FITZROY MURDER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 428, 20 November 1930, Page 7

FITZROY MURDER

THE PLEA OF INSANITY

DOCTORS ADVANCE SUPPORT MENTAL EXPERTS’ REBUTTAL "STATE OF ALCOHOLIC FRENZY” [Per Press Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Nov. 19. The trial of Alexander Townsend, charged with the murder of his wife, Cora Alice Townsend, was continued this morning. Dr. E. A. Walker continued his evidence for the defence and said that the wounds on the victim must have taken several minutes to inflict. The attack continued after death was assured. Accused acted with automaton. Later he asked if his wife were dead. His conversations and delusions showed mental instability. The change in appearance spoken of by Miss Patchett showed insane impulse and lack of intention, and an indicative state of mind. Accused had mild delusional dementia and was seized with an insane impulse. In answer to the Chief Justice, Dr. Walker said it would be accused’s state of mind, to which was added a sudden impulse, that was party responsible for the crime.

His Honour: Did you regard the fact that accused took a gun with him as a matter of importance?

Witness. 1 did not. He did not take it to Vickers’ home.

Sir Al. Myers: Did you regard as of any importance the fact that though the gun was not taken to Vickers’ home he left it in the street, and the further fact that accused did his best to get his wife out of the house?

Witness: i did not connect the two in coming to my opinion as to his insanity.

Sir Al. Myers: Can you not see that these arc matters of very great importance? Witness: It is possible they are.

Sir Al. Alycrs: Alay not that all indicate that he had formed an intention, but not to commit the act in Vickers’ house.

Witness: They may be consistent with an intention to commit the act, but they do not preclude the possibility of acute homicidal impulse. Sir Al. Alycrs: Do you recognise that acute homicidal impulse, per se, docs not come within the legal definition of insanity. Witness: I think it ought to.

Sir Al. Alycrs: Y'ou are not here, any more than 1 am here, to say what the law ought to be. Dr. W. J. Reid gave corroborative evidence of the insanity of the accused from a medical point of view. Dr. G. P. Anderson said that from accused’s actions during his visit to him on January 20 last he had formed the opinion that he was not quite right in his head. The Court then adjourned for lunch. Expected the Tragedy. Dr. Adamson added that he knew from his contact as a practitioner with Mrs Townsend that she expected her life would be ended in this way, but her crying out that she would prefer to bo shot did not indicate in any way, in the opinion of witness, that the accused knew then what he was actually doing. He thought, from what Airs Townsend had said to him, that the scene enacted that night, except the actual murder, had been gone through many times previously as a threat, and she had said she expected her husband would murder, her, as ho carried a pocket knife about with him for that purpose. She did not know whether he was mad or bad. Nothing in the conversation between the two of them in the sitting room suggested to witness that accused knew what he was doing. When accused said, “I’m a dead man now,” he might have realised at the moment what ho had done. His Honour: Does not that indicate that he knew he had done wrong? Witness: I could not say that if his senses had returned or partially returned.

How do you account for him going back and finishing the deed?—lt might have been part of the impulse.

This concluded the case for the prisoner, and Air Weston intimated that ho wished to call evidence in rebuttal on behalf of the Crown.

Dr. John Williams, medical superintendent of Porirua Mental Hospital, said he saw Townsend on September 18, September 28 ..nd November 5 and 12. At no time did Townsend, in his opinion, show signs of insanity. “In coining to that conclusion,” said the doctor, “I have taken mild account of the story told me by accused and the evidence in the case at Hamilton. Townsend commenced to drink too heavily, for it happens that alcohol had specific action in a certain type of drinker, causing him to be suspicious, cantankerous and truculent. Obviously the natural truculence in the man had become more marked. Two Classes of Drinkers. Drinkers, as a whole, said witness, were divided roughly into two classes—convivial and industrial. The convivial drinker was one who had an occasional burst, got drunk, and staggered home. It was rare for such a man to commit crimes, particularly homicide. Townsend was not of that class. He was an industrial drinker —one of those continually having “nips,” that resulted in his system becoming sodden with alcohol . The specific effect of alcohol in this form of drinking was to cause some loss of control in the higher feeling, and the man became truculent, impolite and moody. Doctor Williams did not think that when Townsend entered Airs Vickers’ house he intended to murder his wife. He had been drinking all the day. It probably was his intention to got his wife and daughter to go away with him and discuss a settlement and possibly to start life over again. Thwarted in his desire, his natural resentment became difficult to control, but he managed to control it until 2 a.m. Nurse Patchel noticed a change come over his face. That was probably an indication that one of those violent crises associated with alcoholics was about to return. “It is a matter of hypothesis what was the stimulus of the state,” said Dr. Williams, “but I am inclined to think it was his wife’s laughing at a joke about his umbrella. Seeing her laughing there, broke the last thread of self-control. He advanced upon her with the intention of cutting her throat. Thinking he had completed his work, he left to go away, but at the door he found she was still alive. Resentment and anger surged