THE BARRIER MURDER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4738, 11 December 1886, Page 2

THE BARRIER MURDER.

♦ PLEA OF INSANITY TO BE SET i UP. In connection with the charge of murder against Caffrey and Perm it is not unlikely that an attempt will be made to set up a plea of insanity in defence of the principal prisoner. The New Zealand Herald says on the subject : — We are informed by Mr Jackson Palmer, solicitor, that Caffrey is suffering from a severe blow he sustained to his head about nine months ago. At the time mentioned he was captain of the Sovereign of the Seas, and she was lying at Edwards' h're-wood yard, where Caffrey, in attempting to jump down on board from the height over the wharf, caught his foot on the side of the vessel and fell headlong with great force, striking his head just abo^e the right eye and causing the blood to rush out through both ears and from his nose, making a great gash over the right eye, which is visible yet. From the effects of this fall he remained insensible for nearly an hour, and for five months afterwards discharges came continually through the right ear, showing that his head was very much affected by the fall — in fact, it was bo bad that Caffrey could not lie with his right ear on the pillow when sleeping. To make matters worse, Caffrey caught cold in the head ai the time, and ever since suffers pain from the effects, and if he takes any drink or worries over any trouble he becomes quite deranged.