THE NARBETHONG MURDER.

Timaru Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5166, 12 June 1891, Page 3

THE NARBETHONG MURDER.

OPINIONS AS TO THE PSISOHBK'S SANITY. MELBOURNE, June 2. Indications aro nofc wanting thr.t Iho trial of William Colston for the murdorof Mr and Mrs Davis at Narbothong will bo one of tho moßt romarkablo m tho history of criminal trials m tho colony, uiaiuly owing to the controversy botween clover medioul men as to the selfconfessod murderer's eanity. Since Colston appeared at Yarrs-glen, and waa takeu m custody bj I he police, his behaviour has been such »b to stamp him as either a eupromo egotist or a lunatic. When he found himself m tho hand of tho police he gladly and unreservedly confessed to the murdors, nnd did so with wlrxt then appeared the utmost hearllosiness, and ho has not, altered one jot Ginoo. He eota well, drinks well, and sleeps well, and m oonvortiatiin is always lively and utterly indifferent to tbo dreadful position he occupies. Soon iiftor his incarceration m tbo Melbourne Gaol ho wus visited by Dr Fishbouruo, who through professional curiosity examined him and ut once arrivod at the conclusion that ho was suffering from general paralysis of thn bnin. About half-a dozen other medical men aro of tho sarao opinion, though, porhaps, they do not hold it quite bo strongly. Opposed to thorn to a greater or leaser extent aro Dr l£audsley, Dr Koscnbluuru, of tho Yarra Bend Asylum ; Dr Shields, Govornmenfc Medical Officer ; Dr Dick, Dr Jamieson, and Dr Youl. Tbo Cify Coroner, Dr Muudvloy, says Colston undoubtedly h»s coma symptoms which indicate general paralysis, but not to an extent that would justify him m definitely staling that ho is ineano. Dr Shiolds, Dr Dick, und Dr Jamieson admit the prcsenco of certain of tho nymptoms incidental to the disease, but will go no further. Dr Youl is [prepared with a moro definite statoment than most of his medical brethren, fur ho says ttafc though Co'ston has tlia aspect of mental paralysis, find exhibits some of tho symptoms, ho shows conclusively m many other ways that ho has sufficient mental capacity to be legally responsible for bis acta. Colston's extraordinary nonchalance, which Bomo of tho doctors consider otrang ovidonco of hia insanity, doos not disturb Dr Youl's opinion to the contrary, " because," he remarks, " I havo had to deal with very many murderers m my timo, and they are almost all the aarno as Colston m that respoct A murderer ie a bupremo egotist, and seldom has any feeling of pity for his victim, being m that par ticular, liko thopo ueoplo, who endeavour to eavo him from tho gallows. Colston certainly has the aspect of ono Buffering from inontal parnlysis, but I could find hnlf a dozen such any day m Collins street One of thopupilo of his oroa is moro dilatad than tho othor, but ao is ono of miuo, yet I | havo no mental paralysis. If lie wero a householder with a wife and children, and wero brought boforo mo for commitmont; to Kow, I would not sign tho warrant, I am so satisfied of his sanity." From those briof quotations from tha opinions of oxporls it will bo soon what dif--1 fioultieß aro to bo fueod by the laymen who will bo called upon to decide whether Colston shall or shall nofc pay tho great Danalty of his crime, and it ia interesting m this connoction to havo Coloton'o own idoa of tho matter. Ho Bays, with n pleasant smilo and an off-handed manner, "It is very good of my frionds to interost thomsolvcs m my bo- . half : they may try to get mo off on tho plea [ of insanity, but I don't think they will buc- . cood."