MURDER TRIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1921, Page 5

MURDER TRIAL.

THE MATTHEWS CASE. EVIDENCE OF INSANITY. ACCUSED’S STRANGE DELUSIONS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. The trial of Reginald Matthews on a charge of murdering Clarence Edward Wagstaff, at Timaru, on October 27, 1920, was continued at the Supreme Court to-day before Mr. Justice Herdman. Mr. A. T. Donnelly appeared for the Crown and Mr. C. S. Thomas for prisoner. Evidence as to the domestic infelicity of accused’s parents was given by Charles W. Hervey, a former resident of Invercargill. Dr. Arthur Crosbie, superintendent of Sunnyside Mental Hospital, said he had made two thorough examinations of accused and had seen him in the cells before his appearance in court. Mr. Thomas: Now, I will ask you a bald question. Is accused sane or insane? Witness: I consider that he is insane, i because he suffers from delusions. Mr. Thomas: Would you tell the jury the effect of heredity on that man? Witness: There is a great probability that the insanity of the parents would be transmitted to a child, but not necessarily in the same form. In ordinary circumstances of life accused would succumb to shocks much more easily than persons without such heredity. Witness went to Paparua Gaol on January 22 and 30. He had long conversations with accused, who expressed to him two definite delusions. On the second occasion, when witness got on to accused’s delusional beliefs, he immediately went away at a tremendous rate, “using words that eminent counsei would really envy.” Mr. Donnelly: Surely you do us an injustice there? Witness: Accused knew his subject and let you have it at top. His Honour: You will find eminent counsel never suffer from delusions here. Mr. Donnelly: Thank you, your Honour. Witness continued that accused spoke with emotional warmth and instinctive certitude. His examinations showed the following results: Matthews believed himself capable of instituting reform in sexual and social procedure, and, secondly, he had a definite delusion of persecution. There was no doubt that Matthews was suffering from a sincere delusion. His delusion dated back to his days in America. He told witness things regarding his experiences in America, and he gathered that he had got into trouble with the police there in regard to sexual matters. He had precisely the same delusion regarding the American police as he had regarding the New Zealand police. Witness added that he was of opinion that accused was an epileptic; they knew he was a paranoic. The incidents of Matthews’ absent-mindedness quoted by Philipson and others were consistent with epilepsy. The witness was subjected to a lengthy cross-examination of a techi* cal nature.

Dr. Alexander Cannon McKillop, superintendent of Seacliff Mental Hospital, said he had examined accused. He found he had delusions of persecution concerning the police and his treatment by them. In reply to Mr. Thomas, he said he classed accused as a paranoic; he did not know the difference between right and wrong. He would have no hesitation in committing accused to a mental hospital. He was quite satisfied that accused was insane. Evidence in rebuttal will be called to-morrow.