The Sun.
London, England, 1840-11-26 00:00:00

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

OLD COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice BosaricarET.)
TRIAL r F MR PEARSE FOR ATTEMPTING TO MURDER
HIS WlFE.—Arthur Legent Pearse, aged 38, surgeon,
was cpitally indicted for shooting at Elizabeth Pearse, his
with intent to murder her.
Mr. PHILLIPS ❑aving stated the facts of the case for the
prosecution,
Mr. CLARKSON addressed the Jury on behalf of the
prisoner, and called the following witnesses :
Susan Nice examined by Mr. CLARKSON—Witness
formerly lived in the service of the prisoner for five years,
and left it five months ago. The prisoner was very irri-

table, and witness had heard him say that his sheets
were damped by Mrs. Pearse, but he did not ay what
it was done for. He kept his bed-room continually
locked, and would not allow any one to go in and
clean it. Upon one occasion the prisoner insisted
open having his bed removed and one of the servants
bAs placed in its stead. Mrs. Pearce always ap-
ired very kind and affectionate to the prisoner, and
she was sure there was no ground for his supposing
that she had damped his bed. The prisoner kept his
room in a filthy state.

In answer to questions put by the prisoner the wit-
ness said that Mrs. Pearse did not wait much upon
the prisoner during his illness, but she had never said
that his conduct was cruel towards the prisoner dur-
ing: his illness.
-Br Mr. CLARKSON—Tho prisoner said he thought
I.ls wife wculd poison him.
Samuel Mellish deposed that he knew the prisoner,
and spoke to his general irritability of temper, and he
had heard him say that Mrs. Pearse was trying to poi-
son him by putting arsenic in his boots ; and the reason
his thinking so was, because his stockings were dyed
of a reddish colour. The prisoner frequently spoke to
him on the subject of his wife's infidelity, and said
tl,t she had been seduced by Mr. Colley, and he also
talked of her being familiar with other persons. When
he saw his children he cried, and because much excited,
and said that his wife ill-used them. Tne prisoner was
fond of pistols, and when he was younger he used to
amuse himself by shooting at a mark. Witness did net
believe there was the slightest ground for supposing
that Mrs. Pearse was unfaithful to the prisoner.

Dr. Marshall Hall was then called, but he refused to
Vii.e the ordinary oath, on account of some religions
scruples entertained by him, and he was consequently
not examined.
The prisoner said that Dr. Hall had attended him in '
the worst part of 'his illness, and had saved his
Sir Chas. Scudamore was then examined. He deposed
that he had attended the deceased professionally for about a
fortnight previous to the month of April, in the present
' year. He found the prisoner labouring under much
ttver, great heat of the skin, a full and quickened pulse,
ald a countenance exhibiting a wildness of expression.

•
The prisoner said that his disease was in the heart, and
that he thought it would burst, and he should die sud-
denly. In witnesn's cpinion the brain was the chief
sea of the prisoner's disease. At that time witness
knew nothing of the prisoner's delusions, but if he had
it would have strengthened his opinion that the
prisoner's brain was affected. From what witness has
heard this day, he is of opinion that the prisoner was
not in his right senses when he committ4id the act.
The witness was questioned at some length by the
prisoner relative to the medical treatment adopted to-
but nothing material was
elicited.
Mr. during his illnes,
Mr. CLARKSON here closed his case on behalf of the
prisoner.
The prisoner insisted upon having more witnesses
examined.
Mr. PHILLIPS said he did not know whether he
ought to object to this course. The prisoner's counsel
had, in his opinion, taken the best course for his in-
terests, and the prisoner would only do himself injury
by calling more witnesses. The object appeared to be
to show that he was aware of what he was about when
he committed the act, and that be was in a sane state
of mind.

Prisoner—Just so.

Mr. Justice BosANQuEr said that if the prisoner
wished any witness to be called, that witness must be
examined through the Court.

Mr. Ebenezer Clarke was then called by the prisoner.
and he stated that in eiatters of business the prisoner
was very rational and collected, but in domestic matters
he was under strong delusions.
The Rev. Joseph Parker, the minister of Kensington,
proved that he had some slight acquaintance with the
prisoner, and he had seen him very much excited. He
had also complained to him that he was in want of some
amusement.
Mr. PHILLIPS replied, and said he should only ad-
dress a few observations to the Jury, for he thought
the line of defence the prisoner had adopted for him-
self clearly showed his insanity, for he had repudiated
the idea of his being in that state, and attempted to
show that he not only committed the act, but that he
was justified in so doing, and if he succeeded in that de-
fence, the result must inevitably be that he should be
transported.
Prisoner—Where is your proof of the shot ?
Mr. PHILLIPS—That is another proof, in my opi-
nion, of the prisoner's insanity. The Learned Counsel
then proceeded to state that he would repeat what he
stated in the outset of the case, that there was no de-
!ire on the part of the injured lady or her friends to in-
jure him, but all they desired was to protect her in
future, for there could be no doubt that if the prisoner,
were to be let loose upon society, that her life would be
in: the most imminent peril. The Learned Counsel
concluded by
again expressing his opinion that the Jury
could come to no other conclusion than that the pri-
soner was insane at the time of the commission of the
offence.
Mr. Justice BOSANQUET was about to sum up the
evidence when he was interrupted by the prisoner, who
said he wished to address some observations to the Jury.
The LEARNED JUDGE told him he could not be
allowed to so so, as the case was closed. His Lord-
ship then proceeded to address the Jury, and said that
the present case was certainly one of a most extraordi-
nary character. There could be no doubt that the
prisoner had actually committed the offence imputed
to him, and the question for the Jury to consider, upon
the evidence was, whether the prisoner was sane or in-
sane when he committed the act imputed to him.
The Jury, after deliberating for a few minutes, said
they were unanimously of opinion that the prisoner was
insan., Alen he committed the act.
Mr. Justice BosAsionET_Then
your verdict, Gen-
tlemen, will be not guiity on the ground of insanity?
Foreman—Yes, my Lord.
Mr. Justice BosAtionET—The prisoner must be de-
tained until her Alajest)'s pleasure is known respecting