The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1888-02-18 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE ACCUSED. EXTRAOIDINARYMEDICL EVIDENCE  At the Worcester Assizes, on Wednesday, George Pearsall (79), nailer. was ini cted for wilfully wurderiug his wife Harriet Pearsall, on the 6th it., at Oldswinferd , Prisoner had to be helped into the dock, and was greatly distressed. Mr. Sim and Mr. Troghill prosecuted, and Mr. P. knphlett and Mr; Crlnstoun (instructed by Mr. J. Hinds, of Stourbridge) defended. Mr Sim said that prisoner was in his 80th year, ad the deceased was 76. Prieener's son left home at half-past seven on the morning of the 6th and saw hii father and mother asleep in bed. About nine o'clock he came home to Lreakfnst and saw his fa• her, who said, "1 have done my bit." T. ere were bloodstains on his father. The son found his mother in bed unconscious, and having a ,errible wound on her temple. The neighbours flocked into ths house and the police being tent cot, prisoner was apprehended. An iron shoe eovered in blood was round und-r the bed. The !note in the case were undisputed, and the witnesses w-re cross-examined as to the mental condition of the prisoner. They all admitted that the prisoner had suffered frorn'delusions for the past five or six months, and that be had groundless fears of beisg removed to agunatie asylum. Mr Richards, surgeon, said he believed the prisoner at the time he e. mmitted the deed was insane, and that he was'unable to resist a sudden :.nd uncontrollable impulse. Dr. Cooke, medical superintendent of the Worcestershire Lunatic Asylum, who had recently examined the prieloher, said. he ceeld find no evidence of delusion. He was suffering from eeneral mental feebleness. He considered the ~ase one of delusions of a changeable or transitory character, with sudden impulses of a homicidal or suicidal uature. The scion under such impulses would be at times automatic or machine-like. The effects of the act would bring to mind what happencel. Prisoner might have antlered from irresistible impulse Mr. Hyde, the prison surgeon void he believed prisoner unagined the greatest kindnese he co ald do to his wife would be to kill her, and that he vra4 doing a good rind not a wrong action. For the defence prisoner's daughter gave evidence as to prisoner's delusions. Mr. Amphlett said unless the jury were forced by the defective state of the law they would not. he was sure, find the prisoner guilty of wilful murder. He did not suppose in the history of the country there had been such a melancholy case tried. Prisoner had been a kind and loving nesband, aed he lived in a part of the country where his exserpsa as a father and a husban.; might be usefully f‘ llowed by mauy. He had brought up ta family of 12.. A brother of the prisoner had died in a lunatic asylum. The Lod Chief Justice, in summing up, said, thaugh to Berne extent toe law was uu-Wisfactory, they were bound to apply it as they found it. It was not pi etencled Oita there were ciecaos stances which reduced the Crime from murder to man,lanlht.u.. His Loidship mentioned th several verdicts which were open to the jury to rind. The duty of proving he was not responsible was the duty cast by the law upon the prisoner The jury found the prisoner guilty of the act. out that he was insane at the time he committed it. The judge directed the prisoner to be kept iu custody as a criminal lunatic during her Majesty's pleasure.  37 and 38 years. On his solemn oath he did not viol Ite his daughter that day, nor in any way indecently as4ault her, The first time he heard anything:of the rase 1'7,13 wh?.n Inspector Herman came to him at the shed. When he was charged he said WAS not gailty of anything he was ash ktribd of. When the Inspector told him who laid the inform— ation, he sai I "If she says so it must be true, be cause she was in tne habit of telling lies." lie was I•fres'l" when he came into the house. Iu answer to Mr. Firmstoise, prisoner denied emphitica ly that he had never had counictions with his daughter. Mr. Firmstone said they had given the case their most ca.eftd,consideration and had come to the conclus!on to co.nmit him for trial at the next Worcester A-sizes, bail lying accepted, prisoner in £5O, and two sureties of £25 each.