CRIME OR INSANITY?

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7653, 11 June 1896, Page 2

CRIME OR INSANITY?

THE TRIAL OF MRS LOCKER. Wellington, last night. At the trial of Mis Locker for attempted murder, Dr Mackenzie said ho had been consulted by accused in July, 1891, for astigmatism, which was liable to affect the mind, causing epilepsy and various disturbances. She told witness she felt inclined to get over tho breastwork into tho harbor. A person in her condition of mind, having a. duluaiou that another person was trying to injure her, would be likely to take extreme measures to defend herself. It was often tho case that tho first definite act of lunacy which a pcrsou committed wag pne of vio? lence. He had an interview with the accused iv gaol, and came to the conclusion that she wub insane. Sho was under a delusion that Norbury had some secret power over her, and was persecuting her for some other object than that of merely getting his money. She said sho shot Norbury because he " was not fit to live." The law, she said, could not do it, and he had to bo removed. She was not sorry that sho did tho act, bub was sorry sho did not shoot herself too. Sho B.iid she would shoot him then if sho had the chance, Sho hud no fear of the consequences, as sho did not mind dying. All this showed that aocused had lost the instinot of self-preservatiou. The fact that one of ! her uncles had been insane was to o, certain I exteut evidence of hereditary insanity, i Great trouble would be apt •to throw a person of her temperament off the balance. To-day.— After two hours' retirement the jury acquitted Mrs Locker on the ground of insanity, and the judge ordered her to be kept in striot custody till the pleasure of the i Colonial Secretary is known, j