TIMARU

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10822, 11 February 1921, Page 5

TIMARU

f/i ATTHEAS ON TRIAL UXPERTS DECLARE HIM TO BE INSANE. REMARKABLE DELUSIONS. PBK V»BSf AB9OCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, February 10. The trial of Reginald Matthews on a charge ot murdering Clarence Edward Wo gstnjf at Timaru on October 27 til, was continued at the Supreme Court before Mr Justice Uerdruan. Mr A. T. Donnelly appeared for the Crown and Mr C. S. Thomas for the prisoner. Evidence as to the domestic infelicity of the accused’s parents was given by Charles \V. ilervey. a former resident of Invercargill. Dr Arthur Crosbio, superintendent of Sunny-side Mental Hospital, said that he had made two thorough examinations of accused and had seen him in the cells before his appearance in court. Mr Thomas: Now 1 will ask you a bald question—ls the accused sane or insane ? Witness: 1 consider that he is insane, because he suffers from delusions. Mr Thomas: Would you tell the jury the effect of heredity on that man. Witnes: There is a great probability that the insanity of the parents would be transmitted to the child, but not necessarily in the same form. In the ordinary circumstances of life accused would succumb to shocks much more easily than a person without such heredity.” Witness said he went to Paparua gaol on January 32nd and January 30th, and he had long conversations with accused, who expressed to him two definite delusiolns. On the second question; when witness got on to a*, eused’s delusional beliefs, he immediately went away at a tremendous rate “using words that an eminent counsel would really envy.” Mr Donnelly: Sure you do us an injustice there. Witness: Accused knew his subject and let you have it at top. His Honour: You will find eminent counsels never • suffer from delusions here. Mr Donneily: Thank yon Your Upa , Our. Witness continued that accused spoke with emotional warmth and instinctive certitude. His examinations showed the following results -Matthews believed himself capable of instituting reform in sexual and social procedure; atul secondly, he had a definite delusion of persecution. There was no doubt that Matthews was suffering from a sincere delusion, and his delusions, dated back to his days in' America. He told witness" things regarding his experiences in America. He (witness) gathered that accused had got into trouble with the police there m regard to sexual matters. He had precisely the same delusion regarding the American police as he had regarding the New Zealand police. Witness added that he was of opinion that accused was an epileptic and they know he was a paranoic. The incidents of Matthews's a bsent-mindedne«*quoted by the Phitinscoud and others were consistent with epilepsy. The witnes was subjected to lengthy cross examination of a technical nature. A CORROBORATIVE VIEW. Dr. Alexander Cameron McKillpp, superintendent of Seacliff Mental Hospital, said -he had examined the accused and he found he had delusions of persecution concerning the police and his treatment by them. In reply to Mr Thomas, he said he classed accused as a paranoic who did not know the difference between right and wrong. He would have no hesitation in committing accused to a mental hospital as he was quite satisfied that accused was insane. Evidence in rebuttal will be called to-morrow.