IMPULSE TO DESTROY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22830, 14 March 1936, Page 7

IMPULSE TO DESTROY

YOUNG MAN'S STRANGE DEFENCE

Stated to have signed a letter " The Phantom Avenger," Maurice Clover Higgins, aged 21, compositor, of Wykc Regis, pleaded guilty at Dorsetshire Assizes to four charges* of rick-firing, and one of threatening to destroy a dairy. According to the prosecution, the ricks were worth £220.

A letter which Higgivis wrote to Mr T. Sapsworth, a farmer at Wykc Bcgis, ran: —

" I shall destroy your dairy within a few days, whether "you have a police cordon round it or not, as my highly scientific and complicated method of rick-firing cannot fail." It was emphasised by Mr Scott Henderson, defending, that Higgins'was a keen students of economics, and lately had been reading the works of Karl Marx.

"It may be," declared Mr Henderson, " that overstudy, together with his state of health, has made him temporarily unbalanced. I think aii explanation of his conduct could only be discovered by a trained psychologist." 'When asked by Mr Justice Hawke if he hud anything to say, Higgins replied, "The"only thing I can say is that very likely, if you convict me and give me a prison sentence, it may make me turn into an enemy of society." Judge: T don't think you would be wise to threaten society in my hearing. but von may do what: you like. ITiggins: It is well known that if you sentence a man for an offence done on impulse, very likely you make him nil enemy of society, but if you deal with me leniently, l' shall always remember it as a kind act. and try to do my best lo obliterate the blot on my character made bv the present offence. " I think," retorted the judge, "that by the sort of. language you have been using yon more or less have gone some wav to an explanation of your conduct. Hut it is absurd to talk about uncontrollable impulse when you have four separate deliberate felonies against, you and threaten to commit another. "Take my advice and don't use these stupid threats to society. Make up your mind to pull yourself together and lead a life which any young man as intelligent as you are can do." Higgins, who further said that all his life he had had the impulse to destroy, but never lo construct, was sentenced to 12 months in the second division.