CRIMINAL ASSAULT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 36, 13 October 1913, Page 8

CRIMINAL ASSAULT.

♦ A QUESTION OF SANITY. Newcastle, October 2. Archibald Brown, was charged at the Newcastle Circuit Court to-day with having committed a criminal as- ’ sault on June 27. Mr Chubb, assigned by the Crown, and instructed by ' Mr J. A. Wood, appeared for the accused. On the previous day a plea of insanity was set up, but the jury ' found that accused was mentally lit i to plead. i On being charged to-day accused . pleaded guilty. 1 His Honor: Do you understand what you plead guilty to: a capital offence ? Accused: Yes. His Honor; In the interests of justice, considering what took place yesterday, I will direct a plea of not guilty to be recorded, so that the case may be tried and no maladministration of justice takes place. After evidence had been heard accused said he had been drinking heavily for a fortnight before the offence, and could remember nothing. Dr. J. R. Leslie said he had examined the accused, who was rational on most subjects, but was mentally abnormal on religion. Dr. Alcorn, visiting surgeon at Maitland Gaol, called by the Crown, said accused was quite sane. The jury returned a verdict c r guilty, and sentence of death was then passed.