The Sun. — 1860-01-03 (London, England)

ASS CULT WITH INTENT, &C.  William Postlothwaite, a gentlemanly-looking person, was indicted for grievously assaulting William 'Knight, with intent to do him bodily harm.  The. prisoner pleaded nat guilty. Mr. Doyle appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Robinson defended.  The counsel for the prosecution said in the present case the jury would have in the first place to determine whether the prisoner at the time he inflicted the injuries upon the prosecutor was in a state of mind to be accountable for his actions. The prisoner no doubt on certain subjects laboured under delusions, but in order to become an irresponsible agent it must be shown that at the time the injuries wore inflicted he was incapable ok knowing right from wrong. The prosecutor, Mr. William Knight, was then called. He said—The prisoner, about four years ago, carne to reside with me, but I did not notice anything uncommon in his appearance. Some time afterwards I learned that ho laboured under certain delusions, but they appeared to me of a very harmless description. Some times helused to tell me ho was the Duke of Gloucester, at others ho said he was Oliver Cromwell. He usually wore a large bolt, which he said the Duke of Cambridge gave him, as a proof he was of royal descent. Ile had a great fancy for bright steel weapons. He sonietimes carried a polished steel truncheon, which he called " his authority." On the 15th of last December I was sitting in my kitchen talking and playing with the children, when the prisoner came in, and, without saying a word, stencle-me -violently en-the temple with his steel bar. I fell to the ground, and blood began to flow very copiously from my head. I said, "Oh, Posse, what have you done this fo,f"_when he replied, " I've done it with my authority. Those d— theatricals have been enticing you to enter into a plot against me." My wife very shortly afterwards entered the kitchen, when the prisoner threatened to serve her the same way. I got up, ran to the doctor's, and told the police what had happened. I was ultimately taken to Westminster Hospital, of which establishment I have been a patient ever since. Prisoner was always remarkably kind to me, my wife, and all the children. I never apprehended the slightest danger from him.  Mr. Robinson said he hardly thought it necessary to make a single observation. The unfortunate gentleman's appearance was quite sufficient. The Recorder—What is that he is displaying before him ? Piltencr (holding up a buff leather gauntlet ornamented with large brass balls), said—" I hold the glove, this glove." Then, carefully turning it over and over, he laid it again in'ont of the dock. Mrs. Knight—l am wife to the prosecutor. I recollect the day when the prisoner struck my husband. After my husband got the wound dressed I went with him to the hospital. On my return home I found the prisoner sitting in the kitchen. I accused him of murdering my husband, when ho replied, pointing to the blood on the floor, " Make haste, mop up, the blood before the police come." I asked him what could have mad• him act as ho had done, when ho said, " I did it with my authority." I always looked upon him as a very harmless person. He was always exceedingly kind to the children. My husband never quarrelled with him on any occasion. We always .treated him as one of the family, and ho always appeared pleased. He used to say he was the Duke of Gloucester. I never anticipated he would inflict injury upon any nue ; he seemed too kind to do so. The house-surgeon of the Westminster Hospital gave a description of the wound. Spinks, a police-constable, said—When I took the prisoner into custody, I told him he was taken in charge for wounding William Knight. He showed me a bright steel bar, and said it was " his authority," and that he had done it with that. On searching his apartment I found a quantity of curious bright steel weapons, such as spear heads, half swords, crosses, and truncheons. This was the case for the pros&ution. Mr. Robinson abstained from addressing the jury. A verdict of not guilty, on the ground of insanity, was returned.  The unfortunate gentleman was; then ordered to be de :wined until her Majesty's pleasure should be known•