The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-21 00:00:00

THE LEEDS POISONING CASE.

num, OF WILLIAM DOVE,
FOUUTII DAY.—SATURDAY.
Mr. Baron -Bramwell took his scat eu the bench this
morning at 9 o'clock, when the prisoner was placed at
the bar. Ile was unaltered in appearance. The court was
again crowded in every part. The following additional
evidence was called on the part of the defence.
John Thompson, examined by Mr. am a
schoolmaster living at Aberford. I have known the pri-
soner for some time.
.I repeatedly saw him when he lived
at Bramham-moor. His manners were very wild, and his
conversation very incoherent. I have heard him talk
about his visit to America. He said he was engaged
amongst the Red Indians, and became their chief, that
they met with a bear in the wood, when his party ran
away, and he engaged with the bear, which attempted to
suffocate him by breathing into his mouth. Whilst fixed
between the bear's paws, the prisoner said he had the
presence of mind to take a knife out of his waistcoat
pocket, and let the bear's bowels out. He afterwards
rejoined the Indians, by whom he was crowned with
fresh laurels. I recollect on one oceesion finding him
laid on the high road, with his face covered with his
hands. He appeared to have been crying, and was not
affected with liquor. I have seen him in Aberford on
horseback, when he was pricking the horse's back with
a nail. He once said he had been in the country, and
had seen parties reaping corn, and he would not be be-
hind everybody. He started to reap a field of green bar-
ley, and he cut about an acre. With reference to a
farm which he fermerly occupied, and which he was
anxious to again take, the prisoner said he had em-
ployed a wizard to work upon the feelings of the steward.
I never liked to cross him ;- he could not bear it, so I
did* not contradict or make any observation to Elm.
He once produced the same inagx apparatus, a saucer,
some gunpowder, liqeed in a bottle, and lighted a piece
of paper to set tire to the composition, whereupon we
went out of the house. This took place at his own
house, in the presence of a neighbouring farmer. My
opinion of the prisoner is that be is a person of unsound
mind, and I never had a doubt on the 'subject.
Cross-examined by Mr. Overend.—l was at a public-
house along with the wizen), when the prisoner talked
romantically. He talked of the formation of man, and
said he could have made man much better. Ho referred
to a mason, and said if Ile had had him to make he
would have placed the calf of his legs in front, so that
ho could not kick his shins in going up a ladder.
By the Judge.—l have no doubt that the prisoner is
of unsound mind. He certainly had some intelligence,
and I have no doubt he would know it was wrong to
steal or murder. When he told me the story about the
Indians, I thought it the roost likely place for him. He
told me in such, a manner as induced me to believe hits.
Mr. John Noble examined by Mr. Bliss—l am the go-
vernor of York Castle. The prisoner was brought here
on the 17th of March. I produce a letter addressed to
Harrison by the prisoner, which I received from a pri•
soner named Robinson, who wee confined where he could
communicate with the prisoner.
Mr. Bliss put in the letter, and Mr. Overend objected
to its reception.
Mr. Jenkins was then called, and be proved the letter
to be in the handwriting of the prisoner.
Mr. Noble's examination continued—Afterwards I
caused the prisoner to he searched, in consequence of
something I heard. One of the officers brought me two
papers found on the prisoner. I also produce a letter
written by the prisoner to the schoolmaster of the prison.
The Clerk of Arraigns then read the letters, which are
referred to in Mr. Bliss's speech for the defence.
Mr. Noble's examination continued—l told the ma-
gistrates about the letters, an 1 asked their advice. Copies
of the letters were forwarded to the authorities, and
copies were given to the prosecution. Both parties were
supplied with copies.
Cross-examined by Mr. 0 ~erend—There was another
document taken from the prisoner at the same time as
the letter addressed t ) the devil was taken from him.
Dr. Caleb Williams, of York, examined by Mr. Hall—
I am the medical attendant of the Friends' Retreat, at
. . York, and have been. so for 30 years. I have turned my
.
-,,nttentaon..te insanity, with. respect to the commission of
prime.- rhave.nxamined the prisoner, and consider him
of unsound mind. The evidence I have heard in this
court, confirms that conclusion. The commission of
crime and 'Suicide it; frequently traceable to insanity,
arising froth', a desire to imitate. The facts proved as to
the prisoner's conduct confirm me in my opinion as to
his insanity. I have beard the evidence of Harrison, and
116sreithseietter to him to torment prisoner's wife. Look-
. eeitig a thaWletters I should say that the letter to the
devilis not simulated—that letter appears to be written in
blood. The prisoner told me it was written under satanic
influence. From the conversation I had with him about
that letter I should say that the prisoner is not sane.
have no donbt that the delusion about the devil was real.
I believe it was genuine. With respect to the incantation
spoken of by a witness this morning, I believe that was
connected with the prisoner's delusion as to supernitural
agency. As to the letter of the schoolmaster declaring the
prisoner's sanity, I would remark that it is very common
for insane persons to imagine themselves to be of perfectly
sound mind. Talking to everybody the prisoner met with
about strychniare is an indication of feebleness of mind.
Persons who are liable to attacks of insanity will exhibit
a tendency to drink. From what I have seen and heard
of this case I do not think that the prisoner has the
power of controlling the emotions and passions. There
would be periods when he would have control over none.
The shooting of the cat indicated an uncontrollable im-
pulse to injure or destroy life. Seeing he could not in-
jure his servant on that occasion, be shot the cat. The
effect of strictly sober diet would be to induce a man
like the prisoner to a calm condition, and then it would
be quite possible for him to write a sensible letter,
During the week in which his wife was attacked bis
mind would probably be influenced by his notions as to
supernatural influence, and therefore he would be sub-
ject to illusions. A person labouring under such illusions
might retain his power of judgment as to the application
of means to an end in a particular instance. He would
have no power of resisting any impulse while labouring
under such illusions.
Cross examined by Mr. Overend—l have not a strong
objection to capital punishments on religions grounds.
Ido not believe them to be wrong. Ido not know of
any recorded case of an insane man committing murder
by the administration of poison at several times, over a
apace of a week or more. Destroying life by poison is
not common among insane persons. Assuming it as a fact
that the prisoner administered poison to Mrs. Dove six or
seven times, I should say he was suffering under an un-
controllable propensity to destroy or take life. It might
be for a time a permanent condition of the mind, arising
from a constant desire to injure a particular object.
I think a person 'under such circumstances would not
know that he was doing wrong, when ho said to Mr.
Morley, "Do you think I should be so cruel as to poi-
son my wife ?" If such a person knew he was doing
wrong he might fear the consequences. He would know
he would be punished if found out, He would probably
know that he was breaking the law. He might know
that punishment would fellow. If he committed murder
under the propensity spoken of, he would not know at
the time that he would be hanged. I found that opinion
upon the fact of the mind being fully occupied by the in-
sane propensity. lle would certainly know that he
would be hanged before he did it, and he might know
after. He would do it secretly, because be might be
hindered. A propensity of that kind generally acts with-
out notice. It is one of the tests of the propensity that the
party seeks no escape, or delivers himself up into custody,
or acknowledges his It. The propensity may come on
suddenly. It may come on slowly, and last for a consider-
able time. Supposing a man to be of a cruel character,
quarrelling• with his wife, wishing to get rid of her,
and carrying out his intention, that would be a vice in
the abstract, not a delusion. If a man of a cruel dispoei-
tion nourished a feeling to get rid of his wife till it grew
into a desire to kill, I call that an insane propensity.
In all such cases where a man acquires a propensity to
kill, he is no longer able to control the propensity, and
is insane.
!dr. Overend—lf a person hatied his wife and deter.
mined to kill her, and did kill her, what is the difference
between the determination which you say is a vice, and
commission of murder, which you say is an insane pro.
nensity ?-e-That is too difficult a question for me to an-
swer.

Mr. Overeni—ln the case of theft is there such a
thing as a disposition to thieve ?-I.lsero is.
Mr. Overend—lf a person desire to obtain anything
belonging to another person and dwells upon the desire
till be steals it, and does steal it, what do you call that?
—I call it an indication of moral insanity which renders
the party irresponsible. I take a belief in sorcery to be
an indication of a very weak mind ; so also of all super-
stitious beliefs which are entertained by persons of in-
ferior education. I should infer that every man who be-
lieves in spiritnal writingi. in spirit ra,ppings, and such
like, was a man of weak mind. Talkie` as the prisoner
did about etrychnia, was an indication of a feeble mind.
I assume that he knew he hail poisoned his wife, and
therefore he talked the more ai.out strychnia.
Ile-examined by Sergeant Wilkins—lf a person mani-
fested cruelty from his childhood, and an utter disregard
of the opinimss of those around him, and of punishment,
I should say he was of very unsound mind. Cunning
and ability are often found in the case of insane personi..
Patients in an asylum, for instance, will attempt to es-
cape, and sometimes it is found that the laying down of
their plans has occupied them several days. Having
beard the whole of the prisoner's antecedents, andyrom
what I have heard from the witnesses in this case, I
should certainly consider him to be insane, and not fit
to be abroad. I should have no difficulty in signing a
certificate for his confinement in an asylum.
By the judge—lt depended upon the length of time
that a person broods over HOMO supposed wrong, whether,
if he committed murder, I should consider him insane or
not. In reference to shooting the cat, I should not say
if several persons had come up he would have shot one
of them. A policeman would have bad a deterring and
toning inflifenee upon him. When I used the word
"uncontrollable," I meant not controllablo by those in-
loences wOch ordinarily operate' upon the mind. A
-erson might know that be was doing wrong before and
after hepoisoned his wife; but I think that at the Pio-
nent he Out the poison An the glass his mind would be
so occupied with the prevailing propensity that he would
not know that he was dein:: wrong, and that he would
hi hanged if detected. A sane man at the same time
that he strikes a murderous blow or mixes a poisonous
draught would have the consequences of his actions pro.
sent in his mind.
By Mr. Bliss—A lunatic detected by his keeper when
about to perpetrate some na4chief would be deterred
and controlled.
Dr. Pyemon t Smith, of Leeds, examined by Mr. Bliss
I ant the proprietor of a lunatic asylum at Leeds. I
have paid attention to the subject of insanity 15 or 16
years. Having beard the whole of the testimony in this
case, I am of opinfon that the prisoner is of unsound