THE MASTERTON MURDER.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXVII, Issue 8198, 10 August 1895, Page 3

THE MASTERTON MURDER.

1 Wellington, August 9. 'At the murder trial Garvcy (gaoler) said that-Sommerville was under strict supervision and day beca se he noticed something about the man that he .thought justified hini in adopting this extreme measure.. He had not observed any attempt on the part of the accused 'to feign insanity, but he tad a strange Manner,'/ He had not shown any violence or miscopducfc The prisoner when first .■ in gaol-paused,before.answering questions and looked-about him and stared. The .'accused-was placed under super- * vision because it was feared lie would attempt his own life. . ' The Chief Justice' said that, this evidence showed that the maii was in his - right mind. If a person realises his posi- "; tiori lic shows that he-is not insane. Mr Jcllicoo. jsuid. he «ould quote authority to show that a suicidal propensity was a ' symptom of insanity. • * N - The Chief Justice said that suicidal propensity for a reason was not so. A suicidal propensity without any cau r c * was - ' '■ Mr Jellicoe: I can satisfy your Honor 'that the authorities are. all the other way. ' His Honor thought it was no use discussing the question now ( . Mary Farlani), of Palmerston North, gave evidence •as to the queer manner of the accused and Uie drunken habits of his parent?. His elder brother was an idiot, Sommerville was very reserved, and had a delusion that people did not care for him, The,other members of the.fnmily were not altogether right in their mind, Later. One of the witnesses for the defence said that Sommerville lost a portion of ;his hand through'the bursting of a-gun -.and bad brooded over it 1 a good deal since,;. Dr Chappie said he had examined the prisoner and considered the circumstances of the crime strongly indicative of insanity at the time the shot was fired. He had found Somerville dull of Apprehension, very slo'v in mental pro* cesses, aria snspicious in liis manner. In cross-examining the.witnesssaid it would not be.safe in all cases to say absence of motive was a proof of _ insanity., Mr. Gully quoted the criminal code and asked whether the prisoner'was labouring under natural imbeoility or disease of the mind to such dn extent as to make him incapable of understanding the nature of the act.' Witness did not'think 80, but consciousness that the act was wrong was not; inconsistent with a loss •of self control.. The Court adjourned at 5 o'clock. There are still several medical witnesses for the defence, so that the case will probably occupy the most of 'to-morrow. • -• -