The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1906-11-07 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

THE 4URY.  In charging the Grand Jury his Lordship said that although the calendar did not !contain a very large number of oases, he was afraid several were of rather unusual gravity. Comparing his experiences in the circuit so far (having just returned from the Assizes held in the six North Wales counties) he found that the number of cases compared pretty well with one another as regarded population. In thaw six countieg„he had had to deal with 14 oases, whilst at Chester he had to deal with 18 cases. The latest figures he could obtain as to the population of the six counties of North Wales showed the number was about 487,000. Cheshire's population, on the other hand, was about 774,000. The percentage with regard to the number of cases approximated pretty closely therefore, but he was sorry to note there was a great contrast as regarded the nature of the offences. The calendar he had before him was of a very much graver character thaa those he had to deal wit; in the North Wales counties: how the difference was accounted for he could not say, but the difference was there.  MENTAL ABERRATION SERIOUS ONARSE OF WOUNDING AT EGRENIONT John Buckley (30), of 19. Green-lane,Egremoat, a brick burner, was indicted for having feloniously wounded and assaulted Charlotte Ravenscroft with intent to kill and murder her on the 15th July. Prisoner pleaded guilty to a second indictment "without intent," and Mr. Yates (who appeared for the prosecution) accepted the plea. Mr. Montgomery, for the defence, stated ,that prisoner was examined last year by a doctor, who then stated he would probably be subject to tempoffary fits of mental aberration, and the offence occurred during one of these fits. There was no intent, and no motive whatever. His Lordship said he would raise no objection to the reduced charge. Mr. Yates said prisoner had been lodging with complainant, Mrs. Ravenscroft, and her husband, and on the day of the offence he was in and out of the house at intervals all day. He had had some little drink, and in the evening used some language to which Mrs. Ravenscroft objected. She did not remember anything after this except that she found herself suddenly running out of the house to a neighbour's with her throat cut very badly. The wound was 0 inches long, and required 15 stitches. The Judge: He was carrying the razor about with him in his pocket? Mr. Yates: Yes, my lord. The Judge: It ie3 a rather odd thing to do. but I believe it is rather common. Mr. Montgomery at this stage said he should like to call the doctor, but as he was not present the case had to be adjourned. Later in the day the case was concluded. Dr. Barton stated that he practised in Seabank-road. Liscard, and prisoner came to consult him on the 29th November of last year. He also came on the llth of December. His complaint was about his general condition, and he spoke particularly of sleeplessness and nervous depression. On both occasions he was in a very excitable state indeed. Witness prescribed , sedative tonics for him, but there was nothing in the man's appearance to indicate strikingly  ANT MENTAL 'MANE was in progress. If prisoner had been a visiting patient witness would have followed the case up, but he did not do so under the circumstances. When witness went to see him in the waiting room he was pacing the floor so excitedly that he seemed at first glance to be under the influence of drink. Prisoner told him he had been unable to go to work for some weeks. Mr. Montgomery: Was his condition at that time likely to lead to mental aberration? . . .  Witness: Yes; insomnia is often the precursor of mental aberration, though mental aberration may not follow. He might lose his sleep through business worry or otherwise. _ _  Was he suffering from melancholia?— There was no evidence at that time.  ----The Judge interposed to say that as the charge of wounding with intent had been , withdrawn it was not necessary to put these questions, but Mr. Montgomery said he introduced the evidence only to explain Ilhow the thing came about. , The Rev. G. Roberts was then called. He stated that he was vicar of Somerhill,near Wrexham, where prisoner resided for some time. He knew him (after seeing him almost daily for eighteen months) as a man who bore A