DROMORE MURDER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2644, 11 October 1923, Page 3

DROMORE MURDER.

JAMISON A HOPELESS IDTOT. * Christchurch, Oct. 9. When Thomas Jamison, accused of the Dromore murder, came up for trial in the Supreme Court today, the grand jury returned a true bill after hearing the directions of Air Justice Sim, and Jamison was helped into Ihe dock. Before the common jury was empanelled, however, the Judge, allowed counsel for the defence to call evidence in support of the contention that Jamison was incapable of pleading. Dr. Gould gave evidence, that Jamison is an idiot. This being accepted as primn facie evidence, on the subject, a jury was empanelled to try the question of the prisoner’s capacity to plead. Evidence was then given by Dr. Gould, also by Senior-Detective Gibson, who said that. Jamison was a quite hopeless idiot. The chief warder at Paparun Pri-" son, speaking from three weeks’ observation, said that Jamison was a hopeless idiot. Only yesterday he had torn up his mattress, and this morning, when told ho was going for a ride, he laughed and clapped his hands, but on arriving at the Court tore up bis shirt, and commenced to cry.

The Judge said it was clear that Jamison was incapable of pleading and the jury, without retiring, found Jamison insane and incapable of pleading. The Judge directed that the finding he recorded in accordance with the Mental Defectives Act, and that Jamison he confined until the pleasure of the Ajjnister is known.