Hundred Sessions (Mr. F. Brockle-hurst), in his charge to the grand jury at the opening of the Sessions recently, dealt with the case of Jeorge' Banks (32), carter. Banks, he explained, was a certified lunatic. When committed in the lower court the previous day he was a lunatic brought from the Prestwich Asylum, and stated not to be responsible fcr his actions.
"T have never known," said the chairman, "of a lunatic being put into a public dock. There may be such cases, but they have not come to my knowledge, although, of course, I have heard of people who in a fit of lunacy committed a crime being put in the dock. I have never heard of a man being brought out of a lunatic asylum, already: certified insane, and charged with an offence whilst he is insane. I ask the jury in considering the case to take a certain course which they have the power to do. You can prevent this lunatic being put into the dock, and I ask you, in the name of British justice, to take this course. It seems to me that it would be a travesty of justice to pretend to put a man upon his trial who is obviously not capable of defending or of sanely instructing anyone in his defence. I will ask you to cut the bill."
grand jury returned a finding of "no bill." was alleged to have quarrelled with another inmate of Prestwich Asylum over dinner, and to have attempt-sand.
The great tragedy, rivalled /ed to stab him with a knife when only by that of the Egyptians atlan attempt was made to restrain the Red Sea, had begun. him.
It was stated in the police Within five minutes, the whole court that the proceedings were army of men, treasure and horses taken with a view to his being was turned into a long column of, sent to a criminal lunatic asylum shrieking, cursing masses.
The where he could be dealt with more horses were bogged, the great efficiently.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.