The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1872-03-16 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE ATTACK ON THE QUEEN. (From The Lanett.) As the plea of insanity will probably be raised in explanation of the outrage on her Majesty committed by O'Connor, the following facts, which have been furnished to us by Dr. Bond, who examined the boy when taken into custody, will not be without interest for our readers. The boy is a slight, delicate lad, 18 years of age, pale, and strumous-looking ; his general expression being calm, thoughtful, and intelligent, the eyes particularly expres sive of determination, fearlessness, and enthusiasm. The mental capacity is good. He answered all questions respectfully and to the point, and was quite consistent in all his statements, and particularly as regards his motives for committing the offense. He stated that he had had a good deal of sickness, and was a long time • patient is King's College Hospital, where his foot was operated upon by Mr. Bartridge. lie stated that his life was not a happy one, and that he would gladly sacrifice it for the good of Ireland; that he was a gentleman by birth, and would feel insulted if any one spoke disrespectfully of his great uncle, Feargns O'Connor ; that there was no insanity in his family, though Feargus O'Connor was thought to have died mad ; that he had read a great deal, but not sensation novels, as they were not to his taste. He further declared himself a Republican, sympathising strongly with the Irish people. He thinks it an honour to be a Fenian, the murder of the Manchester policeman justifiable, and, being grieved that the Fenian prisoners are still unreleased, feels that, since peaceful measures have failed, any violence is justitiable in order to efl ect their release. He said he was a freethinker in religion, and believed in God, but not in denominational religion or clergymen. He declared that he was not unhappy at the thought of being punished, but that his efforts to release the leniana have failed." Dr. Bond, as the result of his examination, certified that he was perfectly sane, and this opinion has been I confirmed, after a lengthy interview, by Dr. Sutherland. The lad at first contemplated the use of loaded fire-arms against her Majesty, but considered that, SS the Prince of Wales would come to the Throne, and the monarchy still remain as an institution of the country, it would be better to attempt, by intimidathin, to gain the immediate object he had in view. The boy has been in ill-health, and we know that Feargus O'Connor died of general paralysis of the brain in an asylum. But for all this, as far as the facts are on record as regards the boy himself, there is no evidence of insanity in the case.  During the last two or three days Arthur O'Connor has been visited by his father and mother, but he does not appear as yet to have obtained any profeirional assistance (says the Observer). lie does not seem to exhibit the least regret for his mischievous act, but seems evidently to think that he was quite justified in what he did, with a view to procure the release of the Fenian prisoners. A sort of impression appears to prevail among the officials of the gaol that the prisoner is "not quite right," but it is not likely that the defence of insanity will be set up for him at his alai, as if he should be acquitted. on that ground he would be liable to be confined in a criminal lunatic asylum for the rest of his life, and as he appears to be afflicted with the mischievous propensity of alarming the Queen, this result, as in the case of Edward Oxford, who some thirty years ago discharged a pistol at her Majesty, and who is still the wretched inmate of a lunatic asylum, would be carried out, whereas, in the event merely of a conviction for the offence of attempting to alarm her Majesty, he is only liable to be sentenced to penal servitude for a certain term, but the punishment of Hogging may be added, and the prisoner appears to have a great dread of this addition to his punishment. The proceediugsat the Central Criminal Court will be of the nature of a State trial, and the --ition will be conducted by the Attorney "A