Question by the Counsel for the Crown.—"What form of insanity do you call it?"
Answer.—"Lesion of the will—insanity connected with the development of the will. It means more than a loss of control over the conduct—morbid propensity. Moral irregularity is the result of that disease. Committing a crime without any apparent motive is an indication of insanity!" ...
Question by the Court.—"Do you conceive that this is really a medical question at all, which has been put to you?"
Answer.—"I do: I think medical men have more means of forming an opinion on that subject than other persons."
Question.—"Why could not any person form an opinion, from the circumstances which have been referred to, whether a person was sane or insane?"
Answer.—"Because it seems to require a careful comparison of particular cases, more likely to be looked to by medical men, who are especially experienced in cases of unsoundness of mind."
Third Doctor.—"I have 850 patients under my care in a lunatic asylum. I have seen and conversed with the prisoner. In my opinion he is of unsound mind. I never saw him in private more than once, and that for perhaps half-an-hour, the day before yesterday; and I have been in court the whole of yesterday and this morning. These are the notes of my interview with him:—'A deficient understanding; shape of the anterior part of the head, that which is generally seen when there has been some disease of the brain in early life. An occasional appearance of acuteness, but a total inability to reason. Singular insensibility as regards the affections. Apparent incapacity to comprehend moral obligations—to distinguish right from wrong. Absolute insensibility to the heinousness of his offence, and the peril of his situation. Total indifference to the issue of the trial; acquittal will give him no particular pleasure, and he seems unable to comprehend the alternative of his condemnation and execution: his offence, like that of other imbeciles who set fire to buildings, &c., without motive, except a vague pleasure in mischief. Appears unable to conceive anything of future responsibility.'"
Question by the Court.—"Did you try to ascertain whether he was acting a part with you, or not?"
Answer.—"I tried to ascertain it as well as I possibly could. My judgment is formed on all the circumstances together."
Fourth Doctor.—To the same general question put to first and second Doctor.—