THE TRIAL OF PAGET.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8819, 22 May 1907, Page 2

THE TRIAL OF PAGET.

The Defence. Pet Press Association. Welwsgton, May 21. In opening the defence, Mr Wilford said he intended to prove that Paget ] suffers from epileptic insanity. Evidence would be given that the father of Paget’s mother died at ( Sunuyside Asylumfrom congenital epilepsy. 'He would show that Paget had been an epileptic from birth, that it had reached an abnormal stage within the last two or three years ; that the man had on several occasions attempted suicide, that his mental balance had been disturbed by an injury to the head at Christchurch; that one occasion nine months ago he throw himself out of a high window while in a fit and was picked up unconscious, and afterwards attempted to take his life in three different ways.

At this stage Paget, who had been looking vacantly about him, fell with a I crash on the floor of the dock. He was . picked up and seated on a chair, where ! he remained during the rest of the after | noon. j Counsel proceeding, said, evidence would be called to show that accused had , also the beginning of optic atrophy, and that he would be stone blind in five years. Mrs Pamela Paget, the prisoner’s mother, was then called. She said her father died at Sunnysido. The prisoner was once married and had two children. Both children and their mother died. During the last throe years prisoner had become queer and fretful He would occasionally leave his work without warning and would at times answer her uninteUigontly. At those times ho would complain of his head. IV ituess gave evidence in detail of instances of accused’s strange behaviour at different times. Other witnesses were called and testified to Paget attempting to take his life, to his generally queer manner and to injuries ho bad received to his bead. The further bearing was adjourned until to-morrow morning.

May 32. Further evidence for the defence was called to-day. The brother of prisoner stated that on the morning of the tragedy ho saw Claude, who appeared very dazed. He said “What am I hero for? I don’t remember anything.” Witness also gave evidence as to accused’s pecu liar conduct on the night before the tragedy. Several other witnesses also made statements as to the eccentric behaviour of prisoner at intervals.