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

ASSAULT WITH INTENT, &C. William Postlethwaite, a gentlemanly-looking person, was indicted for grievously assaulting William liWght, with intent to do him bodily harm. Tha prisoner pleaded nit Mr. Doyle appeared fur the prosecution, and Mr. Robinson defended.  The counsel for the prosecution said in the present case the jury would hare in the first place to determine whether the prisoner at tare time ho 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 were inflicted he was incapable of knowing right from Wrong. The prosecutor, Mr. William Knight, was then called. Ire-said—The prisoner, about four years ap), came to reside with me, but I did not notice anything uncommon in his appearance. Some time afterwards I learned thuit ho laboured under certain delusions, but they appeared t.) me of a very harmless description. Some times helused to. tell me he was the Duke of Gloucester, at others he said he was Oliver Cromwell, lie usually wore a large belt, 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. lie sometimes 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, struck me violently on -the temple with his steel bar. I fell to the ground, and blood began to flow very copiously from my head. I said, " Posse, what have you done this fori"zwhen he replied, " I've done it with my authority. Those d— theatricals have been enticing you to enter into a plot against )13 e." My wife very shortly afterwards entered the kitchen, mrhen 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 Hospettal, 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 bc3fore him ?  Prisoner (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 front of the dock. Mrs. Knight---I 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 hie lband, 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 made him act as he had done, when he said, " I did it with my authority." I always Eraoked upon him as a very harmless person. He was a /ways exceedingly kind to the children. My husband mover quarrelled with him on any occasion. We always te:eated him as ono of the family, and he always appeared pleased. Ho used to say he was the Bake of Gloucester. I never anticipated he would inflict injury upon any one ; 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 chari;e for wounding William Knight. Ho showed mo 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 stool weapons, such as spear lacads, half swords, crosses, and truncheons. This was the case for the prosecution. ➢lr. 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 b a detained until her Majesty's pleasure should be known.,