The Sun.
London, England, 1833-08-30 00:00:00

THE COMMISSION.

(Abridged from the Dublin Morning Register of
Wed n esd ay.)
MURDER of NATHANIEL SNEYD, ESQ.
At the sitting of the Court, john Mason was
called to the bar to plead to the indictment charging
him with the murder of Nathaniel Sneyd, Esq.
The prisoner appeared considerably altered since he
was first apprehended. He was much thinner in
person, and much more depressed in spirits than he
had been in the police-office. His manner, how-
ever, was that of a man whose purpose was fixed.
Upon coming to the bar, the clerk of the Crown
read the indictment for the prisoner, charging him
with firing a loaded pistol at Nathaniel Snyed, Esq.
on the 29th July, from which wound the deceased
languished and died. John Mason, said he, what do
you plead to this indictment ?
Mason—Guilty.
Mr. HOLMES, on behalf of the prisoner, said, that
Mason was not in a fit state of mind to take his
trial, and his friends pleaded insanity for him, which
they were then ready to prove.
Mr. GREENE, on behalf of the Crown, said, it was
not his wish that a man should be tried when it was
declared he was not in a fit state to be tried. He
supposed that a Jury would be impanelled to deter-
mine the fact whether the prisoner was or was not
insane.
A Jury was then sworn to try " whether John
Mason, who stands indicted for the murder of Na-
thaniel Sneyd, Esq., is, or is not insane at this time
of his arraignment."
After hearing evidence, the Jury intimated to the
Court that they were all agreed as to the former
insanity of the prisoner.
The Court then suggested that counsel for the
prisoner should at once proceed to give evidence as
to the state of the prisoner's mind at the present
moment.

Joseph Mansey—l am a looking-glass maker;
about two months sgo the prisoner called on me,
and wanted me to make a gilt picture frame for
him ; he pulled out a piece of a silk waistcoat and
desired me to make a frame for it ; I put the
waistcoat in a frame; I thought he was a master-
tailor, and wanted to put it in a window—(Laugh-
ter)—he got me to nail it up over the chimney-
piece, and I hurried off as soon as I could.
James Gough—l am in the employment of Mr.
Jones, the tailor, in Dawson-street; the Saturday
before this unfortunate occurrence, I brought the
prisoner two coats, and he wanted me to fit them
on ; I did not like to go, as he always had a
pistol en the table; I made trowsers for him, and
he made me add six inches to the length.
Doctor Duncan—l know the prisoner ; I have for
some years kept a lunatic asylum in the neighbour-
hood of Dublin; I have considerable experience on
the subject ; the prisoner was for six months in my
asylum in 1824; at that period he was a lunatic;
in 1825 he was sent again to me, and was then
with me for nine months; I then again sent him
home to his family; he was then apparently well—
the symptoms disappeared ; in 1827, the prisoner
came to me of his own accord ; he said, people were
beginning again to molest him, and he came to put
himself under my protection; he said these people
were making noises at night, and preventing him
sleeping; he then remained three or four months
with me ; I do not think it a bad symptom persons
coming voluntarily to me ; he came to me again,
either at the latter end of that year, or the beginning
of the next ; he remained a fortnight ; then he came
a fourth or fifth time, and he told me that he came
without the knowledge of his mother; I sent him
back; the day after this unfortunate event, I saw
him in Newgate; about a year ago, his mother
wanted me to take care of him, but I declined doing
so, without a medical certificate ; when I saw him in
Newgate, I conversed with him about the melancholy
event; I said "I am sorry to see you in this situation;
this is an unfortunate event—it was unfortunate you
fired the second pistol ;" " it was," said he, and he
appeared to feel contrition. " For what purpose
did you buy the pistol ?" "To frighten them."
He said he did not know Sneyd personally, but he
thought it was Barton ; he said he was persecuted,
and driven out of his lodging, and when he bad
done this, he intended to go to Van Diemen's Land ;
he said the reason he wanted revenge was, that one
of them, he could not say which, had a daughter,
and he would not marry her, and for that reason he
was persecuted; I consider his is a most marked
case of that species of insanity called " delusion."
I saw the prisoner yesterday in gaol ; I conversed
with the prisoner, and he was then decidedly insane
—that was evident from his manner and conversa-
tion; it is my opinion, that he is at this moment
insane. It is impossible, as far as my experience
goes, that it can be counterfeited.
Cross-examined—l believe that he now thinks he
is being tried for his life—that the Judges are on
the bench, and the jury sworn, I dare say he is
aware the question now is as to his sanity, but from
his delusion on a particular transaction, he is unfit
for conducting his own defence.
Surgeon Mitchell—l saw Mason in the police-
office. The first moment I saw him 1 said he was
insane. I have had great experience in such cases
for the last eight years.
Robert Jones, jun.—l am acting here for my fa-
ther, as attorney for the prisoner. The prisoner gave
express orders that I should not be admitted to
him, and he refused communicating with me as to
his defence.
Anthony Mahon—l am a surgeon, and I consider
the prisoner at this moment insane. Insanity, ori-
ginating in epilepsy, is most difficult of cure. At
the inquest I did not think him mad, but looking at
him I would say he is mad at this moment.
Case for the prisoner closed.
James Gormley—l know the prisoner a little.
I was in town on the 27th of July. I went to
Grafton-street, and saw Mason there in his lodg-
ings. Mason dined in the Shades next day. I
dined there. There was conversatica going on,
and he joined in it. I observed then no appearance
of insanity about him. He talked on various sub.
jects, and he appeared rational on them all.
Edward Ca,s,in—l was in company with the pri-
soner on the 28th of July. I had various conver.
satiens with him that day. He appeared rational.
I saw him the day this unfortunate event happened,
a short time before it occurred. I could perceive
nothing remarkable in him then. I saluted him, and
tie returned it as any one else would.
Dr. Harty—l am a medical officer attending
Newgate. I have seen the prisoner often of late.
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thought there was no one worse than himself, but
that in the next world he would be delighted to see
any one worse than himself.—(Laughter.) I think
he was under no delusion as to the consequences of
his act.

Cross-examined—I will not swear that the pri-
soner is sane.
Are you what they call a mad doctor ?—What
Lord Brougham politely called so.
Are you a greater physician, divine, lawyer, or
inquisitor ?—I don't think I am bad in any of them.
You say you are not a bad divine ; do you think
it a proof of sanity a Protestant turning Catholic ?
I don't think it a proof one way or another.
Do you think it a good reason for a Protestant
turning Catholic, that the Catholic is the old mother
church ?—I thought it a bad reason.
Which do you think the Protestant or the Ca-
tholic is the old mother church 2—(Loud laughter.)
Come, answer that, doctor and divine, or divine
doctor.—(Laughter.) You must answer that ques-
tion yourself—you are a little astray.
\79eill place you, 2
—(Continued
(ycou orntinu oath,e d laughter.)
suppose I ought to go to your Lunatic Asylum ?
—You might go to a worse place.—(Laughter.)
saytghhatterl might go to a
.)
found
Ltd
The Jury, without leaving the box,
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