Inebriety and imbecility : a medico-legal study / by T.D. Crtothers.

  • Crothers, T. D. (Thomas Davison), 1842-1918.
Date:
1895
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Inebriety and imbecility : a medico-legal study / by T.D. Crtothers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    shoot others also, justifying himself and affirming thath e was ready to accept the consequences and be hung, and if he was permitted would kill others. These expressions of regret that he had not shot more persons were repeated several times. He was recognized as having been drinking by his breath and strange actions, but several witnesses thought he was fully conscious of his acts and their consequences. For the next two days all the witnesses seem to agree that he was in a semi-dazed condition of mind, indifferent to all surroundings and would not talk. After this his man¬ ner changed, and he responded to inquiries and conversed, claiming not to recollect any of the past occurrences and the crime. He said that Skinner, the murdered man, was the best friend he ever had. This crime was characterized by two very unusual lines of conduct. 1. Shooting the man in open day in his own home, with¬ out a word of provocation, boldly and under the possible ob¬ servation of many persons ; firing only one shot and stand¬ ing round to see the result, being pushed out of the door by the wife of the murdered man, and going back into the house again, was thrown out by the son ; also making no attempt to shoot other persons or run away. 2. Offering no resistance when the pistol was taken from him, submitting to arrest, acknowledging the crime, and in violent language expressing a desire to repeat the act on the murdered man and others, and take the consequences. His cool indifference and violent expressions unaccompanied by acts or delirious excitement, seemed to those about him not to indicate drunkenness, although his breath was strong with the odor of spirits and his manner was strange and unusual. Thirteen months after the commission of the crime I ex¬ amined him in the State prison. During all these months he has been free from spirits, and it would be natural to expect that his condition of body and mind would be very near normal. His appearance was that of a stout, short-built man, with