: “Hess before his flight to England did not suffer from any kind of insanity, nor is he now suffering from insanity. He at present exhibits hysterical behaviour with signs of a conscious, intentional character, which does not exonerate him from his responsibility under the indictment. Hess, psychologically, is in a state of clear consciousness. He knows he is in prison and under indictment as a war criminal. He can read,

and, according to his own words, is acquainted with the charges against him. His speech is coherent and his thoughts are formed with precision and correctness. He refused an injection of narcotics which was offered for the purpose of making an analysis of his psychological condition on November 15. He definitely said that he would take all measures to cure his amnesia only upon the completion of his trial.” Asked to comment on the reports. Hess’s counsel (Dr. Guenther von Rohracheidt) said “The reason for Hess paying no attention to the proceedings is that he is convinced there will be a death sentence for all Nazi Party leaders. He has reconciled himself to it, preferring to amuse himself by reading.’ ’ The Tribunal has not announced whether Hess’s trial will continue, but has set 1 p.m. on Friday afternoon as the time when the prosecution and defence will argue the matter. When the trial was resumed today Hess began to read another work of fiction. He has already read 13 books mostly of the fairy tale type, during the 10 days of the trial, in which he has shown no interest. He laughs occasionally, but it appears to be at some amusing passage in his book rather than at any part of the proceedings. A police official said that to i read 13 books in 10 days was ‘‘not bad for a ‘nut’,’*