Murderer Saved by his Frenzy

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 37, 13 February 1937, Page 3

Murderer Saved by his Frenzy

67 WOUNDS PROVE INSANITY Eicessivo violence in committing murder was accepted as evidence of insanity at an Old Bailey trial. Claude Ivor Vaissierc, 36-year-old shipping clerk, of Onslow gardens. South Woodford, England, was accused of the murder of his young wife who was found dead m the house after neighbours had heard screams. He was ordered to be detained during tho King’s pleasure. The jury were absent for only seven minutes. Vaissiere, described as a model husband, declared ho killed his wife to save her suffering. He had embezzled his firm’s money, and his guilt had been discovered. There were 67 wounds on the body, 19 being in tho region of the heart, and Mr J. F. Eastwood (defending)’ mado this a main plank in his case. ‘‘Why should a husband who was so devoted to his wife kill her and inflict n my more injuries than even tho brutal murderer whoso object is robbery?” ho asked. “My case is that something snapped in tho man’s brain and ho was not responsible for his actions.” Mr Eastwood found support for his theory in the evidence of Detectiveinspector Powell, who declared that in hi 3 long experience he had never known a caso in which so many in juries were inflicted. Dr. Alexander Baldie, a divisonal police surgeon and an expert in mental cases, said he had known only one murder where such injuries wero in-

flicted and in that caso tho person responsible was never discovered, so far as ho knew. Dr. Hopewell Ash, Harley street mental specialist, said the exceptional brutality of the murder an exceptional emotional upset. Dr. William Honry Stoddard, another specialist, said the history of insanity and drunkenuess in Vaissiero’s family W'as consistent with epilepsy and mental instability in the accused. Mr Justice Macuaughteu: Is drunkenness a sign of mental instability?— Yes. Dr. Grierson, medical officer of Brixton Prison, said that he found no evidence that Vaissiere was insane, either now or at the time of the crane. Mr Frank Pardoo, father of Mrs Vaissiere, said he had come to court to speak for Vaissiere. “I could not have wished for a better husband for my daughter,” he said.