TO BE EXAMINED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 709, 8 July 1929, Page 11

TO BE EXAMINED

YOUTH’S MENTALITY QUESTIONED SENTENCE DEFERRED The mental condition of Andrew James Watson being in question, Mr. Justice Kennedy deferred sentencing him for stealing a horse at Auckland in the Supreme Court today, to enable him to be further medically examined. On behalf of Watson, who is 20 years of age, Mr. J. J. Sullivan said that the prisoner was a first offender. Describing the circumstances of the offence as peculiar, counsel stated that Watson had taken the horse from a man for whom he previously worked and had left the owner a note. Watson was under a delusion that money was coming to him from Scotland. He was not a criminal in any sense of the word; rather was his mentality affected by a fall on his head from a spring cart 11 months ago. There was evidence of a dent in his skull, which might be the cause of the mental trouble, but the prison doctor held the view there was nothing wrong with the prisoner’s mentality. Counsel suggested that no object would be gained by sending accused to Borstal or prison. Dr. H. Barraclough, in evidence, stated that there was an indentation on the skull consistent with Watson’s having fallen from a cart. He was distinctly abnormal mentally. The medical man admitted to Mr. Hubble, As-sistant-Crown Prosecutor, he could not certify prisoner as insane at this stage, but asserted that the man might become dangerous. Watson had a fleeting delusion against certain people. : The doctor suggested he should be ! placed under observation for a period. The Rev. Jasper Calder, City Missioner, ! gave similar evidence of Watson’s mental condition, and suggested that he j should be placed in the Wolfe Home j for observation. Mr. C. B. Hubble. Assistant-Crown • Prosecutor, stated that Dr. Tewsley | had found no evidence of mental de- ! feet. Counsel, however, agreed, in view of the reports that the prisoner might become dangerous, he should be further examined. His Honour concurred and remanded Watson until Monday.