A PREMIER'S SANITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13483, 6 July 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

A PREMIER'S SANITY.

EFFORT TO PROVE HIM A /LUNATIC. Llanos. May /l9._A„ extraordinary trial was held here yesterday, the accused h« ing the editor of the Republican new. paper El Mnndo. The prosecution waa brought under the now Prow Law, th* ef fence being a statement to Itbe effect 'that the Prime Minister is insane. The cir cumstances need some little explanation " The Press Law has been provoking universa! mirth. Its terms , arc « st r«ie!y harsh, and a committee of public. prosecu. tors is entrusted with arbitrary powers 0 censorship, being condemned at the craw time to read every newspaper published ft Portugal. In memory of the Inquisition this committee has been nicknamed the Black Cabinet,

The Black Cabinet administers the law and prosecutes the numerous lender* with punctilious .severity. The newspapers, bent on showing the absurdity of the law and getting -it revoked, play into the Black Cabinet's hands by nub fishing inflammatory articles,' and when proceeded against, enraging the most famous barristers to defend them. El Mundo out-distanced all rivals by solemnly declaring that the Premier i* insane, and producing much alleged proof of its charge. The journal was, of course prosecuted. Undaunted, it engaged the best-known mental specialists, who were to give evidence to day. It was confidently expected that the Opposition leaders would also give evidence as to their conclusions in regard to the Premier's mental condition. The case was therefore awaited with the. liveliest interest.

Enormous/crowds congregated in the vicinity of the court. Thousands were unable to gain admission. The case came before three judges, without a jury. The defence's specialists in mental diseases were all present. f

But at the outset the Crown Prosecutor made a request that any discussion of the mental capacity of the Premier should be disallowed. Amid' sighs of disappointment the court granted the request. The advocate for the/defence asked permission for the accused/ to speak on his own behalf, but this the court' refused.

The testimony of the witnesses for the defence, however, aroused intense interest. Questioned by the cleverest lawyers with the sole object of throwing discredit on the Press Law. and the Government which passed it, the witnesses displayed a genius for getting in home-thrusts at the Administration. The barristers kept up a running fire of brilliant, epigrams and criticisms which made a deep impression.

Ultimately the editor was fined £22 and costs. Public opinion, however, is greatly excited, and the newspaper has gained iW real end. !